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Norah Jones crosses musical borders
from jazz to soul to folk-based pop. Jones' honey
and smoke voice along with her skill as a
storyteller urges listeners to hear original and
classic songs, as if for the first time.
Norah grew up in Texas with her mom Sue. She got
into jazz while attending
Dallas' Booker T. Washington High School for the
Performing and Visual Arts. She always enjoyed
singing but felt that studying piano would be a more
solid foundation. She majored in jazz piano at the
University of North Texas for two years before
taking a trip to New York city.
The trip started out as just a summer away from
college, but Norah quickly knew that she would not
be leaving for a while.
"The music scene is so huge. I found it very
exciting. I especially enjoyed hearing amazing
songwriters at places like The Living Room.
Everything opened up for me. I couldn't leave."
She started hanging out with local songwriters and
became inspired to write her own songs.
Eventually a band was started with local songwriter
Jesse Harris and bassist Lee Alexander. Norah sang
and played piano.
In October 2000 the band recorded some demos for
Blue Note Records. Norah used this as an opportunity
to find her voice between her roots in jazz and a
new passion for songwriting. The resulting demos
were available as the now of out print EP
"First Sessions".
"That recording is a very special document of a
working band. Jesse, bassist Lee Alexander, drummer
Dan Rieser, and me. We also had guitar players Adam
Rogers and Tony Scherr come in on a few tracks. They
fit right into the band vibe we had going."
In January 2001 she signed with Blue Note Records.
Her first Blue Note release entitled Come Away with
me was released on February 26th, 2002.
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