Norah Jones: Barnes & Noble 2024

It might have been coincidence — or not — that Norah Jones's latest album, Visions, was released on International Women's Day of this year, March 8. There's a laundry list of promotional obligations involved in launching a new album, in this case Jones's ninth solo release, and on the day that Visions entered the world, Jones and Blue Note generously held an early evening record signing event at Barnes & Noble in Union Square, with the bonus of a Q&A with FUV.  

It was especially lovely to host that Q&A. I first met Norah in the spring of 2001, wrote about her for a jazz magazine, and eventually booked Norah and her bandmates, to be on Vin Scelsa's "Idiot's Delight" in September of 2001, months before the release of Come Away With Me. That session that was not only her first WFUV appearance, but Norah's first radio session anywhere as a solo artist.  Over the years, I've been fortunate to interview and write about Norah many times and witness her ascension as a beloved and influential artist.

When Norah's debut album, Come Away With Me, came out in February 2002, the FUV embraced it, and for over two decades, Norah has been a core artist for the station, not only solo, but with her side projects too, including Puss n Boots and Little Willies. Come Away With Me is one of the best-selling albums of all time, with over 27 million copies sold and counting; Norah is a nine-time Grammy winner.

Visions partners her with producer and frequent collaborator Leon Michaels, who had worked on her 2021 holiday album, I Dream of Christmas. Jones has always changed up her sound and approach with every new project, and Visions is no different, with arresting, beautiful tracks like "I'm Awake" and "Running," bristling with an undercurrent of unease and rumination.

In this Barnes & Noble Q&A, Jones talks about the connection she has forged with Michaels — and the easy camaraderie she has with other musicians, like her friend Laufey, a recent guest on Jones's music-forward podcast, "Norah Jones is Playing Along." (Norah was also a surprise guest at Laufey's Radio City Music Hall performance on May 3.)  Jones prefers to skirt away from any direct questions about her lyrics  — but Visions seems to steer toward late-night rumination and contemplation ... or not!

Jones is charming and disarming in this Q&A, which you can listen to on demand.

[Thanks to Blue Note and Barnes & Noble. Recorded: 3/8/24; Engineered by Eric Gottlieb with assistance from Jim O'Hara; produced by Meghan Offtermatt]