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Although her debut, Come Away with Me, comes from the famed jazz label Blue Note, 22-year-old Norah Jones works at a crossroads of styles: She's partly pop, partly soul, and, yes, partly jazz. In a way, she's the younger sister of artists such as Cassandra Wilson, Holly Cole, and Madeleine Peyroux, singers who bring a jazz sensibility to pop melodies, and vice versa. Produced by the legendary Arif Mardin -- who worked with Aretha Franklin, Dusty Springfield, and Laura Nyro -- Come Away with Me has an easygoing sophistication that belies Jones's age. A native of Texas, where she grew up studying jazz piano and voice, Jones ended up in New York, and recently she contributed vocals to Charlie Hunter's Songs from the Analog Playground, covering songs by Bryan Ferry and Nick Drake. On her own, Jones presents an understated confidence, both in her light and melodic piano playing and in her seductive and sensual voice. In a feat of alchemy, she transforms Hank Williams's honky-tonk classic "Cold Cold Heart" into a smoky ballad with a walking bass line. "Don't Know Why," written by her bass player, Jesse Harris, is a lovely folk-tinged melody that Jones sings slightly behind the beat. The melancholy "The Long Day Is Over," which Jones wrote with Harris, features shimmering guitar work from Bill Frisell. It adds up to an impressive debut, and Come Away with Me is an invitation that's hard to resist. Steve Klinge, Barnes & Noble
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September 30, 2006: There aren't too many singers like Norah Jones, mixing a beautiful voice (and face) with a wonderfully melancholy bass and piano. Her eclectic musicianship soothed all my nerves throughout one sleepless night and after that, I slept like a newborn after breast feeding. She can imbue her music with her whole soul and then invite you into it. Not many modern singers-songwriters do that.
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September 26, 2004: Oh my gosh what an amazing CD! I first heard the entire CD when my 13 yr old niece played it for me one day when I was stressed out. If you don't have it go out and buy it!