Who is Norah Jones

Not Too Late

1. Wish I Could
2. Sinkin' Soon
3. The Sun Doesn't Like You
4. Until The End
5. Not My Friend
6. Thinking About You
7. Broken
8. My Dear Country
9. Wake Me Up
10. Be My Somebody
11. Little Room
12. Rosie's Lullaby
13. Not Too Late

THIS is the Nora Jones I have come to love: the pure voice, the melodic songs, the one-of-a-kind sound that IS Nora Jones. Every song is fabulous.
This is rainy day music. This is soft jazz, soul-stirring music. This is background music for making love. This is relaxing, unwinding-after-a-hard-day-at-work music. THIS is Nora Jones. Buy it and enjoy her inimitable, poignant voice. You will not be disappointed. - Marion "dragonfly80@hotmail.com" (Louisiana)

Grammy Award-winning 2002 debut "Come Away With Me" (20 million copies sold worldwide and still counting), and the follow-up "Feels Like Home".
This (her third) album offers us basically more of the same - 13 songs about wistful love, sunsets and daydreaming, aimed squarely at the middle-of-the-road Jazz-lite listener..
It's another collection of intimate, languorous songs which shocase Norah's seductive vocal talent.
Jones wrote all of the songs on this album, apparently, including the recently released single "Thinking About You".
As with previous records, Norah's famed voice (variously described as "sultry" and "sleep-inducing") is the main draw on this album, as she plods away at the keyboard until it's all over.
She and her stripped vocal and musical style hearken back to a past time - back when music was allowed to emote and when instruments were played by actual, real, live humans with blood and guts and stuff.
The Grammy connoisseur's third album continues her exploration of pop, jazz, soul, folk and country in a manner that hasn't been done since Nina Simone was rightfully cursing out audiences who dared to talk during any one of her rapt performances.
Like her predecessor -- with whom she shares a plaintive, smoky vocal style -- Jones' music is without pretension or any hints of overt experimentation. Her lyrics are earnest expressions of everyday life -- "Annie is standing in the door / With a look on her face I can't ignore / She tells me that her heart is sore / And pulls me in" ("Wish I Could") - and they hover over simple arrangements that comprise nothing more than a piano, bass, guitar, occasional horns and strings, and a percussion section.
The effect as a whole is an equable meditation on life and love and a testament to the enduring allure of music without ornamentation.
Under the sparse arrangements and understated delivery - something of a Norah trademark - there's a lot of musicality in play, even though deceptively subdued.
Less is more.Indeed. - Esthero

Release Date: 01/30/2007

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Come Away with Me

1. Don't Know Why
2. Seven Years
3. Cold Cold Heart
4. Feelin' The Same Way
5. Come Away With Me
6. Shoot The Moon
7. Turn Me On
8. Lonestar
9. I've Got To See You Again
10. Painter Song
11. One Flight Down
12. Nightingale
13. The Long Day Is Over
14. The Nearness Of You

Discovering that Norah Jones is in fact the real-life daughter of Indian classical maestro Ravi Shankar was what initially got me interested in her music. As an active Anoushka Shankar fan (for those of you who don't know yet, shes Norah Jones' sister, and is an Indian classical recording artist) I expected something similar from Norah. I must say though, that despite her heavily Indian classical background, Norah has chosen to take on tracks steeped in Western Jazz influences, and pulls it off with remarkable ease.

It pays to know a little about Norah Jones before listening to her music. I hear the term 'Billy Holiday' being loosely thrown around when people review her music, but Norah Jones has, with great subtlety, used her classical background to create a record that betrays any trace of Eastern influences. Being as she is the offspring of an Indian father and a Southern mother, Norah's Texan upbringing is evident throughout the record. However, even though this is her debut album, she has been making music for a while (if you can find her rare 'First Sessions' EP from 2000, you should get it) and it shows. This is no wary first album, nor is it a pretentious and I'm-a-star-because-my-dad-is-one type recording. In fact, Norah's press releases strain to avoid mentioning her father's name and to promote her as an artist all her own.

I first heard Norah over the Internet, purely by chance, and I was instantly reminded of Carole King, and particularly of two seemingly different albums - Sinead O'Connor's 'Am I Not your Girl?', and Gloria Estefan's 'Mi Tierra'. The comparison may not be evident immediately, but if you've listened to these two albums you may know exactly what to expect. I do agree with reviewers who say that her voice is 'smokey' but its also 'rustic' and 'full-bodied'.

The album itself is a revelation in terms. For one, it is being released at discount price to begin with (even though it is a full length 14 track LP), a strategy that could or could not pay off, especially considering what little promotion Norah has been given thus far. Secondly, its been a long while since we've had true talent cover the great blues classics and add their own original material and input. While there are occassional instances when an artist treats a cover with respect (such as Fiona Apple's version of The Beatles' 'Across the Universe'), its not every artist that has the raw talent and energy to grasp the attention of an audience that has grown weary of the vapid material world in general. In Norah Jones, we find that promise.

