New Ways To Be Myself

Norah Jones “Hurts To Be Alone”

Norah Jones is famous for the raw loveliness of her voice and the subtle nuances of her phrasing – she’s the kind of singer who can convey a lot of emotional information in slight inflections. But she’s also quite remarkable on the piano, and that gift for graceful articulation carries over to her style on that instrument. “Hurts To Be Alone,” a song she composed herself, showcases both ends of her skill set. The chords are sophisticated but understated, carrying the melodic weight of the music so her vocal can drift along behind it like a leaf in the breeze. There’s great details in the arrangement too – the way the standup bass will occasionally pluck out a couple notes to punctuate a pause, the sound of a Hammond B3 gently streaking through the mix as an accent. Everything about this recording is very thoughtful but played with a loose and gentle touch, that perfect sweet spot between calculation and improvisation.

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