Melody Gardot - Worrisome Heart
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Free Music Notes for Worrisome Heart
Free Music Review: Year of the Newbie
Hit: 5 Stars
Through the first 5 months of 2008, the most remarkable thing about this year to date, in the field of vocal jazz, is the plethora of really promising young singers, mining the field of jazz-pop. (Though actually, this trend dates back earlier than that; it's just that it's really prominent this year). Raya Yarbrough, Hope Waits, and now Melody Gardot have all put out first-rate debut c.d.'s, all excellently produced, in this sub-genre.
What separates Ms. Gardot from the rest (including other jazz-pop chanteusses such as Erin Bode, Sara Gazarek, Judith Owens, Jackie Allen and the like), however, is that all of these tunes are originals - and, incidentally, all are really, really good. Melody does "melody" very well. She has great promise, just as a songwriter.
According to what I can read into the liner notes, a good chunk of this c.d. was recorded in the dead of night, 2 years after her near-fatal auto accident. I well believe it. The songs seem to range between whimsy (e.g., track #2, "All That I Need to Love") and atmospheric (e.g., track #8, "Love Me Like a River Does," my favorite here), and have that close examination and clarity of time that only the middle of the night on a second wind can bring.
With songs this well written, it's tempting to compare Ms. Gardot with Joni Mitchell. But really, I think a more apt comparison is with Paul Simon. In songs like the above, as well as "Sweet Memory," "Quiet Fire," and "Goodnite," I hear echoes of "59th Street Bridge Song," "Punky's Dilemma" and "El Condor Pasa."
As I mentioned above, this is an excellently produced c.d. The sound is clean and in tune, and the addition of violin, clarinet, trumpet, lap steel guitar and dobro make for most arresting arrangements.
I could see some jazz artist in the distant future redoing these songs in a completely different vein, and turning it into an equally impressive recording. Such is the case with great songs. Here's hoping that Melody Gardot becomes that good and that prominent as to inspire such future recordings. RC
Free Music Review: review
Hit: 5 Stars
great first c.d. from ms. gardot ! i will be looking for mire from her in the future !Free Music Review: Wild Card Surprise
Hit: 5 Stars
Sometimes, I like to shake it up a little - buy something that I find suggested by others that is a real departure from my standard listening fare. Melody Gardot's "Worrisome Heart" was just such a wild card and I gotta tell you ... this CD is nothing short of brilliant. I am SO glad I took the chance and SO thrilled with the discovery that I'm a little overwhelmed. If you have ever wanted the perfect candlelight dinner music, you have found it. Also exquisite for night driving or the occasional sob on behalf of love gone wrong. Ms. Gardot's voice is breathtakingly smooth and elegant without trying to be anything at all, which contributes to its intimate feel. Such a find ... really, just quit waffling and add it to your cart. Sensational.Free Music Review: Overcoming Adversity with a Worrisome Heart.
Hit: 5 Stars
I discovered this jazz album during an NPR interview with Melody Gardot, a 23-year-old jazz ingenue who is wise beyond her years when it comes to noir jazz. After being struck by a SUV while riding her bicycle at age 19, Gardot turned to music to confront and then overcome her resulting cognitive disability. Worrisome Heart is Gardot's debut jazz album, and the remarkable result of her ongoing recovery. Backed by a group of talented musicians such as guitarist Jef Lee Johnson (Billy Joel, George Duke, Aretha Franklin, David Sandborn), organist Joel Bryant (Aretha Franklin, Harry Connick Jr.), and trumpeter Matt Cappy (Jill Scott, Kirk Franklin), Gardot's intimate, sultry, smoldering vocals are reminiscent of Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald, and the recording itself is clear and crisp. This is an amazing collection of cool songs about unfulfilled desire, heartache, and yearning by an amazing talent. Worrisome Heart will appeal to anyone who likes the vocal styles of Madeleine Peyroux or Diana Krall. Album tracks include:
1. Worrisome Heart 4:21
2. All That I Need Is Love 2:36
3. Gone 2:50
4. Sweet Memory 3:21
5. Some Lessons 5:23
6. Quiet Fire 4:13
7. One Day 2:02
8. Love Me Like A River Does 4:06
9. Goodnite 3:04
10. Twilight 1:01
G. Merritt
Free Music Review: Excellent voice. Beautiful Jazz sound
Hit: 5 Stars
Picked this CD up after hearing an interview with Miss Gardot on NPR. They only played a couple of songs off of the CD there. When I bought the CD I was really impressed.