4/5
The Second Norah.
Tokyo, Nippon Budokan Hall. The one-time home of Judo and other such sports during the Tokyo, 1964 Olympic Games. Norah Jones was here last week for three-nights. Two years after the pandemic of 2020 postponed everything, including Japan's first games in over a half-century. On a big tour in Japan that also took in Osaka, Sendai and Sapporo for her Shinkansen. It felt like Christmas had come early, seeing one of the greatest of all-time, praise the Lord. The only thing that would have put a star on top of all this like a cherry would be if Norah had performed some choice cuts off last year's 'I Dream Of Christmas' album. We don't care if it was too early. We had the feeling like a Jones for Norah.
New York City, 2021. Live from the top of the Empire State Building on a piano like Alicia Keys in mind. The best jazz singer of our generation made the concrete jungle her own with a dream of a set. Wrapped up in gloves and scarfs, playing festive Yuletide hits by a crisp Winter's day long into the cold, cold night. All before finishing up with a tribute to The Beatles. Twice-over, from 'I've Got A Feeling' to 'Let It Be', before she got back like Peter Jackson. Performing with her band and Sasha Dobson of her Puss N Boots supergroup, no stranger to Christmas trimmings for the record, like She & Him. Come young brave, come young children, come to the book of love. Those 'Christmas In My Soul/Christmastime' segue and the 'Run Rudolph Run', 'Blue Christmas' and 'You're Not Alone' Empire making live takes make up the deluxe edition of Norah Jones' rewrapped, but not regifted Christmas classic this weekend. The same New Music Friday that Taylor Swift matched Spotify's most streamed 'Midnights' with her own '3AM' miracle of an addition. Expect this one to be streamed into the millions like 'A Legendary Christmas' from a dear John once the nights start drawing in and the early dark is illuminated with fairy lights and that warm, festive feeling.
After making her own Christmas classic seamless across and alongside the great American songbook's standards. From the 'I Dream Of Christmas' title-track, to the 'Christmas Calling (Jolly Jones)' (also in concert here with live treatment). Norah gives us her second Noel in a run through the pandemic, where only Taylor has moved as swiftly with the catalogue releases. Ready to soothe us for another holiday season like the 'O Holy Night' bonus of a Japanese editions dream. The previous Amazon expanded 'The Christmas Waltz' for this Queen like Nat King Cole makes the cut here. And you'll find the jazzy 'Last Month Of The Year' and timely classic of 'I'll Be Home For Christmas' (and I will be too, Mum and Dad. For the first time in three long and quarantined years). But check the bottom of your stocking and 'Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas' for Norah's new good tidings brought. 'Tis the season to dream of Christmas once again, with more under your tree. And the Jolly Jones is back to make her eighth wonder of an album even more wonderful. When you wish upon this star, your dreams of Christmas come true...early. To you and yours. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Playlist Picks: 'Last Month Of The Year', I'll Be Home For Christmas', 'Christmas In My Soul/Christmastime (Live At The Empire State Building)'.
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