Songman Luke Winslow-King has a fervent connection to New Orleans. On its corners, streets and sidewalks, this Michigan native sharpened his craft, nestled into its folklore and found inspiration in its folkways. With Old/New Baby, Winslow-King creates a sound that captures the allure of a speakeasy, the swagger of Old Dixie and the simple, goodtime charm of Western Swing. These songs, with lyrics co-written by girlfriend Ji Un Choi, bring to mind the romantic follies of a Vaudeville suite or the foolhardy flirtations of a pair of Storyville drifters.

Recorded at Preservation Hall, Old/New Baby makes good use of this historic site’s mojo. Seemingly, it’s hard not to get lured into the buoyant swing of “April Is to May” or drift away to the soothing lullaby “Shoeshine” or revel right alongside the scampering trumpet, swooning clarinet and billowing trombone circus in “Birthday Stomp.” While the jovial folk- itty “Never Tired” finds a tireless Winslow-King pining atop a winsome guitar melody and a snappy washboard shuffle, the lonesome banjo and bellyaching brass in “Dragon Fly, Dragon Flower” cast a lovelorn impression over the restless troubadour’s cries, “Won’t you please deliver me and ease my worried mind?” Former New Orleans resident Roberto Luti lends his matchless slide to several of Old/New Baby’s best tracks, including the springy, bluegrass-tinged “Lost Soul” and the serpentine romp “Bird Dog Blues.” Though the heartily humdrum “Aeroplane” renders a slight snag, the beautifully fingerpicked folk treasure “Searchlight Waltz,” with its stirring string and accordion accompaniments, warrants several listens. Intriguing fare for the iPod generation, Old/New Baby sounds more like a dusty 78 than a downloadable digipak. And that’s a good thing.