Day Breaks with Norah Jones

Norah Jones, the sitar legend Ravi Shankar’s American-bred daughter, was a sensation 15 years ago when she released her jazz-flavored debut, Come Away With Me. The album swept the hit charts of the world, including those of the Philippines, and the Grammy Awards as well with nine wins in 2002. It won for Album of the Year and Record of the Year while Nora was named Best New Artist of the Year, among several trophies.

Norah turned out to be a very focused, disciplined artist. She kept to a schedule. Record an album, promote, then go on tour. And then record an album, etc… again. She followed Come Away With Me with Feels Like Home two years later. Not Too Late came in 2007. Then The Fall two years later and then Little Broken Hearts in 2012. All of these titles were Platinum sellers but they were all not at all like her first. She was taking detours. Norah was instead singing pop and country tunes. All very well done, of course, and her voice, like warm melted honey, sounds incredible with anything but they were not jazz.

And then she had a baby and started working on a piano in her kitchen at home. Four years later, this 2016, Norah  reemerged. And what do you know, she is not only playing the piano again or singing jazz, she has written new songs for her jazziest album ever and they all sound great. I do not know how others feel about it but I believe that Norah was made to sing jazz and here finally is proof. The album Day Breaks is afire with quiet intensity. It makes me think of underground dives or bistros foggy with cigarette smoke, of girl singers named Ella and Sarah, save that this time, there singing with the band is the sultry Norah Jones.

Norah’s original compositions for Day Breaks are: The smoldering Burn as opener, a preparation for the temptations to come; the repetitive, radio-friendly single Tragedy; the upbeat kick-your-shoes-off Flipside; the romantic, dance-inviting It’s A Wonderful Time For Love; the ballad And Then There Was You with the laidback accompaniment and her amazing vocals in the spotlight; the dreamy Day Breaks gets a pronounced beat; Once I Had A Laugh, the best written song of the batch; Sleeping Wild, not wild at all but sexy and hypnotic; and Carry On, a gospel-tinged tune with the pipe organ that is the best cut of all. 

For her covers, Norah chose the simple but affecting Peace by Horace Silver, Don’t Be Denied by Neil Young, a country tune dressed up as jazz and Fleurette Africaine (African Flower) by Duke Ellington an instrumental, where Norah relaxes and lets the band go. Excellent, surprising choices. And not to forget, Norah also plays the piano in the album with a stellar line-up of musicians that includes Wayne Shorter on sax, Lonnie Smith on the organ, Brian Blade on percussion and John Patitucci on bass.

Norah has come up with another winner in Day Breaks and I am happy that the album is selling. It feels good to know that people in this case are listening to and buying real, organic music.

Speaking of Norah and her detours, my favorite album among those is Foreverly. This is a collaboration between Norah and the charismatic frontman of the rock band Green Day. That is right, I do not know if you have heard about this, but Norah did record an album with Billie Joe Armstrong where they reimagined an entire album by the famous country music rockers of the ‘50s era, the Everly Brothers.

It was not just any album. No songs like Cathy’s Clown or Walk Right Back or Devoted To You popularized by the legendary duo. What Norah and Billie Joe chose to redo was Songs Our Daddy Taught Us from 1958 where the Everlys sing traditional American favorites. I really admire the risk Phil and Don took when they chose to sing folk tunes while at the peak of their career. And I say likewise to Norah and Billie Joe for throwing caution to the winds and indulging themselves with that music. I must say they came up with such a sweet, charming, utterly enjoyable album.

Foreverly includes Long Time Gone, Silver Haired Daddy Of Mine, Roving Gambler, Lightning Express, Down In The Willow Garden, Who’s Gonna Shoe Your Pretty Little Feet, Oh So Many Years, Barbara Allen, Rockin’ Along (On An Old Rocking Chair), I’m Here To Get My Baby Out Of Jail, Kentucky and Put My Little Shoes Away.