Eilen Jewell brings her brand of heartbreak to New London

Musical alchemist Eilen Jewell returns to the Bank Street Café Saturday, still elegantly surfing the gorgeous wave that is her 2009 "Sea of Tears" CD.

With her solid, longtime band, Jewell distills honky tonk, folk, R&B, blues, Roy Orbison and Buddy Holly into a wondrous and distinct force. If a lot of the album's material concerns heartbreak, rest assured that Jewell explores every possible emotion that can be wrought from such things - and all of our ears are glad for it.

Another treat: when Jewell does do cover versions - as on Loretta Lynn's "Darkest Day" or British Invasion tunes like "I'm Gonna Dress in Black" and "Shakin' All Over" - expect amazing transformations.

- Rick Koster

Eilen Jewell, 8 p.m. Saturday, Bank Street Café, 639 Bank St., New London; $8; (860) 444-1444.