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Norah Jones
Norah Jones
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Sultry vocalist and pianist Norah Jones developed her unique blend of jazz and traditional vocal pop with hints of bluesy country and contemporary folk due in large part to her unique upbringing. Born March 30, 1979, in New York City, the daughter of Ravi Shankar quietly grew up in Texas with her mother. While she always found the music of Billie Holiday and Bill Evans both intriguing and comforting, she didn't really explore jazz until attending Dallas' Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. During high school, Jones won the Down Beat Student Music Awards for Best Jazz Vocalist and Best Original Composition in 1996, and earned a second Best Jazz Vocalist award in 1997. Putting her vocal talents on the back burner, Jones worked toward earning a degree in jazz piano at the University of North Texas for two years before accepting a friend's offer of a summer sublet in Greenwich Village during the summer of 1999. Although she fully intended to return to college that fall, the lure of the folk coffeehouses and jazz clubs proved too strong and she soon became inspired to write her own songs. Jones appeared regularly with the trip-hop-electronica band Wax Poetic and assembled her own group around songwriters Jesse Harris (guitar) and Lee Alexander (bass), with Dan Rieser on drums.

In October of 2000, the group recorded a handful of demos for Blue Note Records and on the strength of these recordings, Jones signed to the jazz label in early 2001. Following an appearance on Charlie Hunter's Songs from the Analog Playground, Jones spent much of 2001 performing live with Hunter's group and working on material for her debut. Come Away with Me, recorded by Craig Street (Cassandra Wilson, Manhattan Transfer, k.d. lang) and legendary producer Arif Mardin (Aretha Franklin, Dusty Springfield, the Bee Gees), was released in early 2002 and garnered much public attention. The combination of her striking beauty and the fact that she was the daughter of an internationally renowned musician placed Jones in the awkward position of defending her music from those who dismissed her as another pretty face (the same argument used by those opposed to Diana Krall) and/or another riding the coattails of her musical royal heritage (see Natalie Cole, Miki Coltrane, Corey Parker). Although not by any stretch a "jazz" album (the label chose to call it "jazz-informed"), it featured jazz guitarist Bill Frisell and session drummer Brian Blade, and indicated a new direction for Blue Note combining jazz aesthetics and talent with a pop sensibility. Come Away with Me eventually went multi-platinum, selling 18 million copies worldwide and winning Jones eight Grammy awards.

In 2004, Jones released her highly anticipated follow-up album, Feels Like Home. Pairing once again with producer Arif Mardin, Jones pursued a similar approach to Come Away with Me, mixing '70s singer/songwriter-style tracks with blues, country, and her own mellow take on piano jazz. In 2003, Jones played in a group called the Little Willies along with Lee Alexander (bass), Richard Julian (guitar/vocals), Dan Rieser (drums), and Jim Campilongo (guitar), playing covers of classic American music like Hank Williams, Willie Nelson, and Kris Kristofferson. This one-off performance ultimately turned into sporadic shows at the venue whenever their individual schedules would allow, slowly incorporating original songs into their set along the way. In time, the Little Willies began considering the release of a live album, but instead wound up documenting their sound in the recording studio. Milking Bull Records issued the resultant self-titled album in March 2006. Late in the year the single "Thinking About You" announced her return to her solo career. It landed on the album Not Too Late, released in early 2007. ~ Zac Johnson, All Music GuideMore

Most Popular Music Videos (8)

Don't Know Why
(Duration: 3:12)
Apr 17th, 6:25am
Come Away With Me
(Duration: 3:20)
Apr 17th, 6:24am
Thinking About You (Video)
(Duration: 3:23)
Apr 17th, 8:02pm
Sunrise
(Duration: 3:32)
Apr 17th, 6:25am
What Am I To You?
(Duration: 3:37)
Apr 17th, 6:23am
Until The End (Video)
(Duration: 4:00)
Apr 16th, 10:34pm
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Fan Comments

Oct 8th, 4:19am
Norah, your music was the first that introduced me to this new blues/country/folk/jazz "style" that has me searching the jazz genre for more. Get in line with the likes of Lizz Wright, Julie Dexter, Maysa, and Sade. You rock my soulful child! And some great eye candy to go along with it...mmm, mmm, mmm.
May 6th, 9:04am
I love your music n like you Norah.
Apr 15th, 1:04pm
I really love your voice

Thx for Nice songs ^^
Apr 10th, 10:50pm
Your music literally touches my soul. Its more emotional and soulful than most of the bubblegum crap out these days. Never stop making music.
Mar 7th, 6:23am
I really love your songs and your voice, thanks.
Feb 28th, 4:57am
Your voice is captivating Norah. The songs you write,and the way you play the piano is smooth and gracefull. You're very unique and mysterious. I admire you. Thank you for being another positive force driving me through the meandering roads of life. I hope you have a very blessed life full of love and tranquility.
Feb 19th, 8:14am
Feb 4th, 1:44am
thx Norah..nice songs..
Nov 8th, 10:36pm
not since the Eagles have i found an artist that has given me complete satisfaction in their music. Norah Jone has done it. Thank you