Description
Norah Jones – Day Breaks – 180 Gram Vinyl Record
Released on October 7, 2016, Day Breaks marked a return to Norah Jones’ jazz roots, reconnecting with the sound that made her a household name with Come Away With Me (2002). While she had spent much of the previous decade exploring folk, country, and indie pop influences, this album found her leaning back into jazz, blues, and soul, supported by a stellar lineup of musicians, including Wayne Shorter on saxophone, Dr. Lonnie Smith on organ, and Brian Blade on drums. The result was an album that felt both classic and fresh, blending smoky, late-night jazz club vibes with sophisticated songwriting and modern themes.
From the opening track, Burn, the mood is set with dark, atmospheric instrumentation and a hypnotic groove, as Jones’ sultry vocals weave through the smoky arrangement. The lead single, Carry On, serves as a tender, piano-driven ballad in the vein of her early work, but with the maturity of an artist who has spent years refining her craft. On Flipside, one of the album’s standout tracks, she steps into funkier, politically charged territory, singing about frustration and unrest, proving she’s unafraid to engage with the world beyond personal introspection.
The album also pays tribute to jazz tradition with a stunning rendition of Horace Silver’s Peace, where Jones’ delicate phrasing and restrained delivery create an atmosphere of tranquility and deep reflection. Tragedy follows with a slow-burning, haunting quality, featuring ethereal organ textures and hushed, melancholic vocals. Meanwhile, Sleeping Wild evokes classic jazz balladry, with soft piano chords and intimate vocal phrasing that recall Billie Holiday and Nina Simone.
Critically, Day Breaks was widely praised for its return to jazz-driven arrangements and organic instrumentation, with many seeing it as a spiritual sequel to Come Away With Me—but with a more assured, mature perspective. The album debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, proving that her audience remained eager for her signature blend of jazz, blues, and contemporary storytelling.
In many ways, Day Breaks was an album that Norah Jones was always destined to make. It showcased her evolution as an artist, effortlessly blending soulful introspection with timeless jazz sensibilities, creating a record that felt both personal and universal, nostalgic yet refreshingly modern.
Brand new, never played and still in the factory plastic sealed
Track Listing
Burn
Tragedy
Flipside
It’s A Wonderful Time For Love
And Then There Was You
Don’t Be Denied
Day Breaks
Peace
Once I Had A Laugh
Sleeping Wild
Carry On
Fleurette Africaine (African Flower)
