Melody Gardot
Country of origin:
U.S.
Type of music generally:
Torchy, bluesy jazz/alternative pop
Status:
Most recent release, The Absence (2012)
See also:
Melody Gardot's site
Melody Gardot's MySpace page
Comparisons:
Holly Cole
Covers/own material:
Own
General comments:
Melody Gardot is the first jazz singer to draw my attention in a long time. She has a clear, evocative voice and a vocal and musical somewhat reminiscent of Holly Cole. Like Holly Cole, she brings jazz stylings into a pop sensibility, making her work cross-over well for those (like me) who are more into pop than jazz. Melody Gardot is also an impressive songwriter—almost every song sounds like a new standard.
I'm not normally that much of a jazz/torch fan, but Melody Gardot's gorgeous voice and musical backing would melt a heart of stone. I'm proof. She has such a rich voice, and writes songs that sound immediately like classics to me. Much to my surprise, I find her music irresistable. (Neile)
Recommended first album:
Worrisome Heart
Recordings:
Release info:
2006—self-released; 2007—Verve Records—B0010468-02
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended for fans of jazz-pop
Group members:
Melody Gardot—guitar, vocals
Guest artists:
Ken Pendergast—bass (1,2, 5, 6, 8, 10)
Charlie Patierno—drums (1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10)
Dave Posmontier—piano (1, 6)
Joel Bryant—Hammond B3 (1, 6); Rhodes (2); Wurlitzer (3)
Matt Cappy—trumpet (1, 6, 8)
Ron Kerber—tenor sax (1, 6); clarinet (2)
Jef Lee Johnson—guitar (2, 5, 10)
Diane Monroe—violin (3)
Mike Brenner—lap steel (3, 9)
David Mowry—doboro (4)
Krista Nielsen—cello (5)
Kurt Johnston—dobro (5)
Stan Slotter—trumpet (7)
Barney McKenna—guitar (9)
Paul Klinefelter—bass (9)
Patrick Hughes—trumpet (9)
Produced by:
Glenn Barrett and Melody Gardot
Comments:
What a strong debut! I'm not a big jazz fan and yet Melody Gardot grabbed ears with this one. I can't recall what first drew me to listen to this album because it's my usual area of listening, but wow, I've been listening to it ever since. Melody Gardot has such a capitvating vocal style, this is a haunting, bluesy album. She wrote all the tracks on it, which is only astonishing in how brilliantly composed they are—mature, poised, and just *right* in all the good ways and none of the bad. Fresh without falling in midst of her genre and classic without being clichéd. So impressive, from the title (and first) track on. Irresistable if you like bluesy jazz. "When she sings "love me that is all" you have to pay attention—other singers would make this sound clichéd—Gardot makes it fresh, real, deeply felt. Highly recommended for anyone who likes jazzy torchy songs and lovely, strong vocals. (Neile)
Release info:
2009—Verve—B0012563-02
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Recommended
Group members:
Melody Gardot—vocals, guitar, piano
Guest artists:
Gary Foster—alto saxophone (7)
Bryan Rogers—tenor saxophone (3–8, 11)
Patrick Hughes—trumpet (3–7, 11)
Andy Martin—trombone (6)
Ken Penderast —bass(1, 3 4, 6–8, 11)
Larry Klein—bass (5, 9)
Charlie Patierno—drums (1, 3, 7, 11)
Vinnie Colaiuto—drums (4–6, 9)
Pauinho Da Costa—percussion (2, 3, 11)
Behn Gillece—vibraphone (6, 11)
Larry Godlings—Hammond organ (3, 4)
Darius Campo, Roberto Cani, Joel Drouin, Vivian Kojian, Natalie Legget, Liane Mautner, Robin Olson, Latie Popov, Audrey Solomon—violin (1, 5, 6, 9–11)
Kevin Connolly—violin (1, 5, 9, 10)
Irina Voloshina—violin (6, 11)
Alma Fernandy, Samuel Fornicola, David Walther—viola (1, 5, 6, 9–11)
Roland Kato—viola (1, 5, 9, 10)
Jody Rubin—viola (6, 11)
Larry Corbett, Cecilia Tsan—cello (1, 5, 6, 9–11)
Ira Glansbeck—cello (5, 9, 10)
Christine Soule—cello (1, 6, 11)
Nico Abrondolo, =Drew Dembowski—double bass (1, 5, 6, 9–11)
Marcia Dickstein—harp (5, 9, 10)
Amy Sheldon—haps (1, 6, 11)
Patrick Hughes, Larry Klein, Charlie Patierno, Ken Pendergast, Bryan Rogers—backing vocals (3)
Produced by:
Larry Klein
Comments:
Another strong collection of songs, every bit as strong as Worrisome Heart. Melody Gardot's performances here are gorgeous and heartbreaking, and this shows that her impressive songwriting was more than a one-album achievement. However, no matter how I love someone's singing, I'm just not ready for another cover of "Over The Rainbow." Especially in contrast to Gardot's own heartbreaking compositions, it comes off as Just Too Much. Still, the rest of the album are those powerful compositions and I highly recommend you give them—and that wonderful, evocative voice—a listen. (Neile)
|
|
|
Pop (Alternative) |
121 - 160 of 456 entries
|
|
