The Grammy-winning songwriter explores jazz sounds on her wonderful new album
What kind of music does Norah Jones make?
A compilation of her prolific collaborations (….Featuring Norah Jones), brought hip-hop to the party.
Jones new album showcases another side: jazz.
Credit: Danny Clinch
One element onDay Breaksbrings Jones back to her debut.
She concentrates on her piano after working with guitar on many of her releases in between.
Its a wee-small-hours-of-the-morning sound yet its far from sleepy.
Amid that groove, Jones found a sensual new texture for her voice.
Theres more smoke in her tone and her vibrato lingers longer, melting into her dexterous keyboard work.
During And Then There Was You, Jones channels a young Diana Washington.
In Sleeping Wild, she invokes the subtler tones of Ella Fitzgerald.
A role model for the arrangements seems to be Roberta Flacks take on Compared To What.
Thats especially clear on Flipside, with its roiling piano and flinty bass.
Theres one off-message cover: Neil Youngs Dont Be Denied, which Jones punches up with jazzy horns.
Still, its the relationship between Jones voice and her piano that impresses most.
Not since her entrancing debut has she sounded this engaged.
Flipside
Jones vigorous piano solo demands a major jam live.
