Jazz singer Norah Jones will stage her first-ever concert in Shanghai on March 9 as part of her 2005 Asian Concert Tour.

"She will sing all the songs from her two albums during the 90-minute concert," said Adam Wilkes, an employee of China West Entertainment, the concert's financial backer.

"Many Western stars such as the Backstreet Boys came to China when their fame had dropped. But it's Jones' decision to hold the concert in China now. She thinks China is important, and she really wants to stage a show here when she's still popular. She doesn't want to come 10 years later." Ying Houjie, general manager of Shanghai Municipal Performance Company, which is organizing the concert, said Jones will accompany herself on piano during the concert.

Jones became the world's best-selling female singer with her 2002 debut album Come Away with Me, which sold 22 million copies internationally. In 2003, she won eight Grammy Awards including Best New Artist. Her second album, Feels Like Home which was released last April, has sold more than 13 million copies.

She was recently nominated for awards in five categories at the 47th Grammy Awards, which will be presented in Los Angeles on February 13.

(Shanghai Daily January 28, 2005)