Song:Lisboa
Album:The Absence
The rise of jazz singer Melody Gardot is one of the most remarkable I have ever seen. She is especially popular in Europe. By all rights she should be a paraplegic. But instead she projects a sultry image that will make you forget that she almost died. She was born Feb. 2, 1985 in New Jersey. Her mom is a photographer who traveled internationally. So Melody was raised by her grandparents in Philadelphia. She learned piano as a child and she played Philly clubs as a teen. She studied fashion at the Community College of Philadelphia. While riding her bike in Nov. 2003, she was hit by an SUV that ran a red light. She suffered head injuries and her pelvis was broken. She also had memory loss. She had to re-learn even simple tasks. Her doctor suggested music therapy. So she started writing songs. Melody learned to play guitar and she posted songs to iTunes. After her release from hospital, she started playing Philly clubs. An employee of radio station WXPN spotted her and asked for a demo. This is the same radio station that got Norah Jones a record deal. She signed with Universal's Decca label and released her debut CD in 2005. Melody has become an international star especially in Europe. And you wouldn't know by watching her perform that she has an electronic stimulator attached to her waist to relieve pain. She also has to wear dark glasses because she is sensitive to light. Lisboa is from her 2012 album The Absence. This album was certified Platinum in France. Melody wrote all the songs. The album was produced by Brazilian guitarist Heitor Pereira. He was a member of Simply Red and he works with film composer Hans Zimmer. Pereira plays guitar and piano. John Leftwich is on bass and Peter Erskine is on drums. Coco Trivisonno plays bandoneon which is a South American accordion. The Absence is available as a budget CD. Melody's latest CD Live In Europe was recorded in several locations. She's not on tour right now. I saw her a few years ago and I reviewed the show on the blog. She usually does the annual festival circuit. And she tours Europe a lot. She is really good. Here's Melody Gardot performing Lisboa with Heitor Pereira on guitar and Coco Trivisonno on bandoneon on French TV 2012.
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