Critics may argue that the two best songs here themselves are the covers that Norah has chosen. One is Hank William's torch song 'Cold Cold Heart'. The other, which has on numerous occassions been called the album's finest track, is her cover of John D. Loudermilk's "Turn Me On". Granted that these lyrics aren't exactly poetic or steeped in the mythical streams of conciousness that emanate from both her father and sister's body of work, but in a woodsy, plain way, Norah scores with simplicity with her voice, much the same way that her sibling scores with the simplicity of her instrumentation.

What I like about Norah Jones is her reserve and the ability to refrain from milking a tear-jerker ballad for all its' worth. This is not a diva in training, and we should all be so lucky. Perhaps its Miss Shankar's Eastern heritage that lends her that special mystique, but whatever it is, shes got a great first album out, and its one that we should all be listening to.

I wanted to jot down the names of a few specific albums that I felt 'Come away with me' had much in common with, in terms of spirit and ambience. In addition to the two albums I had mentioned before, it also carries the essence sported by Susheela Raman's stunning album 'Salt Rain', and by Vanessa Paradis' 2000 album 'Bliss'. Norah Jones' debut is one that fits in more with the Real World catalog - I'd be excited if she could do some collaborative work with Afro Celt Sound System or Sam Mills.

All in all, a splendid effort. If you're a fan of New Age and world music, and even if you haven't been a fan of bluegrass or Jazz, this is one album that could possibly open up new areas of musical interests for you. If only for just that reason, you should definitely get this. Highly recommended. - Kabir Davis

Release Date: 02/26/2002

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Feels Like Home

1. Sunrise
2. What Am I To You?
3. Those Sweet Words
4. Carnival Town
5. In The Morning
6. Be Here To Love Me
7. Creepin' In
8. Toes
9. Humble Me
10. Above Ground
11. The Long Way Home
12. The Prettiest Thing
13. Don't Miss You At All

The latest album from Norah Jones, "Feels Like Home" shows us a different side of a singer who clearly has some diverse tastes. Where her debut "Come Away With Me" was reminiscent of Jazz singers like Billie Holiday and Rosemary Clooney, "Feels Like Home" has more of a Gillian Welch sound to it, a feeling that's only enhanced by Jones' duet with Dolly Parton on the bouncy track "Creepin' In".

But that doesn't make it any less spectacular. Jones' voice is still beautiful, her piano playing is lovely, and her backup musicians, The Handsome Band, are amazing. Fans of "Come Away" won't be disappointed, despite the change of style.

Something else that you see on "Home" that you didn't get before was more of Jones writing her own songs. Most of the tracks here are co-written, but Jones did write one track, "What Am I to you", herself. I will say that Jones is no lyrical genius, but the lyrics take a backseat to the still hauntingly beautiful instrumental work, especially on "Carnival Town", which has a nice string arrangement by the album's co-producer Arif Mardin.

So, to sum up: "Feels Like Home" is quite different from "Come Away with Me", but it's no less great. Jones maintains the casual, relaxed quality of her music, and leaves fans more than satisfied. I can't wait to see what she comes out with next. Judging from this album, she can continue experimenting with whatever style she wants, and she'll still produce a wonderful work of art. - Abby (Pittsburg, Kansas United States)

Release Date: 02/10/2004

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Not Too Late

1. Wish I Could
2. Sinkin' Soon
3. The Sun Doesn't Like You
4. Until The End
5. Not My Friend
6. Thinking About You
7. Broken
8. My Dear Country
9. Wake Me Up
10. Be My Somebody
11. Little
12. Rosie's Lullaby
13. Not Too Late
Deluxe DVD content includes:
1. "Thinking About You" (Music Video)
2. "Until The End" (Music Video)
3. "Sinkin' Soon" (Music Video)
4. Interview with Norah
5. "Thinking About You" (behind the scenes at the video shoot)
6. "Sinkin' Soon" (behind the scenes at the video shoot)
PLUS two live bonus tracks from Rehearsals.com filmed in Burbank, CA, in November 2006.

Like her 2004 sophomore effort, "Feels Like Home," Norah Jones' latest maintains the sound that brought her national acclaim while still furthering her artistic endeavors.

"Not Too Late" proves she is not given to relying on a cash- cow formula; she not only continues to add inflections of country like last time around, but she eschews the American songbook in favor of a uniformly original array of songs -- all of which she co-wrote. This aids the record's warm, intimate atmosphere, which glimmers and glows despite the absence of the late legendary producer, Arif Mardin.

