Norah Jones never liked to display her personal life for public scrutiny, preferring instead to keep her relationship with Lee Alexander secret. Furthermore, she chose not to reveal the names of her children.
But if you still see her as just another lounge act, think again. She has expanded her talents by recording with artists like Billie Joe Armstrong from Foo Fighters and creating Little Willies as an alternative country band.
Geetali Norah Jones Shankar
Geetali Norah Jones Shankar (she changed it at age sixteen) was born in New York City to nurse Sue Jones and sitar maestro Ravi Shankar, raising in Dallas suburbs where she discovered music from Billie Holiday records as well as singing in church choirs. Additionally, she took piano lessons and studied alto saxophone.
Come Away With Me was released in 2002 to critical acclaim, followed by Feels Like Home which reached No.1 on US charts.
Born in New York City
Norah Jones strives to craft music that goes beyond melodies and lyrics, transporting listeners on heartfelt journeys. She encourages her audience to embrace this experience and let Norah’s soulful expression connect with their own feelings of introspection, joy or melancholy.
Jones first made her mark with Come Away With Me, her self-described “moody little record”, in 2002. Since then, both Feels Like Home and her subsequent album continue to gain critical acclaim both critically and commercially.
Debut album Come Away With Me (2001)
Norah Jones’ debut album Come Away With Me was released by Blue Note Records in February 2002, signaling her arrival as an artist of major note. With an unhurried yet effortless style reminiscent of cabaret or honky-tonk singing styles like Hank Williams’ Cold Cold Heart and Hoagy Carmichael’s The Nearness of You from the Great American Songbook repertoire – hers and other great American Songbook standards were beautifully performed on Come Away With Me.
Jones’ debut record was an instantaneous hit, garnering five Grammy awards and introducing her to a wider audience. Following that success she often employed country and folk music influences in her subsequent works and formed Little Willies, an ensemble which performed classic country songs sensitively.
Second album Feels Like Home (2004)
Norah Jones followed her acclaimed debut with Come Away With Me with Feels Like Home, another highly engaging and emotive sophomore release. Collaborating with her band members on co-writing songs demonstrated that she was more than just a pretty face with an alluring voice.
This album captures an overall sense of melancholia with piano and acoustic guitar creating a world of loss and loneliness – but she still offers hope amidst her melancholia.
Third album Sunrise (2007)
One of the greatest assets a pop performer can possess is an identifiable sound; whether that sound be audible or subtle. Jones’ is soothing yet distinctive with an offbeat Texas twang inflection that sets her apart.
After her breakout success with Come Away With Me and Feels Like Home, Jones appears to take a more relaxed approach for Not Too Late; yet this album remains a showcase for her musical tastes, being the first where she wrote all the songs herself.
Fourth album Begin Again (2013)
Norah Jones returns to the studio with her first all-original album since Feels Like Home to feature all original material penned by herself. From piano pedal soul and slow, acoustic folk ballads to organ-and-horn-drenched gospel, Norah proves herself one of today’s most versatile artists.
Visions is an easy-going collection of seven singles by Jones that explores her wide-ranging musical interests, from lounge jazz and country-folk twangings to her trademark renditions of oldies that would put Marnie Michaels to shame.
Fifth album Little Broken Hearts (2012)
Norah Jones took an unconventional step with her fifth album. Recorded with Brian Burton (better known as Gnarls Barkley’s Danger Mouse), Little Broken Hearts offers darkly illuminated songs exploring wounded emotions.
Danger Mouse can be heard more subtly on tracks such as the atmospheric opener “Good Morning” and Miriam; on others such as “She’s 22,” his impact can be more evident.
Sixth album Visions (2015)
Visions provides the yin to 2020’s criminally underrated Pick Me Up Off the Floor by showing Jones opening up to life again. From her humorously blunt sound on “That’s Life”, to more earthy and grounded notes such as on “All This Time”, Jones is an adept genre chameleon here.
She pushes boundaries by mixing country, indie-pop and rock elements into her jazz core while still allowing her voice to take center stage – the result is truly astounding!
Seventh album Begin Again (2017)
Norah Jones has explored multiple genres over her long career. From cinematic rock with Danger Mouse to country band Puss N Boots and jazz lounge piano music on 2016 album Day Breaks.
Begin Again is an unexpectedly cohesive album featuring collaborations with Mavis Staples, Jeff Tweedy and Thomas Bartlett; its short running time and unassuming title belie its significance as one of her most essential releases since 2000.