20th Anniversary reissue, 180g vinyl in a gatefold jacket - Norah Jones' debut on Blue Note is a mellow, acoustic pop affair with soul and country overtones, immaculately produced by the great Arif Mardin. Jones is not quite a jazz singer, but she is joined by some highly regarded jazz talent: guitarists Adam Levy, Adam Rogers, Tony Scherr, Bill Frisell, and Kevin Breit; drummers Brian Blade, Dan Rieser, and Kenny Wollesen; organist Sam Yahel; accordionist Rob Burger; and violinist Jenny Scheinman. Her regular guitarist and bassist, Jesse Harris and Lee Alexander, respectively, play on every track and also serve as the chief songwriters. Both have a gift for melody, simple yet elegant progressions, and evocative lyrics. (Harris made an intriguing guest appearance on Seamus Blake's Stranger Things Have Happened.) Jones, for her part, wrote the title track and the pretty but slightly restless "Nightingale." She also includes convincing readings of Hank Williams' "Cold Cold Heart," J.D. Loudermilk's "Turn Me On," and Hoagy Carmichael's "The Nearness of You." There's a touch of Rickie Lee Jones in Jones' voice, a touch of Bonnie Raitt in the arrangements; her youth and her piano skills could lead one to call her an Alicia Keys for grown-ups.
A1 | Don't Know Why |
A2 | Seven Years |
A3 | Cold Cold Heart |
A4 | Feelin' The Same Way |
A5 | Come Away With Me |
A6 | Shoot The Moon |
A7 | Turn Me On |
B1 | Lonestar |
B2 | I've Got To See You Again |
B3 | Painter Song |
B4 | One Flight Down |
B5 | Nightingale |
B6 | The Long Day Is Over |
B7 | The Nearness Of You |