Feels Like Home by Norah Jones (CD, Feb-2004, Virgin Records Japan)

I didn't read any reviews of this Norah Jones CD until after I'd listened to it a half dozen times, but I knew, like Jones herself did, that she was taking a risk. She alienater or disappointed some jazz fans and many of the pop music listeners that fueled "Come Away With Me"'s success. Jazz fans like their mellow, sexy, chanteuses with unique voices and plenty of musician-type chops...they were prepared to have Diana Krall move over and make plenty of room for Miss Norah. Now they won't be so sure....it's country (country???)to them.

Gutsy, larger than life women singers, who are musicians and arrangers first, don't have to worry about chart-topping or where they might cross over. Check out a couple of kindred spirits to Norah, who have crossed over between genres MANY times, and still carved legends for themselves: Linda Rondstadt and Bonnie Raitt!

After telling you how much I enjoy the CD, and, with some perspective on individual cuts below, you wonder, why is this not a 5 star album? The reason is a little more complex than the country/jazz mix. It has to do with the quality of the songwriting. And it's not about Jones, and it's not about her covers. Her own songs and her covers are every bit as great on this CD as they were on her last. Instead, it's about an acoustic guitarist/songwriter named Jesse Harris.

Featured as a songwriter or sharing credits with Jones on 5 songs on "Come Away With Me", Harris sits in on only two numbers in the new CD, and contributes no songs. He's displaced by lesser talent (but great bass player) Lee Alexander. I wasn't really partial to Alexander's songs on the first CD ("Lonestar", "Seven Years" and "Painter Song"), although his "Feelin' the Same Way" was a favorite. On this CD, he contributes or writes 6 songs, and they are "the weakest links".

Harris, on "CAWM", by contrast, wrote the smoky, middle-East tinged "I've Got to See You Again", which blew me away with amazing lyrics, violin, and a star performance by Jones. He also excelled with four other songs, including the big hit "Don't Know Why" and "One Flight Down". Not having him here raises questions in my mind about whether he was comfortable with the direction the CD was taking, and I hope Norah brings him back for the next CD. Or, maybe he was just too busy....having released "The Secret Sun" in 2003 with his band, the Fernandinos, Harris is releasing a new album, "While the Music Lasts" later this year. Harris may not make it as a performer, but as a songwriter, he is without par.

To test my theory, that the songs are weaker on this CD, I queued up "CAWM", and decided it was a Mercedes compared to "Feels Like Homes" American luxury car. Because Jones can produce perfection, this newest CD, which will arguably be better than others I gave 5 stars to in 2004, pales by comparison....against her prior standard, this CD is "only" superb.

Best Songs:

"What Am I To You?" - Norah sings the blues on her own composition. It's a Sam-Cooke style blues tune. A Hammond organ lays down the beat with standing bass and drums, and Tony Scherr (also a member of Harris & the Fernandinos) gives a memorable guest performance with electrifying electric guitar riffs - he's got a great touch.

"In the Morning" rocks like a Bonnie Raitt song; it's by Adam Levy, and, like "What Am I To You?", Jones plays the Wurlitzer electric piano and blends, blends, blends vocals with talented backup singer Daru Oda.

Only "Creepin' In" is questionable.

Enjoy!