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Pete Yorn will draw from his work with Scarlett Johansson for his Portland show Monday.

IF YOU GO

PETE YORN WITH ALBERTA CROSS

WHEN: 7 p.m. Monday

WHERE: Port City Music Hall, 504 Congress St., Portland

HOW MUCH: $22 (advance), $27 (door), $35 VIP

CONTACT: 899-4990; www.portcitymusichall.com

Pete Yorn has been a busy man lately. He's also been a fortunate man – particularly in regard to whom he's worked with.

For starters, the singer-songwriter recorded an album with Scarlett Johansson, pretty much the hottest and most talented young actress in Hollywood. As Don Draper of "Mad Men" would say, men want her and women want to be her.

But is she really as classically beautiful in person as she is on screen?

"More beautiful," Yorn said from a recent tour stop in Indiana. He didn't say it like he was bragging, which would have been excusable. No, Yorn spoke as if simply stating a fact.

Their duet album, "Break Up," which came out in September, makes the actress even more adorable. She can actually sing, admittedly with minimal range but with a gruff sexiness that pairs excellently alongside Yorn's handsomely cracked, yearning croon.

Johansson won't be with Yorn for his Monday show at Port City Music Hall, but Alberta Cross will be.

Johansson and Yorn met through mutual friends years ago, and have stayed in touch. They recorded "Break Up" in 2006, a couple of years before the actress released her debut solo disc, "Anywhere I Lay My Head," a collection of Tom Waits covers.

"No, I didn't know at all," Yorn said when asked if he knew that his famous, gorgeous actress friend could indeed sing. "To me, it wasn't even about what her voice sounded like. It was about her presence. I wanted this female perspective on songs, someone who had obvious sensuality. As a bonus, she has a really cool voice."

In June, Yorn released his superb solo album "Back & Fourth." The disc features richer backing instrumentation than previous releases by the New Jersey native. Producer-engineer-multi-instrumentalist Mike Mogis – best known for his work with Bright Eyes, The Faint and Rilo Kiley – produced.

"I like that it's a real organic-sounding record," Yorn said. "There are acoustic guitars and then mandolin and upright bass. I knew that Mike, who plays a bunch of instruments well himself, would bring a lot to the table. He had the idea to bring in horn arrangements to bolster the sound and the subtle string arrangements."

Super-producer Rick Rubin (Johnny Cash, Tom Petty, Metallica) served as executive producer. On "Back & Fourth," he also played the role of editor.

Yorn convened at Rubin's place, and they whittled his songs down from 30 to 12 before the singer-songwriter went to record with Mogis. Rubin continued to offer feedback throughout the recording process.

"It was cool to have him godfathering the project but at the same time let us do our thing," Yorn said.

And if that weren't enough for recent recording activity, before making "Back & Fourth," Yorn cut an album helmed by Frank Black, the alternative rock icon who pioneered the loud-soft-loud template with the Pixies, a group that hugely influenced Nirvana and countless other 1990s acts.

Yorn wouldn't reveal the album's title – or really any other details – but insisted the odd artist-producer teaming worked.

"The record should be out sometime next year," he said.

Wade Tatangelo is a freelance writer based in Fort Collins, Colo. His work appears in publications nationwide.