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Melody Gardot in concert she's in Seattle 6/19

Melody Gardot played Portland's Aladdin Theater last night, and her performance was nothing less than jaw-dropping. I've been a fan since hearing two cuts from her album in a New Years Eve countdown of the year's best releases on Portland's KMHD, but nothing could have prepared me for the power of her live performance. Twelve or fifteen songs from her two releases, most of which were done in a completely different style from the albums, and a band--drummer, bass, and a sax/flute player--with an astonishing range. THE most remarkable combination of vocal talent and songwriting ability that I've yet enountered.

Waiting for my wife outside the theater after the concert, I watched people come out of the theater in near disbelief: did we just hear that? Most concerts you come of of, people are talking afterward about where to go for a drink. The people I saw were all talking rapturously about the performance they'd just seen. Seattleites out there, do yourself a favor and get to the Moore Theater tonight. I'm sorely tempted to get on the road and see her a second time.
stewie

Showing 5 responses by stewie

stewie OP
187 posts
 
Jax2: glad it lived up to the billing! One thing I'd add emphasize in connection with your post. Her story is amazing, as are her looks; but you're right, it's not her looks or her story that make her great. In fact, I'll go further and say those things can very nearly distract you--well, not you exactly--from what is just an extraordinary talent.

As for the trio: the sax player is Antony Ware, and he's just one of the best I've heard, and fairly young I do believe. The drummer is Charles Staab, early twenties, Princeton grad. The bass player is the extraordinary Charnett Moffett, whose father, Charles Moffett was the drummer for Ornette Coleman (hence the name "Charnette"). There's not a weak link in the chain.
stewie OP
187 posts
 
Thanks for the corrections. All I can say is that Anthony Branker must have a fine program if he's producing the likes of Staab and Hall.
stewie OP
187 posts
 
BTV,
Thanks for the additional recommendations. I like the younger crowd too. I'm also mightily impressed by the stuff coming out of eastern Europe and the netherlands that's recorded on ECM. I know that the likes of Diana Krall and Wynton Marsalis are immense talents, but I don't find myself going back to their music much.
stewie OP
187 posts
 
Interesting article, and one does get the sense, seeing her live, of young woman, of immense talent, playing a role: the stilt-high heels, allusions to a trail of men, the air of European sophistication. If you look at some of her earliest clips, you see someone whose demeanor was like Eva Cassidy's. The comparison to Dylan in that regard seems perfectly apt. And the role works, too, especially since there's just a smidgen of irony about the whole thing.
stewie OP
187 posts
 
Nicely put, Btv. I guess I only get cyncal about it when it's done badly, and in her case, it certainly isn't.
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