Norah Jones News

Adele is likely to cap off a big year, and launch her post-surgery return to the stage, at the Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb.

Ex-Beatle Paul McCartney racked up yet another honor on Friday when he received the MusiCares' 2012 Person of the Year award at a star-studded ceremony hosted by Grammy organizers ahead of this weekend's major music awards.

Sultry vocalist and pianist Norah Jones developed her unique blend of jazz and traditional vocal pop with hints of bluesy country and contemporary folk due in large part to her unique upbringing.

The challenge for those planning to mark the day with their loved one isn't about making the right dinner reservation or sending the right type of bouquet.

There are almost always better reasons to tune into the Grammy Awards than simply finding out who will win and who won't. Ever since the annual ceremony moved out of smaller places like the Shrine and stepped up to arena size at Staples Center in 2000 , the victors have become a minor sideshow to the major spectacle of new stars, still-vital ... (more)

Nellie McKay left a lasting impression on Richard Fudge when he saw her perform in Toronto about six years ago. 'She's an exceptionally talented musician and comedienne,' said Fudge, president of the local music co-op Friends of Bob. 'She just completely electrified a 1,000-person venue.' So Fudge jumped at the opportunity to bring McKay to Lafayette. The singer-songwriter will be in town at 7:30 tonight at Duncan Hall performing 'I Want to Live!', a musical adaptation of the 1958 film noir about Barbara Graham, a petty criminal who ends up on death row for murder. McKay is a chameleon of sorts, with blues, jazz and pop influences. She floats somewhere between the jazzy soul of Norah Jones and the quirky piano melodies of Regina Spektor. Her body of work includes the albums 'Get Away from Me,' 'Pretty Little Head,' 'Obligatory Villagers,' and 'Home Sweet Mobile Home.' She also recorded 'Normal as Blueberry Pie: A Tribute to Doris Day,' which features McKay's soft and sweet rendition of the pop standard, 'The Very Thought of You.' McKay not only records music but has performed on stage and on the big screen. She won the 2006 Theatre World Award for her deadpan portrayal of Polly Peachum in the Broadway production of Brecht's satirical musical 'The Threepenny Opera.' She followed up with her role as Ciara, sister to Hilary Swank's Holly, in 2007's 'P.S. I Love You.' If you didn't see her on the big screen, you might have heard her tunes on popular TV shows such as 'Weeds,' 'Grey's Anatomy' and 'NCIS,' or caught her performing on late night talk shows with Conan O'Brien or Craig Ferguson. There's usually a dabble of comedic satire and a dose of cabaret running through her musical work. The bubbly blonde attacks weighty topics with tongue-in-cheek lyrics and pop melodies. Even though the subject matter in 'I Want to Live!' is heavy and controversial, McKay promises to keep it light and entertaining. 'We call it a musical death row review,' McKay said. 'The more desperate the situation, the more right it is for humor. You have humor when you have nothing else to lose.' Although booking a musical cabaret is a first for Friends of Bob, Fudge believes Mc-Kay's performance will resonate with the local audience. Her show will feature original work as well as covers of famous songs such as Bobby McFerrin's 'Don't Worry, Be Happy.' She explained that at this point in the show, Graham is setting off with the gangsters and is about to be kicked out of her place. 'So really, she's got the weight of the world on her shoulders and she's singing that,' she said. 'Maybe some people take it at face value but it's basically saying that you should be worried. I hear a little bit of a wink even in Bobbie McFerrin's version.' The performance will also feature The Beatles' 'I'm So Tired,' and 'Straight to the Top' by Tom Waits. McKay said both songs evoke a 'universal feeling.' ' 'Straight to the Top,' is (done) Tom Waits style. It says 'I'm going to make it now' and you sing that whether or not it's true.' McKay will be playing the grand piano and ukulele with a backup jazz band featuring a drummer, guitarist, bassist and saxophonist. 'I've been trying to get the others to let me play sax but they won't let me,' she said. Does she play? 'A little -- they have such high standards,' she quipped.

Take a look at the Billboard artists of the 2000s by genre - Pink , Mary J. Blige , Linkin Park , Keith Urban , Norah Jones , Eric Clapton , Josh Groban , Juanes .

Country The Little Willies. "For The Good Times." Milking Bull/EMI. Norah Jones has never hid her affection for country music.

Taking in a show at the Masonic Lodge located within the famed Hollywood Forever Cemetery is always a treat.

The artwork of Marie Roberts continues to pop up in some pretty high-profile places.

There's a list of "imagine that!" artists who've played Club Helsinki since it opened at its original Great Barrington location in 1995: among others, Levon Helm, Norah Jones, John Scofield, Jonathan Richman, Ralph Stanley, Shawn Colvin.

When jazz and folk bed down together, the results usually divest the drive and invention from jazz and muffle the rootsy heart of folk.

Another headline concert for the 2012 Rochester International Jazz Festival has sold out.

Vincent Stephens has written about music for Popular Music and Popular Music & Society, and completed a Ph.D in American Studies in May 2005 from the University of Maryland, College Park.

This years Jazz Festival headliners Norah Jones and Steve Martin have already sold out their respective concerts on the first day tickets were put on sale.

Just two hours after tickets went on sale, one of the headliners for the Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival is already sold out.

Once upon a time, Norah Jones won five Grammy Awards for her debut album, Come Away With Me .

For five richly entertaining seasons, we've seen Chuck grow. Once a computer-store nerd, he's now a pretty good spy, married to a great one.

Few genres are as protective of their past as jazz. Some might say it's all they've got.

Norah Jones loves classic country music, and now she's indulging it with a side project, the Little Willies .