Album: Hugh Laurie, Let Them Talk (Warner)

The idea of the Blackadder/House actor turning his hand to an album of New Orleans blues standards may seem incongruous, but Laurie has a lifelong love of this music and is a fine pianist.

This is another acting job, in a sense, and Laurie's faux-Southern drawl grates a little, but he's assembled a band of N'awlins old hands to add authenticity. The title has two meanings: "Say what you like" and "Let the musicians, speak for themselves." We will. And they do.