Melody Gardot

Melody Gardot
Gardot in Paris, France (2008)
Background information
Born	February 2, 1985 (1985-02-02) (age 26), New Jersey
Origin	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Genres	Jazz, acoustic, blues
Occupations	Singer-songwriter, musician
Instruments	Vocals, piano, guitar
Years active	2005–present
Labels	UCJ/Verve (2009–present)
Website	www.melodygardot.com

Melody Gardot /ɡɑrˈdoʊ/ (born February 2, 1985) is a Grammy-nominated American singer, writer and musician in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, though she considers herself a "citizen of the world".^[1] She has been influenced by such blues and jazz artists as Judy Garland, Janis Joplin, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Stan Getz and George Gershwin as well as Latin music artists such as Caetano Veloso.^[2] Her music has been compared to that of Nina Simone.^[3]

Gardot follows the teachings of Buddhism,^[4][5] is a macrobiotic cook^[6] and humanitarian who often speaks about the benefits of music therapy. She has visited various universities and hospitals to speak about its ability to help reconnect neural pathways in the brain, improve speech ability, and lift general spirits. In a recent interview she was rumored^{[citation needed]} to be working closely in a university in the United States to help develop a program for music therapy and the management of pain, something she has spoken about establishing in the future on her own.^{[citation needed]}

Early life & education

Gardot was born in New Jersey, and was brought up largely by her grandparents. Her grandmother was a Polish immigrant and her mother a photographer who worked and traveled frequently. They moved around often and as a consequence had very few possessions, often living out of suitcases.^[7]

Gardot studied fashion at the Community College of Philadelphia.^[8]

Accident & therapy

While cycling in Philadelphia in November 2003^[9] she was hit by a Jeep Cherokee whose driver had ignored a red traffic light. In the accident she suffered serious head and spinal injuries and her pelvis was broken in two places. Because of these severe injuries she was confined to her hospital bed for a year and had to remain lying on her back. As a further consequence of her injuries she had to re-learn simple tasks such as brushing her teeth and walking. The most noticeable effect of the neural injuries she suffered is that she was left hyper-sensitive to both light and sound, therefore requiring her to wear dark sunglasses at nearly all times to shield her eyes.^[7] The accident also resulted in both long and short term memory problems and difficulty with her sense of time. Gardot has described coping with this as like "climbing Mount Everest every day" as she often wakes with no memory of what she has to do that day.^[4]

Initially prompted by an attending physician who believed music would help her brain injury drastically improve, Gardot began writing music after her accident^[10] and since then often speaks and advocates in favour of using music for therapy. The accident had damaged the neural pathways between the brain's two cortexes which control perception and higher mental function, and made Gardot (in her own words) "a bit of a vegetable."^[11] As well as making it very hard for her to speak or communicate properly, she found it difficult to recall the right words to express her feelings.

Music involving listening and making a verbal attempt to sing or hum is thought^[who?] to help the brain form new pathways.^{[citation needed]} At first, Gardot learned to hum and was eventually able to sing into a tape recorder. She made good progress and was eventually able to write original songs that sometimes referred to her rehabilitation.^[11]

For several years after the accident Gardot traveled with a physiotherapist and carried a TENS machine strapped to her waist which released pain reducing impulses.^[7]

She was introduced to macrobiotics by a friend who lent her a book on its benefits and she began to experiment and cook for several hours a day. As well as reducing her pain levels, she feels that macrobiotics helped her mental ability to cope with pain, helping her relax as the routine of cooking helped take her mind off her physical condition, and she found she was able to sleep more easily.^[12]

Music career

Gardot started music lessons at the age of nine^[13] and began playing piano in Philadelphia bars at the age of sixteen on Fridays and Saturdays for four hours a night. She insisted on only playing music she liked, ranging from standards from The Mamas & the Papas to Duke Ellington and modern groups such as Radiohead.^[14]

During her time in hospital she learned how to play the guitar and began writing songs, which were made available as downloads in iTunes and released in Some Lessons: The Bedroom Sessions in 2005. She began to play these songs at venues in Philadelphia and was spotted by the radio station WXPN, operated by the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, which helped to launch Norah Jones. As well as playing her songs, WXPN encouraged her to assemble a demo, which was quickly picked up by Universal Records.^[7]

Released in 2006 and then re-released by Verve Records in 2008, her first full-length album was entitled Worrisome Heart. After meeting her in New York City in 2008, producer Larry Klein began working with Gardot and they released her second album, My One and Only Thrill, on April 28, 2009. From this album, the song "Who Will Comfort Me?" became a top 10 hit at Smooth Jazz radio. Also in 2009, Gardot released a live EP, Live from SoHo. Gardot is a recipient of the 2007 VSA International Young Soloists Award.

