NORAH JONES, CORINNE BAILEY RAE, Red Butte Garden Amphitheater, Aug. 20
The rain and lightning that short-circuited Norah Jones' appearance at Colorado's world-famous Red Rocks Amphitheatre Thursday were a world away by Friday, when she blew away a sold-out audience at Salt Lake City's favorite outdoor venue.
Some 3,000 packed Red Butte Garden's idyllic concert space on a night where perfect summer weather and the one-two musical punch of Jones and opener Corinne Bailey Rae combined for a halcyon event that will be talked about for some time.
Jones has maintained her star-power admirably after her 2002 debut album, "Come Away With Me," sold over 20 million copies and earned her five Grammy awards including Best New Artist and Album of the Year.
The singer-songwriter is a multitalented phenom, who has a voice that can wander unhindered into just about any musical genre, plays keyboards and piano like she's been doing it her whole life (because she has,) and recently added guitar playing to her skill set. Oh, and she's an actress who earned a lead role in a film by Hong Kong director par excellence, Wong Kar-Wai.
On Friday, it was the music that ruled, and Jones delivered at every level, working a set list heavy on songs off her latest album, "The Fall," but offering fans a fine selection from her four studio albums.
The first part of her show connected tunes in that soul-jazz-blues space that's become her signature, and the crowd loved the live versions of "What I Am to You," "Tell Your Man" and "Young Blood."
There was a warm canyon breeze picking up when Jones quieted things down at the piano with "Cold Heart," "Waiting" and "Back To Manhattan." She razzed some of the more zealous members of the audience during the interlude with a comment about how "the hippy dancing usually doesn't start 'til later in the set." All in good fun, though, and Jones really didn't miss a step throughout the night.
The impression that Jones has done a lot more music than her four albums would indicate is accurate, thanks mostly to her love of collaboration and a penchant to indulge that urge whenever the opportunity comes along. Jones has paired with OutKast, Ray Charles (on his final album,) Ryan Adams, the Foo Fighters and others. On Friday, she outed a haunting version of "The Losing End" from Neil Young's second (and groundbreaking) album.
Friday's crowd was well warmed up for Jones by the hour-long opening set by Brit chanteuse, Corinne Bailey Rae. Rae's silky-smooth R&B stylings had everyone doing the sway and feeling the kind of love that Irma Thomas conjures. Rae's sophomore effort, "The Sea," released in January of this year hasn't made as big a splash as her eponymous debut from 2006, but it has some very strong tracks, notably the title song.
e-mail: araymond@desnews.com