Gardot is soft, slow, sultry

Not only was I intrigued by her music, but that she always was wearing sunglasses in her photos.

By: Jay Minkin
Date: 05/03/2008
Sometimes you have to go the extra mile to find music that strikes a chord in your soul.

I first heard Melody Gardot’s voice last year over satellite radio airwaves. Her style is a soft, slow, and sultry mix of pop/jazz that amazingly bellows from a twenty-six-year-old who resides in Philadelphia.

I kept hearing these great songs and had to see who was singing them until I began to recognize her voice. At the time, her album Worrisome Heart was only available by mail and orders were on hold because…they ran out of the first batch and literally had to make more. Soon I received notice that the new CD’s were produced and being shipped out. When the package finally arrived, I was in musical heaven.

Not only was I intrigued by her music, but that she always was wearing sunglasses in her photos. Since my day job is all about fashion eyewear, I kinda liked the image Melody was portraying to coincide with her musical style. I did not know until recently the real story behind the music.

Melody Gardot’s life changed at age nineteen when she was struck by a car while riding her bicycle, suffering multiple pelvic fractures, spinal, nerve, and head injuries. Her musical career was prompted by a physician who believed music would improve her cognitive ability. As part of her therapy, Melody made recordings bedside—while still unable to walk.

Eventually, she released the works as an EP titled Some Lessons—the Bedroom Sessions. Gardot’s music gained notice from Philadelphia’s nationally known public radio station WXPN along with several news stories recognizing this truly inspiring and talented singer/songwriter.

Recently, the Verve record label picked up Worrisome Heart for national distribution, so now everyone can enjoy Melody’s phenomenal full length debut album. While listening to the 11 tracks, you may feel the urge to light some candles, burn a stick of Nag Champa, and uncork a bottle of red wine.

Sometimes, we all need a little of that—a visit to dreamland.

Reach Jay at blues4bird@aol.com.

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