Norah Jones: A lesson in simplicity

Norah Jones, so disarmingly sincere in a quiet sort of way, was in town recently. Her Live at the Araneta Coliseum concert was an experience that should serve as a lesson in simplicity, understatement and purity of concept. Given the turnout and subsequent comments, it was a successful event. Strangely though, the show was also one that would have caused local self-proclaimed divas to throw a fit had they been the headliners. They would have found everything about it oh-so inadequate for their needs, used as they are to the extravaganza mentality that forever afflicts variety shows on Philippine television.

Jones performed with a combo. It was a four-piece band with Adam Leary and Robbie McKintosh, on guitars, Lee Alexander on bass guitar and upright bass, Andrew Borger on drums and other percussion instruments and Daru Oda, a flautist who also fiddled and occasionally did back-up vocals. Norah, an excellent pianist, alternated between the grand piano and the electric keyboards on the center of the stage.

Take note, those guys were not merely accompanying musicians. They were part of a group that included a vocalist and pianist named Norah Jones. They displayed tight interaction and remarkable precision in every number that night. In fact, they seemed to be partners and friends just immensely enjoying themselves by performing together and doing things well. Then Norah would step back for their solo spots and you instantly knew you were in the presence of extraordinary musicians.

The show started promptly at 8:30 p.m. Again, unlike what is usual during most concerts hereabouts, the audience did not have to wait for at least an hour while the promoter was waiting for the house to fill up or for performers to finish whatever they were doing backstage. After the brief, no-frills announcement of "Ladies and gentlemen, Ms. Norah Jones," there was indeed Norah on stage, singing. It was no wonder then that a lot of people, used to the "di naman yan mag-uumpisa sa oras" syndrome were late and missed out on Norah’s early numbers.

She had no witty spiels. There were also no overweight dancers thumping loudly on stage, no back-up singers picking up the tempo or the notes the star might miss and no guest performers who might steal the show or be downright abominations. Norah easily proved she had no need for all those. Girlish and tiny though she was, she had complete command of the cavernous stage, which mercifully was also impressive in its bareness. Besides, with her perfect tones, another performer or anything reeking of exaggeration in the show would have only been superfluous.

She did her hits, Come Away with Me, Turn Me On, I’ve Got to See You Again, Don’t Know Why, Sunrise, Feels Like Home and others. I was surprised she also did covers. But aside from the Hoagy Carmichael standard The Nearness of You, which she dedicated to a hovering mosquito, the rest were unusual stuff as in songs by Nina Simone, Gram Parsons, Tom Waits and The Band that were unfamiliar to most of those present.

No matter. The well-heeled audience who bought the pricey tickets came prepared to like Norah and even eager to applaud or provide all sorts of encouragement. That in itself, was another surprise. Despite the Grammy awards and consistent presence in the hit charts, Norah’s kind of music is not what commonly appeals to Filipinos. It is classified as jazz but there are strong hints of country, the blues, hootenaney and good old rock in her songs. This must be because she was brought up in Texas but now lives in New York, two truly opposite places.

The result of this is music made up of a unique combination of naivete and sophistication held together by what I am proud to say is that irresistible Asian sensibility. This is Norah’s birthright. She is, after all, Ravi Shankar’s daughter. He is Indian and one of the greatest musicians of our time. That means Norah Jones has the pedigree and along with that comes oodles of star quality. Only somebody with prodigious doses of those could have taken a subdued lounge show to an arena and still manage to hold a large, traditionally difficult to please audience enthralled.

Enjoy the memory while you can. Canadian rocker Avril Lavigne will be at the Fort next week, determined to erase all of it.