Discography

Albums

• Some Lessons: The Bedroom Sessions (2005)
• Worrisome Heart (2008) (#80 Billboard 200, #2 Jazz Albums, #4 Top Heatseekers, #14 European Jazz Albums)
• Live from SoHo (2009) (#2 Jazz Albums)
• My One and Only Thrill (2009) (#42 Billboard 200, #2 Jazz Albums, #7 Digital Albums)

Singles

• "Worrisome Heart" (2008)
• "Goodnite" (2008)
• "Quiet Fire" (2008)
• "Who Will Comfort Me" (2009) (#6 on Jazz Songs)
• "Baby I'm a Fool" (2009) (#28 on Jazz Songs)
• "Your Heart Is As Black As Night" (2011)

Collaborations

Melody Appears on the following songs, via vocals (and occasionally piano/guitar), by other artists:

Bluer Than A Midnight Sky – Beaucoup Blue – Free To Fall

High Night (Alta Noite) – Till Brönner – RIO

If I'm Lucky – Charlie Haden Quartet West – Sophisticated Ladies

My Sweet Darling – Seth Kallen & The Reaction – Exhibit A

A Meditation On War And The Fight For Love – Phil Roy – The Great Longing

Derrière L'arc-En-Ciel/Over the Rainbow – Eddy Mitchell – Grand Ecran

Under My Skin - A 30 second Frank Sinatra cover used in the 2008 Chevy Malibu commercials

Covers of songs by other songwriters

As she is usually considered a jazz singer, Gardot is unusual in her output of original songs so early in her career. Nearly all of the songs on her recordings are original work, although some were co-written with Jesse Harris. She has, however, performed covers of songs by some well-known songwriters:

• Fever – Cooley/Blackwell, Peggy Lee (live performance during 2007 London Jazz Festival Ella Fitzgerald tribute concert)
• Over the Rainbow – Harold Arlen, Yip Harburg (My One and Only Thrill; numerous live performances during 2008-2010)
• Ain't No Sunshine – Bill Withers (My One and Only Thrill, Deluxe Edition; several live performances during 2008-2009)
• Blue Motel Room – Joni Mitchell (performed live in Philadelphia in 2006)
• Edith and the Kingpin – Joni Mitchell (performed on Live From Abbey Road in 2008, with Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter)
• La Chanson des Vieux Amants – Jacques Brel (performed live in Paris in 2009, with David Preston on guitar)
• Because – The Beatles (performed on Live from Abbey Road in 2009, with David Preston on guitar)
• Get Out of Town – Cole Porter (performed live in Paris in 2010 in two different arrangements, and on BBC Four Sessions 2010)
• Someday My Prince Will Come – Larry Morey (lyrics) & Frank Churchill (performed on BBC Four Sessions 2010)
• Summertime – DuBose Heyward (lyrics) & George Gershwin (numerous live performances in 2010 summer tour, often in medley with 'Fever')

References

1. ^ "Globetrotting Melody Gardot". http://www.27east.com/story_detail.cfm?id=280994&town=&n=Globetrotting%20Melody%20Gardot%20makes%20Westhampton%20Beach%20a%20stop%20for%20a%20performance%20on%20June%206. Retrieved 2010-06-10. 
2. ^ "Official Myspace Page". http://www.myspace.com/melody. Retrieved 2009-04-21. 
3. ^ "KCRW Tom Schnabel Music Program 2011,03,27 @17:55". http://www.kcrw.com/media-player/mediaPlayer2.html?type=audio&id=cafe_la. 
4. ^ ^{a b} Kerr, Alison (13-06-2009). "Interview". The Herald Magazine: 14–17. 
5. ^ Iley, Chrissy (2009-03-29). "Melody Gardot: Music is my love – men are just my lovers". Times online (iley). http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article5980706.ece. Retrieved 21 November 2009. 
6. ^ "Macrobiotics.co.uk". http://www.macrobiotics.co.uk/gettingstarted.htm. Retrieved 2009-03-16. 
7. ^ ^{a b c d} Iley, Chrissie (2009-03-29). The Sunday Times Magazine. pp. 12–17. 
8. ^ "Unchained Melody". Philadelphia Citypaper. http://www.citypaper.net/articles/2005-05-12/music3.shtml. Retrieved 2009-08-09. 
9. ^ "Melody Gardot hits New York". July 2005. http://www.jazzreview.com/article/review-4262.html. Retrieved 2009-08-09. 
10. ^ Melody Gardot interview by Pete Lewis, 'Blues & Soul' November 2008
11. ^ ^{a b} Zuel, Bernard (02-05-2009). "Melody Gardot should not be playing music". Brisbane Times. http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/articles/2009/05/01/1240982395719.html?page=2. Retrieved 2009-08-09. 
12. ^ "Macrobiotics Guide". http://www.macrobiotics.co.uk/features/melodygardot.htm. Retrieved 2009-08-09. 
13. ^ "Melody Gardot Biography". http://www.vervemusicgroup.com/melodygardot/bio/. Retrieved 2009-08-09. 
14. ^ "Melody Gardot". http://www.classicsandjazz.co.uk/plink/Melody+Gardot. Retrieved 2009-08-09. 

External links

• Melody Gardot official website
• Melody Gardot at Verve Records website

Persondata
Name	Gardot, Melody
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1985-02-02
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death