Connick has been busy in both movie and music studios and is about to hit the tour circuit again with a new ballad-filled album, a jazz trio and a full orchestra.

"The shows will be very romantic evenings where people can sit back and let us do the work," Connick said in a telephone interview from New York City.

The 30-year-old father of two is full swing into a musical and movie career, not unlike those of, say, Frank Sinatra or Dean Martin at the height of their popularity.

Connick recently wrapped production with Speed's Sandra Bullock on Hope Floats, a movie he describes as a "kind of comedy, kind of love story." And musically, Connick has just released To See You, his 12th album.

"The inspiration for this was a flight attendant, really," Connick said. "She asked if I had any romantic records, and I thought maybe it was time to do a romantic album."

To See You features Connick at his Sinatraesque best, back to the crooning style that exploded his career with the 1989 soundtrack to "When Harry Met Sally."

Connick's latest release is a distinctive collection of his favorite styles -- jazz, orchestra and big-band brass. The sound and some of the lyrical sentiments may be from the past, maybe even a little old-fashioned, but the result is brand new.

"I'm surprised that grunge and techno survive, not this music," Connick said.

Connick's music has not only survived in a sea of rock, pop and electronic sounds, it has flourished. Some credit the performer with helping to inspire a revival of lounge music, but the substance to his style has proven to be more than apassing fad.

"My whole career, the audience has been a mix of people, but predominantly young people. I'm always surprised -- people come up to me and tell me they listen to my music, and you don't expect them to," Connick said.

After crooning his way into Hollywood with a role in Jodie Foster's 1991 film Little Man Tate, Connick released a string of popular albums and enjoyed chart success, platinum sales and Grammy honors.

In 1996, Connick released Star Turtle, a New Orleans funk album that won critical praise but dissappointed some fans who wanted more of Connick's mellifluous voice.

Although To See You is not a return to Connick's original embrace of a traditional jazz sound, those who ache for his legendary crooning will get an earful with this album.

"On this latest CD, I thought the musical mix was going to work," said Connick, who sings, plays piano and also wrote the orchestral arrangements on To See You.

"There's not a lot of jamming going on when you're working with a full orchestra, but I pretty much knew the sound I wanted before we played," he said.

Although To See You owes much to the various styles of 20th-century American music, Connick's own style goes beyond mere imitation.

"This is all new music, new arrangements. You don't have to be listening to anything to be inspired. It's American. There's jazz and orchestra, but I really don't think of music in terms of color."

Having conquered musical halls and Hollywood with his smooth style, is there any chance Connick will marry the two careers?

"A musical?" Connick laughed. "Maybe one day. Certainly not in the way they were done in the past. That style is kind of played out. It was great at the time, but it's time for something new."

Connick begins a mini-tour of the United States and Canada this winter, and promises to do more shows in the new year.