[NEW RELEASES] Melody Gardot

My One and Only Thrill

If you haven’t heard of Melody Gardot, your life is poorer for it. Her intimate, effortless jazz turns and understated writing are a unique gift.

She has an inspiring story to go with it - she got into singing as music therapy after a debilitating car accident at age 19 five years ago - but she doesn’t need sympathy to make a sale.

Her second album, produced by Joni Mitchell’s longtime collaborator (and ex-husband) Larry Klein, is as smooth and sophisticated as a buttery croissant straight from the oven of a master chef.

With a cool jazz backing that occasionally dips into blues, Gardot’s subjects run from the whimsical (“If the Stars Were Mine”) to the soulful (“Who Will Comfort Me”). Much of the album - “Your Heart Is as Black as Night,” “Our Love Is Easy” - could be a lost classic straight out of the age of Billie Holiday. The album’s only weakness is a cover of “Over the Rainbow.” Otherwise, every track is simply sublime.

Put simply, Gardot has something rare in American music these days. It’s called class. Savor it. By Ben Applegate

Melody Gardot

“My One and Only Thrill”

Label: Universal Music

Genre: Jazz