Not So Abstract

I can’t wait to listen to the new Norah Jones album, “The Fall,” set to be released on November 17. I’ve heard the Chasing Pirates track so far, and I loved it!

With her previous CDs, Jones seems to dabble in different music genres, such as jazz, folk-rock, old country and contemporary. Although piano is her primary instrument, she also plays the guitar. On her previous album, Not Too Late, which was released in 2007, Jones also wrote or co-wrote the songs.

I first discovered Jones in 2002, long before she surprised the Grammy Awards in 2003 and snagged five awards for her debut album, Come Away With Me,  including record of the year and album of the year.

The first song I heard that gave me goose bumps was a rendition of Hank Williams’ Cold, Cold Heart. I didn’t know at the time that she was only 23 years old. Her voice was warm, mature and resembled the tone of early-jazz singers, with edgy nuances and a drawl undertone. I had heard the original version in the past, and was blown away by how different her version sounded. I was hooked.

I then went out and bought the CD and listened to it religiously every day, until I knew all the songs by heart. I told family and friends of her music. Later in 2003, after the Grammy Awards, when the buzz was all about Norah Jones, my cousin said to me, “You knew of her music first!” Well, I am sure I was not the first person, but I was one her early listeners.

In the summer of 2002, I went to see her at the Palais Royale in Toronto. Seating was first-come first-serve, and so my friend and I got there early and sat in the first five or so rows. I loved the show. She not only sang tunes from her debut album, but also did new songs and a version of Tennessee Waltz — a song I loved as a child.

The next day, I read in the newspaper that Prince was at the concert too. What can I say, he has great musical taste.