Up until now, I have not heard a bad Norah Jones record. I highly doubt that I’ll ever hear one, and let me just point out that her 2024 release titled “Visions,” is my all time favourite release this year. HANDS DOWN. To me, I consider Norah Jones a rockstar just as I consider Miles Davis one. Every musical piece that she released, and performed collaborations with has originality, and music depth put within. Just listen to her cover version of The Beatles “Let it Be/ I’ve Got A Feeling,” recorded live in 2022 at the top of the Empire State building in New York city. You can tell that she’s adding her own special musical take to it, not ripping off on anybody or trying to be someone else. I just hope to find that single one day, because it’s just beautiful. See for yourself, because all I can tell you is Norah is just being Noah, PERIOD. The only regret I have is that I should’ve gotten those tickets earlier when she came and performed this year at the Festival International de Jazz de Montreal.They sold out immediately, the public knows that this is one helluva musician. Luckily, I was able to get my hand on her new release, “Visions.” It’s somewhat hard to come across this record, and no, it’s not a limited release, but just by how great this record is.
After listening to it, I was astonished not only by Jones’s lyricism, but how each melody feels just pure and easy going. Lots of jazz, soul, and rhythm and blues. You don’t feel overwhelmed by it, because each track balances out with one another. The record starts off with “All This Time,” an easy going jazz melody, with a slight hint of soul that’s unrecognisable, luckily I caught it. HA! But, It’s a perfect way to start off your “lay-low” easy Sunday Mornings. No fuss, no craziness, just pure great music. “Queen of the Sea,” starts this time with an easy soul beat, incorporating a great guitar palm-muting technique, within hints of piano. And of course, Norah Jones’s powerful lyricism once again takes the spotlight. I mean, just see for yourself!
“If time wouldn’t move so fast
And life could last and last
Would everyone stay in the game
That they saved or complain?
Or escape on a train?
Ooh-ooh.”
And, I just loved how she finds a way to incorporate a horn section in the song. It’s just love at first heard! We can’t forget about this moving song, “Running.” It has such a great beat, but again, Jones’s powerful lyricism just melts my heart. I love how she expresses the idea behind fear from being rejected, so to avoid it would be to start running away from love.
“From the first time I felt the click in my heart
(I keep running, oh, keep running away)
Try to sleep, but the aching tears me apart
(I keep running, oh, keep running away)
(Ooh) oh, am I wasting the day?
(I keep running, oh, keep running away)
(Ooh) oh, does it hurt me to stay?
(I keep running, oh, ’cause I don’t wanna pay)
Stars shine, but start to fade in the light
Love is blind, could be wrong, or it could be right
In a bind, telling myself it’s for you
For you (running and running, running and running, running and running, hey, hey, hey, hey)
For you (running and running, running and running, running and running, hey, hey, hey, hey)”