Blogcritics: Comments on Why Not?

Comment by Mark Saleski

Thu, 28 Aug 2003 10:48:34 EDT

...my 180g vinyl copy of Come Away With Me arrives via ups this morning.

Comment by Eric Olsen

Thu, 28 Aug 2003 10:16:01 EDT

Well put Mark - I love Norah and Van regardless of what they are called.

Comment by Mark Saleski

Thu, 28 Aug 2003 09:53:28 EDT

for me, there's way too much snobishness going on when people attempt to pigeonhole artists. is norah jones a jazz singer? is bobby mcferrin? how about early tom waits? cassandra wilson? i guess i don' really care. i either enjoy the music...or not.

Comment by Eric Olsen

Thu, 28 Aug 2003 09:48:58 EDT

Thanks S-Train and David - What, exactly, makes for a "jazz singer"?

Comment by David

Thu, 28 Aug 2003 01:33:28 EDT

I've read a lot that Norah is a fine, even brilliant, jazz singer who happened to hit with a fluke pop album. I'll withhold judgement until I hear her sing some jazz.

Comment by S-Train

Thu, 21 Aug 2003 07:51:35 EDT

As jazz singer (a real one) Vanessa Rubin said, "Jazz is been bastardized from every direction." Van Morrison did some jazz-like vocals but isn't one in the pure sense. He doesn't compare with male vocalists such as Freddy Cole, Jimmy Scott, Bobby McFerrin, Harry Connick Jr., or Al Jarreau. George Benson (all who are still alive). But I give him some dap. He was faithful to the genre. But Norah Jones bothers me intensely. She sounds boring and can't compete with MANY current female jazz vocalist with her watery sound.

Comment by James Russell

Tue, 19 Aug 2003 21:22:36 EDT

I've always thought Van was a bore. Now he's just a bore on a jazz label instead of a rock one.

Comment by Natalie Davis

Mon, 18 Aug 2003 19:00:18 EDT

Van is largely correct, but U2's Bono would have something to say about rock being kid stuff.

Comment by Al Barger

Mon, 18 Aug 2003 18:01:31 EDT

Van has taken the view that rock and roll is kid's stuff. He was leaving that [Them and "Brown Eyed Girl"] behind with Astral Weeks. He would probably best have been classified a "jazz" artist for 20 or 30 years now. The Blue Note affiliation is only making it official.

Comment by Eric Olsen

Mon, 18 Aug 2003 16:53:16 EDT

Glad we agree on Van, whose lack of glamour and flinty personality have held him back from the level of recognition his output deserves.

Comment by Natalie Davis

Mon, 18 Aug 2003 15:09:35 EDT

Now, that is a statement with which I can agree. Van is the man; I absolutely adore his work. As far as his sales go, one woman can only so much, by I am trying. :)

Comment by dude

Mon, 18 Aug 2003 14:55:59 EDT

Van da Man has been everything -- jazz, soul, blues, folk, Celtic, punk, R&B, pub, country, etc. -- but rock. And that's what makes him the greatest living rock-N-roll singer on earth.