Norah Jones has come full circle with Day Breaks, a remarkable new album that finds her returning to her jazz roots while also proving her to be this era’s quintessential American artist, the purveyor of an unmistakably unique sound that weaves together the threads of several bedrock styles of American music: country, folk, rock, soul, jazz. Day Breaks is a kindred spirit to Come Away With Me, though it is unquestionably the work of a mature artist who has lived life and grown immensely in her craft. The album features jazz luminaries including saxophonist Wayne Shorter, organist Dr. Lonnie Smith, and drummer Brian Blade who played on Norah’s debut album and became the backbone (and backbeat) of the new album. Day Breaks is a set of 9 originals written or co-written by Jones whose themes range from love in all its guises to the socio-political, as well as 3 covers of songs by Horace Silver (“Peace”), Duke Ellington (“Fleurette Africaine”) and Neil Young (“Don’t Be Denied”).
Get the album here: itunes.apple.com/au/album/day-breaks
Track List
- Burn (4:38)
- Tragedy (4:14)
- Flipside (3:41)
- It’s A Wonderful Time for Love (3:53)
- And Then There Was You (3:05)
- Don’t Be Denied (5:36)
- Day Breaks (3:57)
- Peace (5:15)
- Once I Had A Laugh (3:12)
- Sleeping Wild (3:07)
- Carry On (2:48)
- Fleurette Africaine (African Flower) (5:21)
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