... Featuring Norah Jones

オススメ曲：(2)(5)(9)(11)(12)　ノラ・ジョーンズが無名時代からグラミー受賞で大ブレイクし、スターへと躍進した約10年の間に数々のアーティストとコラボレーションしたトラックを自選で収録した究極の共演盤！ロックもジャズもヒップホップもカントリーも、どこに参加してもノラ・ジョーンズはノラ・ジョーンズ！「私、ノラ・ジョーンズ。おじゃましま～す」なナンバーをどうぞ！

ノラ・ジョーンズ本人選曲による、ノラ＆他アーティストのコラボレーション・アルバム。多彩な才能を持つ世界の歌姫“ノラ・ジョーンズ”ならではのカラフルなコラボレーションの軌跡がここに集結。初CD化音源や今となっては入手困難となっている音源も含む、レイ・チャールズ、ハービー・ハンコック、ウィリー・ネルソン等の超大物ベテラン･ミュージシャンからフー･ファイターズ等のロック・ミュージシャン、そしてアンドレ3000(アウトキャスト)やタリブ･クウェリ、Qティップ(ア･トライブ･コールド・クエスト)等ヒップホップのアーティストまで、とにかく幅広いジャンルにわたるコラボレーション！ベル＆セバスチャンとのコラボレーション曲は、今後ベル＆セバスチャンのアルバムに収録される予定の新録コラボレーションです。

Uncut - 4 stars out of 5 -- "There are knockabout duets with big names, but more interesting is hearing Jones sweeten hip hop tracks and add heavenly harmonies to indie sessions." Billboard (p.24) - "The singer is especially good on 'Life Is Better,' a sexy soul-rap track from Q-Tip's 2008 THE RENAISSANCE, and on 'Dear John,' a bleary duet with Ryan Adams that reminds listeners that even multiplatinum prodigies can get the blues." Mojo (Publisher) (p.97) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "This 18-song miscellany reminds us that talent loves the company of talent, one-off duets with Ray Charles and Dolly Parton underlining Jones's seemingly effortless ascent to premier league status." Paste (magazine) - "The burble of organ on 'Turn Them,' a duet with Sean Bones, may be the album's finest sonic hook, a sound that subtly mimics her mellifluous vocals." Record Collector (magazine) (p.84) - "As a showcase for Norah's voice, it's fantastic. As an illustration of her ability to stretch herself far from the dinner party soft jazz of her perceived populist image, it's even better." Clash (Magazine) - "[T]he close vocal harmonies with Gillian Welch are particularly strong and a version of Roxy Music's 'More Than This' is utterly charming."

In the wake of her 2002 blockbuster debut, Norah Jones became an in-demand duet partner, popping up on albums from all manners of musicians. The 2010 compilation, …Featuring, helpfully rounds up 18 of these guest appearances, including a cut by the Jones-fronted country cabaret outfit the Little Willies, and what impresses is the range of collaborators and the consistency of the music. Anybody who called Norah up for a duet was clearly smitten by her way with slow-burning seduction, as they almost without fail cast her in that role for their own recordings, smoothing out rough edges or adding some sultry sophistication. This would seem like a limited specialty, but Featuring proves it’s not. Jones sounds as comfortable trading verses with Willie Nelson and Ray Charles as she does acting as a counterpoint to Q-Tip and Outkast, providing alternating contrasts according to the setting; she freshens the veterans and provides a touch of timeless elegance to her modern rock peers. It may all be variations on a theme, but the sounds and songs change just enough for the music to be quietly absorbing. Better still, when these side shows are grouped together as a main attraction, they manage to sound of a piece. These may be songs that appeared on other artist’s albums, but when presented as a collection, they seem to belong only to Norah Jones. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

ノラ・ジョーンズの課外活動をコンパイルした企画盤。収録曲のうち6曲がグラミー賞に絡んだという、何とも贅沢な一枚だ。ロックやカントリー、ヒップホップまでさまざまなタイプの楽曲が並ぶが、一貫して彼女の歌声の存在感に惚れ直させられる。フー・ファイターズ、Q・ティップ、タリブ・クウェリ、レイ・チャールズ・・・・・・と名を挙げればきりがない豪華さで、すべての音楽ファンに訴求できる作品と言えよう。
bounce (C)藤井大樹