Review: Norah Jones serenades Ottawa Jazz Festival with groovy tunes on thunderous day

When it was time for Norah Jones’ anticipated performance at the Ottawa Jazz Festival, the rain almost made it impossible. 

Despite heavy thunderstorms and rain throughout the day, the weather dried up just in time for nine-time Grammy winner Norah Jones to take the stage at Confederation Park on June 29. 

Amid a backdrop of ambient sounds of birds chirping and the hum of nature, Jones kicked off her set with old-school classic “What Am I To You?” on a white piano. 

She did a weather check with the crowd asking: “Are you dry? Sort of?” before launching into songs from her new record, Visions.

A voice like no other, Jones’ silky smooth jazz vocals with raspy undertones shone through in “Swept Up In The Night,” “Running” and upbeat “Paradise” with the addition of a xylophone, adding further textures and layers to the song. 

She then slowed it down with fan favourite “Sunrise,” which garnered loud cheers from the crowd. Yellow, orange and red lights lit up the stage encompassing Jones and some of the crowd in her “sunlight.”

“I thought it would be dark right now that’s why I put a ballad there,” Jones told the crowd, to which a crowd member passionately yelled, “Welcome to Canada!” 

A seasoned musician, Jones effortlessly moved between playing piano and guitar all night, exuding calmness and warmth. 

Switching to an electric piano, Jones continued playing songs off her new record with the groovy songs “I’m Awake” and “I Just Wanna Dance,” injecting life into the crowd. Effortlessly cool and chic, her soft, gentle voice mixed with upbeat drumming helped the crowd jam out.  

She then played “That’s Life,” a soulful song that speaks to the unpredictability of life with all of its ups and downs, before launching into “Come Away With Me” from her Grammy winning 2002 album of the same name. An intimate ballad, many couldn’t help but shed some tears as the final note of the song rang out and cheers erupted. 

Closing her set with the hopeful tune “Carry On” from her 2016 album Day Breaks, the crowd wasn’t done with the night yet. After chants of “One more song!” and “Norah” rang out, Jones came back out for a well-deserved encore. 

Saving the best for last, Jones kicked off her encore with upbeat folk song “The Long Way Home” from her 2004 album Feels Like Home. Before the song, a passionate fan yelled out, “Marry me!” to which Jones replied, “I’m already married. Sorry!” garnering some laughs from the crowd. 

For the final song of the night, the crowd was buzzing with anticipation with everyone on their feet. She began playing cult classic “Don’t Know Why” on the piano, and eager fans almost began the song without Jones as excitement had built up all night. 

Within a few minutes of the final note ringing out, the rain that had held off all concert began to descend on the crowd. As people left Confederation Park armed with rain ponchos and umbrellas, it truly was a night well spent grooving with Jones and her band. 

Featured image by Bianca McKeown.