Norah Jones and Chris Isaak this weekend on PBS:
- AUSTIN CITY LIMITS presents two artists who mix aspects of several genres of American roots music to form their own original sound. Chris Isaak's exciting rock 'n' roll has been winning fans for decades and sultry songstress Norah Jones' jazzy pop has given this newcomer national attention. The Chris Isaak followed by Norah Jones episode of AUSTIN CITY LIMITS airs November 2, 2002 on PBS (check local listings for time and date in your area).
"For the past 28 years we've always been on the lookout for artists who are eclectic, eccentric and who defy labels and stereotypes," said producer Terry Lickona. "Just like the series itself, both Chris Isaak and Norah Jones have an original sound that represents many different styles of American music."
Chris Isaak and his band Silvertone blend rock, blues and country into a frenzy of sound that had the 450 screaming fans at the show's taping on their feet from the first song till the last. Fans across the country will be able experience the band's energetic performance on "American Boy," "Speak of the Devil," "Let Me Down Easy," "Wicked Game," "Baby Did a Bad, Bad Thing" and "Life Will Go On" during Isaak's half-hour set on AUSTIN CITY LIMITS.
Isaak's sound can be traced to an eclectic group of influences that includes the Beatles and Elvis, but a number of lesser-known musicians as well. "When people ask me about who I'm influenced by, it's always kind of difficult for me because I listen to a lot of music and a lot of weird music," Isaak said. "It runs a long way from Mack Wiseman to Connie Francis to Floyd Tillman to Dick Dale and bits and pieces of everything."
Isaak, who has acted in several movies including "That Thing You Do" and "Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me," and Silvertone currently star as a band in the Showtime comedy series "The Chris Isaak Show." In real life these musicians have been playing together for almost two decades.
"I have the best job there is," said Isaak. "Half the time I'm making TV shows or movies. The other half the time I'm recording, I'm playing music. And all the time I'm doing it with my friends. I've had the same guys for 17 years now. The thing that keeps me going, I think, is I've got good guys around me, good people around me."
Up-and-comer Norah Jones has everyone talking. Her debut album, Come Away with Me, takes her jazz background and fuses it with country, blues and pop to form a style that is beyond labeling.
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