Not since Diana Krall or even Sarah MacLachlan for that matter, has a solo female soul/jazz artist created such a critical sensation in the media. I’m talking about the one and only Norah Jones. She has the potential to make being a devotee the world of smooth sounds and cardigans a very cool thing indeed.
Norah Jones, who has by the way, Miss India-worthy looks, is slowly but surely bringing her fabulous sound to an increasing audience with her major-label debut LP on Blue Note/Capitol, ‘Come Away With Me’.
What really makes Norah worthy of your investigation is merely just the way she sounds. This is what one critic had to say pertaining to Norah Jones “If quiet is the new loud, then the voice is the new power chord. And Norah Jones has a voice you’d trade your soul for. Equal parts smoke, honey, autumn and regret, it’s one of those delicious twists of nature you want to lose yourself in. She makes heartbreak sound like the most sumptuous luxury and disappointment feel like whispered sweet nothings in the middle of the night. You suspect she could sing your eviction notice and still make it all seem good.”Released on the 26th of February Stateside, the Arif Mardin-produced ‘Come Away With Me’ bowed on the Billboard’s Heatseekers chart at a peak location of No. 5 in the 16th of March issue. Norah’s debut offering also became a No. 1 hit on the Top Contemporary Jazz Albums chart and moves 4 notches up to sit at No. 58 this week on The Billboard 200.
The daughter of famed Indian musician Ravi Shankar, Norah was born in Brooklyn, New York and brought up in Dallas. She has since returned to New York, where she is now based.
Norah, 22, spoke to an online UK music-zine recently “I just try to stay focused on my music and my shows. I used to be more of a piano player. Sometimes I feel I can sing better without the piano, but for now I feel comfortable doing both.”
She’s currently touring in support of “Come Away With Me.” She has dates scheduled on 12th of April in Denver, and will take to the road again in June. She’ll also be among the many artists, like Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Ryan Adams, Lee Ann Womack, Lyle Lovett, Matchbox Twenty and more, who will all come together to celebrate Willie Nelson at his tribute concert, held at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium come 14th of April. That’ll be taped for future broadcast by cable channel A&E.
Here are Norah Jones’ upcoming tour dates:
April 3-4: West Hollywood, Calif. (House of Blues)
April 5: San Francisco (Fillmore)
April 6: Claremont, Calif. (Claremont McKenna College)
April 8: Portland, Ore. (Crystal Ballroom)
April 9: Seattle (Moore Theatre)
April 12: Denver (Fillmore Auditorium)
April 14: Nashville (Ryman Auditorium)
June 8: Rochester, N.Y. (Max’s at Eastman Place)
June 9: Pittsburgh (Three Rivers Arts Festival)
June 25: Victoria, British Columbia (JazzFest International)
For more information, visit the Norah Jones Official Website.