Listening to Jones

Norah Jones’ first effort does not merit the sales figures or acclaim it has been receiving (“A Sweet Mystery,” Jan. 26). Every song receives the same treatment -- a vaguely soulful, smoky rendition too similar to that of Margo Timmins of the Cowboy Junkies. Jones lacks the vocal chops to make each individual song stand out. The overall effect is the entire CD sounds like one long track.

She might be interesting to hear in her living room, but I can’t imagine her approach or talent captivating an audience in a club.

It’s always baffling to discern why the record industry hype machine selects what it does. Those who are hungry for vocal talent have an abundance of fine singers to check out. Vocalists such as Kurt Elling, Nnenna Freelon and Claudia Acuna are fully worthy of far more attention than they’ve thus far received. While they would feel comfortable being described as jazz singers, their work encompasses a variety of genres. Interested listeners will find their approaches to their songs superbly realized.

Jeff Yolles

Santa Barbara

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I wish to thank you for your wonderfully human and in-depth article on Norah Jones.

I’ve been a singer all my life and in love with music and the heartfelt performance of it. Having been the recipient of much support and approval by fellow artists and rejection by people of power and money and having alternately “stuck by my guns” and attempted to please these powers, it moves me to no end to hear this inspiring true story of human victory.

John Finley

Sherman Oaks