Me and Miz Jones

There’s no doubt about it. The jury is out, and the verdict is clear. Come 2002 Music Awards time, Norah Jones will figure prominently in the Best New Artist, Best Jazz Artist and Best Jazz Album categories. And it won’t matter whether you’re talking Grammys, American Music, Downbeat or what have you. On top of the critical acclaim been heaped on this 23-year-old sensation, there are the phenomenal sales figures to show that in spite of singing within, what is traditionally a "niche" segment, she’s broken through, to gain a good measure of mainstream support.

Invited by EMI to attend the special MTV concert Norah was putting on at the Victoria Theater, Singapore (to be aired on MTV next month); I fully expected to be transfixed by the vocal artistry I had discovered in the Arif Mardin produced debut album, Come Away With Me. What surprised and pleased me immensely, was finding out that not only was I impressed by Norah Jones’ singing and piano-playing, I was blown away by the Norah Jones Band. Accompanied by her regular touring band: bassist Lee Alexander, guitarist Adam Levy and drummer Dan Reiser; Norah proved that all the traveling on the road, the packed theaters and jazz clubs, has reaped dividends.

While the album spoke of the promise this singer could deliver – thanks to her unique delivery, phrasing and choice of material – the live performance gave off sparks that seemed to fly off stage, giving the by now familiar songs a vibrancy and life that the CD merely hinted at. There was sympathetic interplay and chances for each instrument to shine.

An added treat as we kicked off the night was to see our own Donita Rose playing host for this episode of MTV Sessions. A special "by invite only" concert, this was arranged by the people at EMI to support the strong airplay and sales Norah has been enjoying in the region. In the midst of a European tour, she acceded to doing this side trip to our part of the world to give herself a much needed break. After Singapore, she and the band were off to Phuket to bask in the sun, laze and recharge, before heading back "on the road."

Turn Me On was the first number they played and from the first few bars I was struck by how much better this band was live. I know it may be heresy, given it was legendary Arif Mardin at the helm of the studio album; but the band was possibly mixed down in order to highlight Norah’s voice. In this setting, without detracting from our concentrating on her, the band was being given free rein to make statements and punctuate just how scintillating the music can be.

Much has been written about Norah’s voice and delivery; that it’s an "old soul in a young voice," that there’s a "jaded storytelling quality to her singing." Well, it is all that, but if I really had to pin it down to a phrase, I’d describe it as a lingering caress, one that wraps you around its finger with warmth. Whether she sings a jazz standard like The Nearness of You or goes "country" with Hank Williams songs such as Cold Cold Heart; she puts her very personal signature on each song, giving the song her very singular "Norah treatment."

She ran through Nightingale and Lonestar (born in New York, she grew up in Texas, returning to the Village a couple of years ago); and then the concert went into high gear as she strung together three songs that for me, epitomize why she’s so special. Feeling the Same Way, Come Away With Me, and of course, Don’t Know Why, brought the house down. She topped off the set numbers with a rendition of the Band song, Bessie Smith. Brought back for an encore she surprised most of the audience with her choice of Tennessee Waltz.

It’s not surprising to discover that singers like Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin are an integral part of music she grew up with. What is magical is how unlike others who discard their roots and influences, Norah has chosen to honor them in her own way. Whether singing jazz, gospel, the blues, country or folk, Norah displays the love and respect she has for each genre. They’re all songs she loves and we can only be so thankful she has reinterpreted them for today’s audience.

I’ve been an avid fan of "good" music dating back to the late ’60s (Yes, even if I sat rows away, and only saw in the distance, four lavender suits bouncing away onstage, they were the Beatles at the Rizal Memorial); and while naturally, I’ll have my favorites and deep-rooted preferences (Steely Dan, Van Morrison, Style Council, John Mayer, Joni Mitchell, Coltrane and Miles, and so on), my eclectic tastes give me the chance to dip into a variety of new acts. Norah Jones is one of those contemporary artists you know will be up there for the long haul. She’s not going to depend on popularity to dictate what she sings, or in which genre she’ll perform.

She’s carved out a reputation based on being a unique "song stylist," defying any easy pigeonholing or categorizing. I had a chance to speak to her two days after the concert, and if you’re interested to hear her "side of the story" (including why she does not wish to speak about her father, Ravi Shankar), watch out for the Norah Jones article in People Asia’s Music issue come November.