Singer/songwriter/pianist Spencer Day kicks off a nationwide tour at the Napa Valley Opera House next week in celebration of the imminent release of his new Concord Jazz recording, “Vagabond.”

Day is becoming a familiar face in wine country, having opened for Rufus Wainwright’s Opera House debut last year, headlined his own show here last December and performed at several area fundraisers in the recent past.

His performance on July 2, marks the completion of several years of composing, performing and finally recording a new CD of original material, his first since the independently produced “Movie of Your Life” in 2005.

While his inspiration draws on everything from the Broadway stage (he grew up in Utah listening to soundtracks with his opera-singing mother) to pop, from jazz to blues, Day wanted to create what he terms “a musical hybrid” with the new recording, his first for Concord Jazz.

“I’ve drawn from the Great American Songbook quite a bit in the past, but I really wanted to infuse this album with a more contemporary esthetic, and also draw on some influences from the early ’60s, like Burt Bacharach, Roy Orbison and Dusty Springfield. I wanted to create a sound that could stand alone and not be easily put into one category, but at the same time appeal to a broad range of listeners.”

Born on a Utah farm, raised in rural Arizona and hanging his hat these days at various times in Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York, Day has captured the flavor of an itinerant lifestyle in this new collection of songs.

“That was the concept that I wanted to convey — the idea of leaving home, going out and finding myself outside of those familiar contexts,” he noted. “I wanted to make that a universal theme that people could relate to. My goal is to make a record that means something to me personally, but is still open enough that people can find their own relevant messages in it. The best songs are the ones that leave things open to interpretation, as opposed to telling the listener how to feel every step of the way.”

Panoply of emotion

The new CD opens with the agreeable “Till You Come To Me,” a clever song that’s part ode and part plea to a former lover who’s recently moved on. The mix of lyrical imagery and urgent rhythm suggests an undercurrent of desperation — emphasized by the powerful strings and expressive guitar work of guitarist/cellist/vocalist Yair Evnine, Day’s collaborative partner for several years.

“You’ll often find someone who’s a killer jazz player, but they can’t play a simple three-chord jam to save their lives,” Day pointed out. “Conversely, you’ll have people who are really good at the simple pop stuff, but they haven’t developed the sophistication of jazz — the unusual time signatures, the key changes, all those things. That’s one of the things I appreciate about Yair the most — how versatile and well rounded he is. He sings, he plays guitar and he’s a fantastic cellist.”

“Joe” is the story of a  man leaving home to make his way in the world. He leaves behind some misunderstandings and resentments, and takes with him sufficient warnings about how hard the world is likely to treat him.

The title track of the CD, which follows immediately, is in many ways a companion piece to “Joe,” with its declaration of a wanderlust that comes with no apologies.

The tempo here is subtly elastic, thanks to the rhythm section of bassist Jon Evans (Tori Amos) and drummer Scott Amendola (Charlie Hunter), both of whom move just slightly in and out of the pocket throughout the track — not unlike the wayfarer who refuses to stay on the path.

“Little Soldier” comes from Day’s distant but lasting memory of his mother sending him off on his first day of kindergarten, but the theme of parting and lost innocence resonates on a number of other levels for those who have heard the song in Day’s live performances.

“It’s a song about a young child leaving home for the first time,” he advised, “but given that we live in a country that’s been at war for several years now, some people have taken a different meaning from it, and I’m totally fine with that. The important thing is that the song touches you in some way and makes you feel something.” 

“Tuesday Morning (Maybe)” rattles off a series of questions that are at the very least disjointed, and at times a little bit frantic. “I wanted this song to come from the perspective of someone having a panic attack,” Day said. “It’s intended to be kind of funny. You’re asking all these questions because you’re just kind of freaking out. One morning you wake up and the whole world is bearing down on you, and it all seems like a huge, apocalyptic nightmare. But eventually you come back down from it.”

The CD also includes a taste of “bittersweet lemonade” in the form of “Summer,” with poignant memories “fading as fast as a tan;” the skeleton in the closet of “Everybody Knows;” a lazy big band arrangement, “I’ve Got A Mind To Tell You,” that would have been in Dean Martin’s repertoire had Day been writing songs four decades ago; and “Out of My Hands,” a cello-infused, strings-rich comment about the vicissitudes of life.

The set of new songs closes with “Better Way,” a call for change that’s upbeat and optimistic, without being heavy-handed or preachy.

“Ultimately, I want to touch people, and I want them to feel something,” Day concluded. “If I can get people to examine the present moment a little more closely — even if just for a couple minutes — and maybe step outside of their mindless routine, or pick up the phone and call someone they haven’t talked to in a while, I feel like I’ve done something worthwhile.

“An awareness of the present — for myself as much as for anyone listening to this record or experiencing one of my live performances — is something I really encourage. I don’t intend to tell people how to feel, or how to get to a certain place. It’s more a matter of inviting them to come along with me … It’s a one-way ticket. You don’t get to turn around. So make sure you’re paying attention and enjoying it.”

The official release date for “Vagabond” is Sept. 8. But those who attend the Napa Valley Opera House performance on July 2 will have the first opportunity to purchase Day’s latest CD and have it autographed.

For VIP selections — including preferred seating, after-concert party and a brunch with the artist — visit www.spencerday.com/napa.

Spencer Day CD Release Party

• Where: Napa Valley Opera House

• When: Thursday, July 2, 8 p.m.

• Tickets: $30

• Box office: 226-7372 or www.nvoh.org