The Mellow Croon of Norah Jones

Grammy winner Amy Winehouse made waves with her soothing croon and producer Arif Mardin helped launch her career with 2002’s Come Away With Me.

This album sold over 100 million copies worldwide.

Since then, Jones has explored both Nashville-style country and soul-pop influences for her songs, while Visions marks her new creative venture.

Born in Grapevine, Texas

Born Geethali Norah Jones Shankar to American concert producer Sue Jones and Indian sitar master Ravi Shankar, Jones was raised by her mother Sue in a Dallas suburb. She sang church choirs while simultaneously learning piano, guitar, vocals, and voice lessons from local teachers; her musical influences included jazz singers Billie Holiday and Nina Simone.

After graduating high school, she enrolled at the University of North Texas to study jazz piano and was honored with two DownBeat student music awards in 1996 and 1997. Following an invitation from a friend in Greenwich Village for subletting accommodation, she relocated to New York City during summer 1999.

Moved to New York City in 1999

Norah Jones made her global debut with 2002’s Come Away With Me, an album which established a distinctive new voice and won her one Grammy. Since then she has earned nine more and sold millions of records worldwide.

As part of her work, she has performed at Grammy and Academy Award ceremonies as well as roles in movies My Blueberry Nights and Ted. Additionally, she has made appearances on 30 Rock, Saturday Night Live and Sesame Street.

Jones continues to expand her sound while remaining true to jazz and other staple forms of American music. On Feels Like Home (2004), Not Too Late (2007), The Fall (2009) and Little Broken Hearts (2012) she introduced daring elements while keeping true to her signature sultry sound.

Recorded Come Away With Me in 2002

Norah Jones stood out among both commercial teen pop artists and straight-ahead jazz performers, thanks to her distinctive voice which had an intimate quality, lending itself equally well to cabaret or honky-tonk performances of Great American Songbook classics and country favorites alike.

Come Away With Me became an international hit and earned her multiple Grammy awards. This deluxe edition expands upon that work with 30 additional tracks including demos and early sessions from its 14 released tracks.

Recorded Feels Like Home in 2004

Norah Jones followed up her impressive 2002 debut, Come Away With Me, with Feels Like Home in 2005. While featuring jazz-influenced arrangements on this record, Norah reached deeper into her Texas roots for this album.

She sings two hits by country music icon Hank Williams and jazz composer Hoagy Carmichael, often described as easy listening music by critics. But to categorize it that way would be an injustice; her performance brims with passion and subtlety!

Even those who vehemently oppose Jones’ slow music may find this album convincing; there’s simply no other modern pop star with a voice as powerful or emotive as Jones.

Recorded Not Too Late in 2007

After Norah Jones released Come Away With Me and Feels Like Home, which sold millions of units and won several Grammy awards, many assumed her career would continue along its current course. Yet with Not Too Late she took steps forward slowly but steadily; its most formulaic track “Thinking About You” appeared like an effort not to turn off potential Starbucks patrons.

This album marks several changes in her approach: it is her first without producer Arif Mardin (who died shortly before recording began) and the only one without covers; yet its signature intimate feel remains undiminished.

Recorded The Fall in 2009

Jones attempted a refreshing change of sound on her fourth release. This included collaborations with Ryan Adams and Okkervil River’s Will Sheff; session musicians Marc Ribot (who has played with Tom Waits) and Joey Waronker; as well as prominent guitar riffs and basslines than on previous albums.

Norah Jones’ second album The Fall showed her in a very different light than on Come Away With Me; her and producer Jacquire King created an atmosphere with clanging guitars, loping rhythms, and electronic tics.

Recorded I Dream of Christmas in 2021

Nine-time Grammy award winning pianist/singer Paul Anka delivers an inviting and comforting collection of timeless seasonal favorites and heartwarming original songs, delivered with his trademark musical mellowness yet expressiveness.

Some of her covers work better than others: her rendition of Chipmunks’ “Christmas Don’t Be Late” seems too straight for holiday music, while Frank Loesser’s melancholy yet poignant “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?” captures its New Orleans charm without becoming melancholic. But Vince Guaraldi’s plaintive “Christmas Time Is Here” tugs at heartstrings without becoming too sentimental.