The slinky blues of "Thinking About You" is the ideal lead single. With its plaintive melody, organic jazz horns and restrained yet expressive vocals, it is musical chocolate cake. "Sinkin' Soon," meanwhile, is the most perplexing track. With its curious lyrics ("Like the oyster crack in the stew/The honey in the tea/Like the wheel of cheese high in the sky/We're gonna be sinkin' soon), the song sways and jerks with Jesse Harris (writer of her monster hit "Don't Know Why") on banjo and drummer Andy Borger working pots and pans. It continues the theme of fame's fickle nature that began with "Carnival Town" on her last LP.

In spite of her popularity with white collar right-wingers, Jones is not afraid to infuse her music with passionate liberal beliefs. With its lush, nervous mix of pianos and guitars, "Wish I Could" is the story of a lonely war widow and even lonelier other woman ("She says love in the time of war's not fair/He was my man but they didn't care/I don't tell her that I once loved you too"), while "Broken" finds a soldier irrevocably hardened by war ("He's got blood on his shoes and mud on his brim/Did he do it to himself or was it done to him?").

"My Dear Country," with a cabaretlike interlude, waxes on a terrifying election and a "deranged" politician without naming names:

"I cherish you my dear country/I love all the things that you've given me/And most of all that I am free/To have a song that I can sing/On election day."

The soothing "Wake Me Up" appropriately follows with its resigned, world-weary attitude, bringing in sounds of the heartland that continue in "Rosie's Lullaby" and the fun-loving "Be My Somebody," the latter marked by cheeky lyrics: "Last night was a record to be broken/It broke all over the kitchen floor."

"Little Room" attempts to shed her fuddy-duddy image with sexual undertones, while "Not My Friend" finds her safe in her own company -- not content to maintain a relationship with someone who wishes her unhappiness.

"The Sun Doesn't Like You" and "Until the End" are full of grace and character, and "Not Too Late" closes the disc with spare piano/vocal simplicity. Its optimistic message provides a perfect conclusion and its overwhelmingly pristine melody makes it an instant classic.

If "Come Away With Me" was rich, delicious comfort food, "Not Too Late" is more complex and sophisticated. Making artistic leaps and bounds, Jones proves that she is not a Grammy guzzler laughing all the way to the bank -- she is an artist's artist.

This limited-edition version contains a DVD jam-packed with goodies, most notably the eye-popping video for "Sinkin' Soon," while iTunes has an exclusive alternate version of the aforementioned track available. - Rudy Palma "The Writing Fiend" (NJ)

Release Date: 01/30/2007

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Thinking About You

There have really been very few artists who've came out the past few years that have really made a great impression on music. Norah Jones has been one of those who have shined on that trademak, with her Jazzy somber mellow songs. Thinking about You, the first single from her hyped third record, Not Too Late, keeps the signature flow from her music flowing swiftly, without losing the feeling of her songs. I like this song because it speaks from the heart, and it is very sophisticated. I really hope that the next single from the record is just as good as this one. It is one of the best songs on the radio right now. - Michael Kerner "Michael Kerner" (Brooklyn, New York U.S.A.)

Release Date: 01/30/2007

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Goin' Home: A Tribute to Fats Domino

Disc 1
1. Ain't That a Shame John Lennon
2. I'm Walkin' Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers
3. Goin' Home B.B. King with Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk
4. Blueberry Hill Elton John
5. My Girl Josephine Taj Mahal and The New Orleans Social Club
6. Every Night About This Time The Dirty Dozen Brass Band with Joss Stone and Buddy Guy
7. I Want To Walk You Home Paul McCartney featuring Allen Toussaint
8. Whole Lotta Loving Lenny Kravitz with Rebirth Brass Band, Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews, Fred Wesley, Pee Wee Ellis and Maceo Parker
9. Don't Leave Me This Way Dr. John
10. I'm In Love Again / All By Myself Bonnie Raitt and Jon Cleary
11. Please Don't Leave Me Art Neville
12. Going To the River Robbie Robertson with Galactic
13. Blue Monday Randy Newman
14. It Keeps Rainin' Robert Plant with Lil' Band o' Gold
15. One Night (Of Sin) Corinne Bailey Rae

Disc 2
1. Walking To New Orleans Neil Young
2. Valley Of Tears Robert Plant and The Soweto Gospel Choir
3. My Blue Heaven Norah Jones
4. Honey Chile Lucinda Williams
5. Rising Sun Marc Broussard feat. Sam Bush
6. When I See You Olu Dara and The Natchezippi Band feat. Donald Harrison, Jr.
7. Be My Guest Ben Harper With The Skatalites
8. Let The Four Winds Blow Toots & The Maytals
9. I Hear You Knockin' Willie Nelson
10. I Just Can't Get New Orleans Off My Mind Irma Thomas & Marcia Ball
11. Don't Blame It On Me Bruce Hornsby
12. I'm Gonna Be A Wheel Someday Herbie Hancock With George Porter Jr., Zigaboo Modeliste & Renard Poche'
13. The Fat Man Los Lobos
14. So Long Big Chief Monk Boudreaux with Galactic
15. When The Saints Go Marching In Preservation Hall Jazz Band with Walter "Wolfman" Washington and Theresa Andersson

