When Norah Jones first arrived in New York from Texas in 1998, she gravitated to Nublu, the Lower East Side club run by Ilhan Ersahin. When he heard her sing, he knew he'd found the perfect voice for his band, Wax Poetic. Jones stayed with them for more than a year before launching her solo career. Now, five years and nine Grammies later, she's returned to record her two signature songs from her time in the band on Wax Poetic's debut album. Both tracks have an acid-jazz flavour, and it's fascinating to hear her operate in a funkier style than we're accustomed to hearing. Other guest vocalists include N'Dea Davenport, poet Saul Williams and Jamaican legend U-Roy, all of whom help create an impressively sophisticated postmodern Manhattan cocktail.
When Norah Jones first arrived in New York from Texas in 1998, she gravitated to Nublu, the Lower East Side club run by Ilhan Ersahin. When he heard her sing, he knew he’d found the perfect voice for his band, Wax Poetic. Jones stayed with them for more than a year before launching her solo career. Now, five years and nine Grammies later, she’s returned to record her two signature songs from her time in the band on Wax Poetic’s debut album. Both tracks have an acid-jazz flavour, and it’s fascinating to hear her operate in a funkier style than we’re accustomed to hearing. Other guest vocalists include N’Dea Davenport, poet Saul Williams and Jamaican legend U-Roy, all of whom help create an impressively sophisticated postmodern Manhattan cocktail.