If you sit under a tree long enough, either somebody finds you, or you find yourself.
Here’s the thing, I’m not big on Jazz — and yes, before you ask, I have listened to “good jazz,” and I’m still. not. big. on it. But Melody Gardot? She does the kind of jazz that I AM big on. Mostly that’s due to her lovely, throaty vocals, and the fact that all her songs make me want to watch old movies and drink cocktails all day. Plus, she sings a lot in French, which is a sure way to steal my heart.
Maybe it makes me an old lady, but I love pouring myself a drink and lounging around to some Gardot, pretending I’m a bored ’50s housewife who lives on the French Riviera … or something. Anyway!
Both My One and Only Thrill and Worrisome Heart are full of pretty love songs and swaying, pleasing melodies — so I was pretty psyched when I saw the announcement for her new album, The Absence. As Ms. Gardot explains in the video above, she stopped touring to travel and immerse herself in writing for the new album.
The Absence is infused with a more exotic beat, as sounds from Portugal, Brazil, and Argentina creep into her jazzy cabaret style. But it’s still the same Melody — just a little more robust. Every track is lush and gorgeous, full of joy and heartache and the world and everything. You know, the kind of music that makes you smile and cry at the same time. Which I like to do, right into my martini glass.
Standout tunes:
Mira
Lisboa
If I Tell You I Love You
My Heart Won’t Have it Any Other Way