New Orleans Living, Walking Legend
"For lack of a better way of putting it," Irma Thomas, known as the Soul Queen of New Orleans, said recently, "he's a living, walking legend among us in New Orleans. Between him and Louis Armstrong, they were the first big names to put us on the musical map." Nate Chinen

'Goin' Home: A Tribute to Fats Domino,' is one of those CD's where one listen convinces you this is a CD worth its weight in gold. The Tipitina Foundation is sponsoring this CD, which in itself is dedicated to preserving Louisiana's musical culture, will dedicate a portion of the proceeds to the renovation of Mr. Domino's publishing offices. The talent that is found on this tribute CD is memorable with a cross of rock, blues, jazz and New Orleans roots that include B. B. King, Paul McCartney, Robert Plant, Willie Nelson, Neil Young and Norah Jones. And they were indeed fortunate that New Orleans legends like Dr. John and Allen Toussaint joined them.

There are thirty tracks on this 2 CD series and as tribute albums go some songs are great, others are fabulous. Some of the best are:

The opening song by John Lennon 'Ain't That A Shame' is an appropriate old rendition and Yoko Ono gave her blessing at the beginning of the project.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers give a rousing rendition to 'I'm Walkin' and it is one of my favorites.

BB King with Ivan Neville brings the NOLA sound to 'Goin Home'.

'Blueberry Hill' with Elton John brings rockin' blues to that song.

Taj Mahal and The New Orleans Social Club are the soul of NOLA with 'My Girl Josephine'.

Paul McCartney and Alan Toussaint's 'I'm Going To Walk You Home' is one of the best covers of the CD.

Dr John, the original New Orleans man, sings a bluesy rendition of 'Don't Leave Me This Way' and he once again lets us know why he is the best. "Woke up early this mornin'...Then I got on my knees all you could hear me say is. Don't leave me this way. Don't leave me this way. Don't leave me this way. Don't leave me this way...Tears runnin' from my eyes and all I could do is cry. Don't leave me this way. Don't leave me this way".

Bonnie Raitt and Jon Cleary bring their rockin sound to 'I'm In Love Again' and 'All By Myself'.

Randy Newman's 'Blue Monday' is the absolute best song on this CD. His voice convinces us that his feelings are true.

'Walking To New Orleans' with Neil Young has the country/rock of NOLA and is perfecto.

Nora Jones sings 'My Blue Heaven' in the old fashioned tradition.

Lucinda Williams makes 'Honey Chile' her own and convinces me that this song was written for her.

'I Hear You Knockin' with Willie Nelson is one of the better renditions I have heard.

Irma Thomas and Marcia Ball, the grand old dames of New Orleans, sing 'I Just Can't Get New Orleans Off My Mind' and we know how true this is.

'When The Saints Go Marchin' In' is the last song with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and the finale as it should be done.

"A concert will be held Saturday, September 29 at Tipitina's in honor of Fats Domino. Doors open at 8:00 PM with the the show starting promptly at 9:00 p.m. "Fats" Domino emerged as a poster boy for post-Katrina New Orleans. His plight has come to symbolize the storm's vast personal tragedy as well as the threat to the city's immense cultural legacy."
The Times-Picayune

This tribute CD to Fats Domino has the star power, the songs and the best New Orleans sounds. A tribute to a founding father of rock n'roll, blues and New Orleans,

Highly Recommended. - prisrob "pris," (New EnglandUSA)

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Artist's Choice: Norah Jones

1. What Would I Do Without You - Ray Charles
2. What A Little Moonlight Can Do - Billie Holiday
3. I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know - Donny Hathaway
4. The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down - The Band
5. Can I Sleep In Your Arms - Willie Nelson
6. I Still Miss Someone - Johnny Cash
7. Fruits Of My Labor - Lucinda Williams
8. I Just Want To Make Love To You - Etta James
9. Today I Sing The Blues - Aretha Franklin
10. Slick Chick (On The Mellow Side) - Dinah Washington
11. Whatever Lola Wants (Lola Gets) - Sarah Vaughan
12. I Want A Little Sugar In My Bowl - Nina Simone
13. Lovesick Blues - Hank Williams
14. Dear Someone - Gillian Welch

This stocking stuffer is a gift that just keeps on giving. I just can't get enough of it. I listen to this entire album at least 3 times a day. Whether I am at work, in the car, or at home cooking or cleaning, it is the perfect mix. I have spent weeks trying to find another album that compares and have yet to find it. - becky q (Fredericksburg, VA)

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