Guitarist and songwriter Seth Walker cultivates an ominous and sexy sound on his latest recording, Sky Still Blue.

Bassists Steve Mackey and Chris Wood and drummer Derrek Philips keep a subtle groove going amid Jano Rix’s unassuming keyboard parts and in-the-pocket rhythm and lead guitars courtesy of Walker and producer Oliver Wood. Walker’s writing on this record stakes its claim on the joys, sorrows and foibles of male/female relationships.

There are odes to seizing the moment in “Tomorrow” and a series of humorous-yet-poignant images set to upbeat rhythms in “Another Day.” His version of the singer/songwriter takes more from jazz and blues, which give the record a vibe more toward Bill Withers and Keb Mo than the country/folk orientation that comes to mind when the term “singer/songwriter” is used.

He takes a jazzy turn in the come-on “All that I’m Asking” and turns bluesy on “High Wire.” Walker’s voice adds a veteran weariness to his lyrics, giving them added meaning. He sounds like he knows of what he speaks. Whether on the up-tempo or slower numbers, there’s a hip-swinging, easy grind and spin dance to this tunes.

The music is intimate and sounds close to the ear. It stays within a welcome range of tone and sound, and in that Walker writes and plays his songs with a great degree of truth and conviction.

Walker recently moved to New Orleans and, though his music is not what is typically thought of as New Orleans music, it fits well here in a city that celebrates songs as well as groove.