Nigel Hall burst on the scene in New Orleans like a comet. Though he already had the beginnings of a successful career as a musician before the age of 30, the musicians in the city seemed to energize him with a newfound direction.

Over the course of the 11 years he has been living in New Orleans, Hall, best known as a member of Lettuce, went from being a sideman for touring acts to recording and playing with well-known local musicians like Jon Cleary and George Porter Jr. He has led his own band at Jazz Fest and elsewhere since 2014.

According to press materials accompanying his adventurous and wide-ranging new album, Spiritual, he also delved too deeply into the darker side of New Orleans nightlife. Now straight and sober, he has made “the most honest collection of music I have ever created and being able to celebrate that as a sober human being is a tremendous honor.”

In many ways the album is a return to his roots with musical references to some of the artists that influenced him before his deep dive into New Orleans funk, including George Duke and Donny Hathaway. R&B icon Patrice Rushen appears on one cut.

This is a soulful, at times celebratory, at times challenging, deeply spiritual album that focuses on the singer/keyboardist’s greatest strength—his incredible vocal range and ability to communicate emotion through song.

The scope of the music goes from stellar old-school R&B, as heard on the first full length cut, “Wake Up,” which wears the honesty of the newly sober on its sleeve, to the playful, melodically accessible jazz of “Brother’s Love,” which features awesome flute work from Jeff Coffin of the Dave Matthews Band.

Hall says he made the album for himself, and that may be so, but this album has something for anyone interested in an artist creating himself anew.