Ms. Jones got a
thing going on

The new voice

of Norah Jones

By Michael Evans

NORAH JONES has sold 20 million albums worldwide and won eight Grammys, so you might forgive her for being a diva. But you don’t have to. She may be famous, but she doesn’t have superstar attitude.

Jones feels she’s one of pop music’s unlikeliest successes. In 2002, the then 22-year-old Jones was just another aspiring jazz pianist and vocalist, having relocated to New York City from her native Dallas. Blue Note, her label, released her debut CD, Come Away with Me, with few expectations. Jazz albums that sell 10,000 copies are typically considered hits.

But a funny thing happened. Come Away with Me started selling. And selling. Featuring the intoxicating ballad “Don’t Know Why,” the album’s seductive blend of jazzy country-flavored fare became a pop sensation. You almost couldn’t find a public place that didn’t have it playing on endless rotation, a detail that wasn’t lost on the singer.

“I didn’t want to be this girl that was everywhere,” Jones says. “There were some things about that success that I would’ve never wished for. I signed with Blue Note Records. I didn’t sign to be a superstar. Some people have that dream. That just wasn’t mine.”

But five years on, Jones has proven to be no flash in the pop pan. Her 2004 album, Feels Like Home, sold well, but perhaps followed too closely the familiar formula of her debut. But on her third and latest release, Not Too Late, Jones colors outside the lines with gorgeous results. Instead of singing a mix of standards and material provided by her crack band (including her longtime bassist/producer and live-in boyfriend Lee Alexander) as on previous albums, Jones has opted to sing her own songs.

“The first two albums were both done in a couple of weeks each. I didn’t write many songs for those albums,” Jones tells The Connection in a phone interview. “When I finally got to take a break [after the “Feels Like Home” tour in 2005] it was fun for me to find my voice in songwriting. We built our studio in our apartment and had a year and a half to just think about songs.”

The time to creatively stretch her compositional skills served Jones well in the 13 songs she wrote or co-wrote here. Fans of the romanticism of Come Away with Me will find plenty to fall in love with, in particular the lilting and soulful “Thinking

Norah Jones set her sights on being a working musician but achieved stardom instead.

DANNY CLINCH

About You.” But gems such as the banjo blues stomp “Sinkin’ Soon” are a surprising thrill. “My Dear Country,” a sardonic political commentary, shows a dark side of Jones.

“It’s funny: I am not really a dark person,” Jones muses. “But the darkness is more of a reflection of being aware of the news and what’s going on in the world. It’s tough for that not to seep in and affect you.”

Although her father is esteemed sitar virtuoso Ravi Shankar, Jones says his influence on her has been more personal than professional. However, she makes no secret of her adoration for Willie Nelson.

“Willie’s somebody who’s just done what he’s wanted to do and tried different things over the years,” Jones marvels of the country titan. “That’s a key thing for me—I don’t want to make the same album over and over. I want to change and grow and be open to new things. Maybe the changes will be subtle to some people, but for yourself the changes are a big step.”

When asked what she does in her free time, she offers up an answer worthy of a workaholic, or is that funaholic?

“I just like to play music. This is my job, but you can love your job sometimes,” Jones says. “I play in a lot of different bands when I’m off. I play lead guitar in a band called the Sloppy

Joannes. It’s funny, ’cause it’s kind of bad. I’m not a killer guitar player, but it’s a lot of fun.” C

‘I ju‘st like to play music.

This is my

job, but

you can love

your job

sometimes.

—N’orah J’ones

Michael Evans is a freelance writer based in Portland, Oregon.

The Costco Connection

Not Too Late, Norah Jones’ new album, is currently available at Costco warehouses and costco.com.