Enticing, intoxicating mix of blues, jazz and the occasional eruption of steamy, erotic longing.
At twenty-three, singer-songwriter Melody Gardot has a hauntingly beautiful, silky voice that can melt event the hardest of hearts.
Drenched in a sublime vapour of mellow blues, eclectic folk and above all jazz, 'Worrisome Heart' is a ten-track collection of original songs co-produced by Melody Gardot and Grammy Award winning producer Glenn Barratt.
With a superb narrative, nuanced phrasing and skillfully constructed arrangements, this is a rare and unique album.
Echoes of Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald belie her jazz heritage, whilst the lyrics communicate a wise, determined and occasionally lighthearted take on life.
What's more, these fragile tales of love are all self-penned.
Backed by the some of the finest musicians on the American jazz scene, she has already drawn rave reviews everywhere.
Melody, who is just 23, manages to sound wise beyond her years without sounding foolish.
She combines old school jazz with fresh and original self penned lyrics - no rehashing covers for this songbird.
The album opens smooth and mellow with the title track, "Worrisome Heart", where she asks for love, eccentricities and all. Moving into the lighter, upbeat "All That I Need Is Love", she reprimands the male species for being oblivious to a woman's finer needs.
Her songs flow in this manner through the rest of the album, with gems such as the Cole Porter-esque "Love Me Like A River", the seductive "Quiet Fire", and the sentimental, optimistic "One Day".
Her resulting inner steel cuts through best in top tracks "Worrisome Heart" and "Love Me Like A River Does", lifting them above standard dreamy jazz classics.
On the album's title track, she calls herself a "worrisome, troubling, baggage free, modern day dame, ain't nobody the same".
She's right there. Meanwhile "Love Me Like A River Does" stands out for its simple yet devastating lines such as: "Baby don't rush, you're no waterfall - love me that is all".
The tunes are understated and simple yet when paired with her strong, clear voice, the mix is intoxicating.
Her warm, broken phrasing and the band's close backing put one in mind of Ella Fitzgerald's work with Johnny Mercer.
This isn't an album that blows you away. It sneaks up on you.
Norah Jones and Madeleine Peyroux have some serious competition on their hands.
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Sexy
I bought this CD based on the strong buzz that it has been receiving. That buzz turns out to be well-deserved. This CD is as good as everyone says. Gardot is a highly effective singer and a superb writer. In ways that I did not anticipate, this turns out to be quite a sexy CD. Highly recommended for people interested in intelligent singing and writing. The Norah Jones, Madeleine Peyroux, Diana Krall connection mentioned by others rings true to my ear. Also recommended: April Barrows.
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