Music fans delighted with Norah Jones' success in reawakening widespread interest in jazz-inspired pop might want to explore the latest effort from one of Orange County's most original singer-songwriters, among several worth while new releases by local artists.

Sherman Fowler "Outside the Box" (Toad Hall Records) - There is an enthralling blend of jazz and folk on Sherman Fowler's sophomore release, the fittingly titled "Outside the Box."

Blurring the line between old and new influences, the San Clemente-based artist creates a musical world that is beautiful and saturated in melancholy while achieving a type of emotional depth lacking in the work of most of his contemporaries.

"Just Another Boat Offshore" and "Fair Weather Friends" are among the highlights, showcasing Fowler's warm and deep baritone blended with the sole accompaniment of his acoustic guitar. Using a unique mix of sparse finger picking and strumming, Fowler delivers a wide range of fully realized songs and instrumentals that evoke various moods.

And while the musical tapestry is stunning across the 17- song disc, there is an equal emphasis on Fowler's lyrical power. "Being Judged" delivers a thoughtful plea for people to see others for who they are on the inside, while "You ..." faithfully captures that moment of romantic loss when things first go wrong and one is left in absolute despair.

"Outside the Box" lacks the overproduced quality of most commercial-label releases, but the distinctive originality and emotive voice of Fowler never misses the mark.

For more information on how to get a copy of "Outside the Box" or to get details about the artist's coming shows, visit his official Web site, www.shermanfowler.com.

You might like if you enjoy: David Gray's "White Ladder," Elvis Costello and Burt Bacharach's "Painted From Memory," Fowler's debut disc, "Your Love Is Like the Moon."

Steve Gillette and Cindy Mangsen "A Sense of Place" (Redwing Music) - Steve Gillette may have grown up in Orange County, but his latest collaborative work with wife and fellow singer-songwriter Cindy Mangsen sounds more rooted in the traditional folk of Ireland and Great Britain than anything on this side of the Atlantic. "A Sense of Place" is a stirring and superb effort featuring originals penned by Gillette and Mangsen (a New England native), as well as wonderful-sounding covers by Cindy Kallet ("Tide and the River Rising"), Jack Hardy ("Eclipse") and several other artists.

Gillette and Mangsen possess wonderful voices that are affecting whether they're singing apart or together. Among the many highlights is a romantic reading of Gillette's "When the First Leaves Fall" and the two artists sharing vocals on the pleasing "Tide and the River Rising."

In addition to the use of vocal harmonies and acoustic guitar, the material is further linked with traditional folk by the use of Mangsen's skill on accordion and mountain dulcimer.

For more information on "A Sense of Place," log on to www.redwingmusic.com.

You might like if you enjoy: Solo works from Gillette and Mangsen, Peter, Paul & Mary.

Mark Wood "Now That You're Gone" and "The Lessons of Life" (Kanu da Gila Records) - Newport Beach's Mark Wood has taken a major step for a local artist releasing music on his own label: He has produced and released two full- length discs at once.

"Now That You're Gone" is a country-style release featuring a mix of covers and originals that would be home on most contemporary country music stations. Tracks such as the rocker "Me, Myself and I" and his own "Now That You're Gone" (chronicling the painful loss of his father) are memorable and well-produced.

"The Lessons of Life" is a different type of effort. Whereas his country music disc was fully produced and featured several well-known studio musicians, "The Lessons of Life" was recorded at Audio Vertigo Studios in Irvine in October, with all of the tracks recorded in one or two takes.

"In My Dreams," "Moving Through Time/The Lessons of Life" and "Through the Eyes of an Old Man" showcase his songwriting and singing skills. Wood's songs cover a range of accessible topics, from love and becoming a parent to the risks of youthful ambition. For more information, log on to www.MarkWoodEntertainment.com.

You might like if you enjoy: Jimmy Buffett, solo efforts from Glenn Frey and Don Henley.