{"id":1220,"date":"2010-05-05T20:00:32","date_gmt":"2010-05-05T20:00:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/216.71.127.204\/wordpress\/?p=1220"},"modified":"2015-10-15T16:10:53","modified_gmt":"2015-10-15T16:10:53","slug":"norah-jones-verizon-wireless-theater-houston-tx","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/houstonmusicreview.com\/wordpress\/2010\/05\/05\/norah-jones-verizon-wireless-theater-houston-tx\/","title":{"rendered":"Norah Jones – Verizon Wireless Theater – Houston, TX"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n
Written by Daniel Barker <\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
May 05, 2010 at 08:00 PM<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"PhotoAlthough born in Brooklyn, Norah Jones was reared in North Texas from the age of four and holds those roots very dear. So HMR was geared up to head downtown to The Verizon Wireless Theatre to catch the last Texas date on the 2010 tour supporting her latest disc \u201cThe Fall\u201d released November 17, 2010 on Blue Note Records. The night proved to be a surprisingly intimate affair for such a large venue. There was little doubt that NJ is all about the music and together with an outstanding group of musicians she brought the \u201cnew\u201d album with the \u201cnew\u201d sound to life here in Houston on a wonderful Cinco de Mayo night.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Fall\u201d is a departure from the standard Norah Jones formula that launched her overnight success in the fact that NJ spends more time playing guitar than piano. Tonight, she mostly held tight onto a red and white strat while wearing a cute silver and black dress with hot pink pumps\u2026Oh Yeah!!! Some have called this a break up album and I can see that for sure. Most of the material seems to have been written during or inspired by the ending of a long term relationship with her former bass player, Lee Alexander. But beyond that, the album\u2019s sound even has a concept feel as each song plays off a distinct ambience that truly compliments NJ\u2019s liquid velvet voice.<\/p>\n

Jones’ official website has stated that she “has taken a new direction on the The Fall, experimenting with different sounds and a new set of collaborators, including Jacquire King, a noted producer and engineer who has worked with Kings of Leon, Tom Waits, and Modest Mouse among others. Jones enlisted several songwriting collaborators, including Ryan Adams and Okkervil River\u2019s Will Sheff, as well as her frequent partner Jesse Harris. King also helped Jones put together a new group of musicians to perform on the album, including drummers Joey Waronker (Beck, R.E.M.) and James Gadson (Bill Withers), keyboardist James Poyser (Erykah Badu, Al Green), and guitarists Marc Ribot (Tom Waits, Elvis Costello), Smokey Hormel (Johnny Cash, Joe Strummer)”, Lyle Workman, (Bourgois Tagg, film composer for Superbad), and Peter Atanasoff (Rickie Lee Jones, Tito and Tarantula).<\/p>\n

On a completely stripped down stage totally absent of any obnoxious diva-like decorations or costumes, Norah and her crew delighted the theatre seated audience with water-tight precision song after song. The live versions were better than the album cuts and that is how it is supposed to be. \u201cTell Yer Mama\u201d and \u201cLight As A Feather\u201d (co-wrote with Ryan Adams) set the tone right out of the gate letting everyone know they were here for only one reason \u2013 the music. Accompanied center stage by Sasha Dobson who was wearing a sassy red dress and bee-hive hairdo straight out of the 50\u2019s, NJ commanded the stage making it evident that she was the band leader. She made her way from guitar to organ to upright effortlessly all while delivering her trademark syrupy sexy vocals\u2026<\/p>\n

The thing that I have noticed the most about Norah Jones over the years is the people she has chosen to surround herself with. The lady has an appreciation for many types of music but seems to be drawn to the singer-songwriters the most. She caught me off guard by doing a Neil Young cover off his 1975\u2019s Zuma album- \u201cBarstool Blues\u201d. Also, it is no secret that NJ considers Willie Nelson to be her mentor. She paid tribute to him tonight by playing a song he wrote almost 50 years ago, \u201cWhat Do You Think of Her Now.\u201d It is that kind of respect for history that inspired her to take some unfinished Hank Williams lyrics to complete \u201cHow Many Times Have You Broken My Heart\u201d. A song she played on The Sundance Channel\u2019s \u201cSpectacle\u201d with Kris Kristofferson, Roseanne Cash, Elvis Costello, and John Mellencamp. The term \u201cOld Soul\u201d seems to come to mind.<\/p>\n

Speaking of keeping good company and although I have mentioned some of these people before I would like to give the full run down of the performers here tonight – Norah Jones (vocals, guitar, piano); Sasha Dobson (backing vocals, guitar); Smokey Hormel (guitar); John Kirby (keyboard); Gus Seyffert (bass); Joey Waronker (drums).\u00a0 This is about as solid as it gets, I found myself thinking of Lucinda Williams or Natalie Merchant from time to time during the show because these females have the knack of always having new and\/or top notch musicians with them every tour.<\/p>\n

The set list this night included:
\n1. Tell Yer Mama
\n2. Light As A Feather
\n3. Chasing Pirates
\n4. Even Though
\n5. Young Blood
\n6. It\u2019s Gonna Be
\n7. Broken
\n8. What Do You Think Of Her Now
\n9. Sunrise
\n10. Waiting
\n11. Carnival Town
\n12. Back To Manhattan
\n13. Sinking Soon
\n14. Barstool Blues
\n15. Man Of The Hour
\n16. Don\u2019t Know Why
\n17. Stuck
\n18. Lonestar<\/p>\n

Encore:
\n19. How Many Times Have You Broken My Heart
\n20. Come Away With Me<\/p>\n

Norah Jones is a breath of fresh air in what I will call the mainstream music scene. She lets her music do the talking and leaves the paparazzi and entourages up to the \u201cdivas\u201d. It was very pleasing to see a class act being revered by her fans with such reserved restraint. I look forward to seeing what Ms Jones has in store for the future. Whatever it is I know that it will come from the bedrock of respect for ones that have come before. I suspect that one day Norah Jones will be held in the same regard by some yet unborn quirky and shy girl with an open mind and uncontainable talent. Until next time, I will see you out supporting live music.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Written by Daniel Barker May 05, 2010 at 08:00 PM Although born in Brooklyn, Norah Jones was reared in North Texas from the age of four and holds those roots very dear. So HMR was geared up to head downtown to The Verizon Wireless Theatre to catch the last Texas date on the 2010 tour… <\/p>\n

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