Others say...

"Made me stop what I was doing"
When I heard Melody Gardot's cut "Worrisome Heart," I was at work with my headphones plugged into an iTunes smooth jazz station.

I had to stop what I was doing and listen to the song. For a minute, I thought it must be a previously unreleased Eva Cassidy tune, but then I checked out the playlist saw the name Melody Gardot. I had no clue who she was, but I went to the Internet, read her story and ordered the CD.

The CD has been playing on my iPod for days now and the only criticism I have is that it's too short. Love her voice. Love her songs. Love her style.

Can't wait to hear the new release. Would love to see her live. She's only 23 ... she'll be around for a long time, and aren't we lucky to enjoy the ride with her?



"Jazzy Folk As Balm For Your Troubles"
Worrisome Heart is the first full length studio CD from Melody Gardot. It is a smoky and mellow mix of jazz and folk that one should enjoy slowly as repetition leads to depth of appreciation and understanding. Melancholy runs deeply through this short collection of songs. While one might expect this from a young artist who survived being hit by a car while riding her bicycle, her torment on Worrisome Heart comes from another, but common, source. Even the song titles themselves suggest that the primary source of her pain is from love gone wrong in one way or another. Whether she pines for someone to take things slowly as in "Love Me Like A River Does" ("Baby don't rush/You're no waterfall") or the love from which she is separated on "Sweet Memories" ("Pretty soon I'll want the real thing instead/But for now I've got this sweet memory"). Gardot lyrically wears her heart(aches) on her sleeve.

Yet these don't come of as a simple collection of poor me drivel. Gardot has a vocal delivery somewhere between Diana Krall and Norah Jones, and she even mixes in scat singing on a few tracks. Her producer, Glenn Barratt, did a wonderful job of setting Worrisome Heart against a rich and varied instrumental backdrop. "Worrisome Heart" and "Love Me Like A River Does" both feature muted trumpet while the slightly upbeat "All That I Need Is Love" is set against a flowing clarinet line. Other songs such as "Gone" and " Sweet Memory" feature strings and/or guitar.

When you add it all up, you have a very musically mature sounding CD from a new artist. While you won't likely find yourself dancing to or uplifted by Worrisome Heart, it is still a very fulfilling musical experience. It is perfect for unwinding and relaxing after a stressful day. As you see the beauty that Gardot makes of her own troubles, you will find your own to be somewhat lighter as well.

"enabled by music"
Disabled in a traffic accident when she was 19, the story of how music helped her to deal with cognitive and physical impairment is really inspiring.

But aside from that, her voice, that can be tender and yet gravelly when it cracks, seems to be made for this genre. The track "All That You Need Is Love" is on mega spin on my iPOD!


"Norah Jones meets Madeleine Peyroux meets Eva Cassidy"
I am really enjoying this new album & artist. Very mellow and smoky like Norah Jones -- but I definitely get moments of Madeleine Peyroux and the occasional Eva Cassidy, as well. (All top-notch singers in my book!) I look forward to seeing more from this artist in the future!

"Excellent young Jazz singer/songwriter"
Purely by accident I discovered Melody's album and I am so glad I did!!!
I certainly hope she has a great career in music ahead of her!!!
This album has such a cool sound and once I start listening I just keep playing it over and over. Considering what she went through in her life(ie the Bike crash) it is amazing that she has recovered to produce this album!!!
Cheers!!!