Melody Gardot - Worrisome Heart

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. November 21, 2008

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!
November 19, 2008

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! November 7, 2008

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!!! November 4, 2008

"Music Can Do Wonders For Your Spirit"

Melody Gardot "needs a hand with her worrisome heart." And according to her, "she gravitates towards soothing music, often genres that are soft and somewhat unassuming." She further states that "music can do wonders for your spirit especially when it's the kind that calms you down."

About five years ago, Melody Gardot was slammed into by the front end of a jeep that left her bedridden and disabled. As a result, she had turned her recuperating time into something creative and productive by writing the lyrics and music on all ten tracks on this remarkable album, "Worrisome Heart," which starts off with the title track and ends with "Twilight." This album is a showcase of Ms. Gardot's versatility where she shows off not only her remarkable vocal style, but also her talents in guitar and piano, and composing and songwriting as well.

She is ably supported by a crew of fine musicians who are all skilled in their respective instruments namely Ken Pendergast (bass), Dave Posmontier (piano), Charlie Patierno (drums), Matt Cappy (trumpet), Joel Bryant (Hammond B3/Rhodes/Wurlitzer), Jef Lee Johnson, Barney McKenna (guitar), Ron Kerber (clarinet), Diane Monroe (violin), Mike Brenner (Lap Steel guitar), Krista Nielsen (cello), Kurt Johnson and David Mowry (Dobro guitar).

In conclusion, I admire Ms. Gardot's impressive vocal artistry and for the simple fact that she turned her pain and discomfort into something creative and productive -- and as a result, an impressive debut album with a remarkable set of all-original-songs, which represent her innermost feelings and heartfelt thoughts set into beautiful music and meaningful lyrics.

"Special thanks...most importantly to God and the universe for bringing so many wonderful people into my life, to all the people who have touched me with their support and generosity and to everyone who took the time to look my way and lend a hand when I least expected it." ~ Melody Gardot ~
November 3, 2008

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