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2016 · Album

Day Breaks

↑ Norah Jones

Recorded 2016 · Blue Note Records · Produced by Not specified in verified Wikipedia article
Day Breaks

Wayne Shorter's Soprano and the Return Home

Day Breaks finds Jones back at the piano, with Shorter's soprano sax reminding us why her early records mattered.

The presence of Wayne Shorter on soprano saxophone is what signals this record's real intention. Jones had spent years away from the piano-driven sound of her debut, and bringing Shorter into the sessions meant something specific: a return to jazz fundamentals, not nostalgia. Shorter's soprano cuts through the arrangements with a clarity that keeps everything honest. He doesn't ornament the songs — he lets them breathe, which is what makes his playing so essential here.

The album features nine original songs and three covers, all built around Jones at the piano. John Patitucci on acoustic bass, Tony Scherr on electric guitar, and the horn section with Leon Michels on tenor, Dave Guy on trumpet, and J. Walter Hawkes on trombone all anchor the sound, but Shorter's voice is the one that most clearly points back to why Come Away with Me (2002) worked. He plays like someone who has heard everything and decided what matters is the melody, not the technique.

Day Breaks peaked at number two on the Billboard 200 and earned strong praise from critics who compared it favorably to her debut. The album reached top ten status, matching her commercial consistency over her career. What sets this apart is that it doesn't feel like Jones chasing an earlier success — it feels like she recognized that returning to piano and to players like Shorter could open the door to something genuine again.

Who's playing
John Patitucciacoustic bass guitar
Christopher Thomaselectric bass guitar
Tony Macelibass
Vicente Archeracoustic bass guitar
Norah Jonespiano
Tony Scherrelectric guitar
Wayne Shortersoprano saxophone
Leon Michelstenor saxophone
Dave Guytrumpet
J. Walter Hawkestrombone
Pete RemmHammond organ
Dr. Lonnie SmithHammond organ
Brian Bladedrums
Karriem Rigginsdrums
Daniel Sadownickpercussion
Dave Eggarcello
Katharine Kresekviolin
Todd Lowviola
Maxim Mostonviolin
Listen next
By Norah Jones
Feels Like Home 2004
Wayne Shorter's own record
The All Seeing Eye 1966
Wayne Shorter plays soprano saxophone here
More Vocal Jazz
Wallflower 2015
Diana Krall
Recording Info
Track listing
1Burn4:39
2Tragedy4:15
3Flipside3:41
4It’s a Wonderful Time for Love3:54
5And Then There Was You3:06
6Don’t Be Denied5:36
7Day Breaks3:58
8Peace5:15
9Once I Had a Laugh3:13
10Sleeping Wild3:08
11Carry On2:48
12Fleurette africaine (African Flower)5:22
13Carry On (live at the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts in Burlington, VT)2:37
14Flipside (live at the Newport Jazz Festival)4:39
15Peace (live at the Newport Jazz Festival)4:12
16Don’t Know Why (live at the Newport Jazz Festival)3:36
Musicians
Further Reading
Read more

Where next?

More by Norah Jones
Feels Like Home 2004
Not Too Late 2006
The Fall 2009
I Dream of Christmas 2021
All 23 albums →
The musicians on this record
The All Seeing Eye 1966
Wayne Shorter
plays soprano saxophone here
Their own records, close in time
More Vocal Jazz
Wallflower 2015
Diana Krall
Emily’s D+Evolution 2010
Esperanza Spalding
In My Room 2016
Jacob Collier
SuperBlue 2021
Kurt Elling
All 74 Vocal Jazz artists →

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