Melody Gardot - Worrisome Heart

Full size album art
Label: VERVE
Catalog: B001046802
Format: CD

Barney McKenna - Guitar Cameron Mizell - Release Coordinator Charles Patierno - Drums, Percussion Charlie Patierno - Drums, Percussion David Mowry - Dobro Diane Monroe - Violin Jef Lee Johnson - Guitar Joel Bryant - Fender Rhodes, Organ (Hammond), Wurlitzer Ken Pendergast - Bass Kurt Johnston - Dobro Matt Cappy - Trumpet Melody Gardot - Guitar, Layout Design, Piano, Vocals, Vox Organ Mike Brenner - Lap Steel Guitar Patrick Hughes - Trumpet Paul Klinefelter - Bass Ron Kerber - Clarinet, Sax (Tenor) Stan Slotter - Trumpet

1. Worrisome Heart 2. All That I Need Is Love 3. Gone 4. Sweet Memory 5. Some Lessons 6. Quiet Fire 7. One Day 8. Love Me Like A River Does 9. Goodnite 10. Twilight

All Music Guide, 2007 Melody Gardot's debut recording, released in 2006, came two years after she suffered a near fatal automobile accident, the differently able Gardot triumphing in accomplishing what many others, including her, could only dream of. This project has her singing and playing guitar and a little piano, but more so presenting this project of all original material. Gardot has an interesting personal story, but even more intriguing music that straddles the line between lounge jazz, folk, and cowgirl songs. She's part sophisticated chanteuse, college sophomore, and down-home girl next door. Her innocence, sweetness, and light are very alluring, much like the persona of tragic songbirds Eva Cassidy and Nancy LaMott. Feel empathy for Gardot, but don't patronize her -- she's the real deal much more that many of her over-hyped peers. "Quiet Fire" is definitely her signature tune, as it speaks volumes of where her soul is at, in a jazz/blues mode, yearning for true love. The title track follows a similar tack, a slow, sweet, sentimental slinky blues that will melt your heart. A finger-snapping "Goodnite" leaves you wanting that night to continue, but also exudes a hope that permeates the entire recording. She might be a bit down on men during the nonplussed "All That I Need Is Love," but her subdued optimism glows cool. "Sweet Memory" might possibly parallel Feist or perhaps KT Tunstall in a rural country mode, while "Gone" is clearly folkish, and the slow "Some Lessons" expresses a contemporary Nashville precept. The laid-back music behind Gardot is basically acoustic, incorporating hip jazz instrumentation, especially the trumpet of Patrick Hughes and occasional organ, Wurlitzer, or Fender Rhodes from Joel Bryant, but with twists including violin, lap steel, and Dobro. The concise nature of this recording and these tunes perfectly reflects the realization that life is precious, every moment counts, and satisfaction is fleeting. Likely to be placed in the Norah Jones/Nellie McKay/Madeleine Peyroux pseudo jazz/pop sweepstakes, Gardot offers something decidedly more authentic and genuine. She's one-upped them all out of the gate.

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