Melody Gardot
Melody Gardot was born on February 2, 1985, in New Jersey. She is an American jazz singer, songwriter, and musician, widely considered one of the best contemporary jazz vocalists of her generation. I once saw her live at the North Sea Jazz Festival, where she was walking with her crutch. This was the result of a serious head injury sustained in a car accident.

The Essential
The Essential is a kind of "the best" album, a selection made by Gardot herself from six studio albums from 2008 to her latest album from 2022. Partly English, partly French, and even Spanish.
Track 10 on side B of the first LP is even a collaboration with Ibrahim Maalouf.

Review
Decca has delivered a fine product, with sufficient detail and staging.
The smoky alto is a big plus.

Audiophile LP: Rating

Trackinglist

LP 1, side A
1. Baby I'm a fool
2. If the starts where mine
3. C'est magnefique
4. Morning sun
5. Mira
6. Over the rainbow

LP 1, side B
8. Worrisome heart
9. Out love is easy
10. Love song
11. La chanson des vieux amants
12. Les étoiles
13. La vie en rose

LP 2, side A
1. First song
2. This foolish heart could love you
3. Once I was loved
4. Ain't no sunshine
5. Moon river

LP 2, side B
6. Your heart is as black as night
7. If I tell you I love you
8. Who wull comfort you
9. Love me like a river does
10. Bad news
11. La Llorona