Taking the train from Ohio back to New York, at six o’clock in the morning, I can think of nothing better to make the nine hour train ride move a little faster than listening to the subtle and soothing tones of Norah Jones.
Slow paced and calm, accompanied by a melodic almost somber rhythm, Jones’ lyrics have sometimes been accused of being a good remedy for insomnia. I feel completely different though, and bear a deep appreciation for her soothing tone.
Although Jones’ first full length album, Come Away With Me, was released in February 2002 by Blue Note Records, she did not begin to receive much credit, or notice for that matter, from the American public until just recently.
A few of her more popular songs such as “Don’t Know Why” are consistently played on a slew of radio stations. Jones and Come Away have also been nominated for eight Grammy Music Awards, including Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Best New Artist, and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. The Grammy Music Awards will take place on February 23 at Madison Square Garden, New York City.
Taking a spin on classical Jazz, Jones’ music brings something new and refreshing to the music scene. With modern twists to an older style of music, Jones has introduced a style of music that draws from other genres, while managing to be individualistic on its own.
Growing up in Texas with her mother, Jones attended the Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Dallas. Later she majored in Jazz at the University of North Texas for two years. After two years of college, she took a summer trip to New York City that quickly turned into something more.
“The music scene is so huge. I found it very exciting. I especially enjoyed hearing amazing songwriters at places like The Living Room. Everything opened up for me. I couldn’t leave,” said Jones about her trip to the Big Apple.
Meeting local song writers inspired Jones to start writing her own songs and eventually she formed her first band with another songwriter named Jesse Harris and a bassist Lee Alexander. In 2000, their band recorded demos for Blue Note Records, which were later available under the title First Sessions.
“That recording is a very special document of a working band. We also had guitar players Adam Rogers and Tony Scherr come in on a few tracks. They fit right into the band vibe we had going,” said Jones.
In my opinion Jones is a rising star among all the superficial Barbie dolls of America’s pop scene. Even that is not worthy of Jones’ style though, since it clearly does not fall into rank with the high pitched synthesized warbling of someone like, say, Britney Spears. I don’t care what three CDNow.com critics from Texas have to say about her music, if ever there were one, Norah’s the girl for me.
