Brian McKnight has a new album, “Just Me” (eOne) — one of his best, and a showcase for his pristine coos, right down to the vibrant lounge arrangement of George Michael’s “Careless Whisper.” So grab a copy, then skip it altogether and go straight to the bonus disc, a long and luxurious live album that forces a reconsideration of this slickster. It turns out he’s capable of tumbling and spinning in fantastic ways. During the first half of the album he charts his development from classical to jazz and gospel and R&B. He does a more convincing Stevie Wonder than a Nat King Cole, surprisingly, but makes a case to be part of their shared lineage, and why not? Mr. McKnight has a huge, powerful voice that he normally directs with laser focus, to the point of tackiness. But when he revisits his own catalog here, he’s riveting and surprising: leaning dangerously into phrases on “Only One for Me,” ostentatiously holding a big note on “One Last Cry,” playing determined piano on “Never Felt This Way.” On his studio albums Mr. McKnight often sounds as if he’s treading gingerly, pulling away from his songs lest he overpower them. Here, though, he’s punching hard, and it’s thrilling
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