Melody Gardot’s My One and Only Thrill released today (April 28) and is #12 on Amazon.  Pretty good for an unknown jazz/blues singer on her debut major label album.  I’m a little late to order, it so I can only go by the samples, the live performances she did during her chat last week, and Youtube performances.   Love it.  I wonder if her perfect pitch is a result of her severe Hyperacusis/Tinnitus?

Give the album a try and let me know what you think.

ETA: Free Listening Party

ETA:  It hurts me to say this, but I don’t think this album is as good as Worrisome Heart.  The stripped down versions of the songs she performed during her chat were fantastic.  The songs with the full orchestra – not so much.  I love the rawness of Melody’s music and it seems to be lost on this album.  Really disappointed in Who Will Comfort Me.  Compare it to this version on Youtube and I think you might agree the Youtube version is better.

Melody Gardot’s My One and Only Thrill will be available on April 28. Melody is one of my hot picks for 2009. A little Blues, a little Jazz, a little Folk, a little Pop – Melody is making some beautiful music and was recently signed by Verve Music group.

“Melody will be taking part in a live video chat and giving an exclusive acoustic performance later today.” April 23 – 6 pm ET Click here for performance and chat.

ETA:  Hope some of you were able to hear Melody today.  She is very funny.  And she has an absolutely amazing voice.  She sang 4 songs accompanied by just her guitar.    Really nice version of Over the Rainbow, Who Will Comfort Me with a lot of scat thrown in – excellent, Goodnight – nice way to end her chat session, and I’m drawing a blank on the 1st song she did.  I’m hoping someone will get them up on YouTube in the next day or 2.  Definitely got to see her live in concert.

This is my favorite Van Morrison song and I’m guessing it will only be on youtube for a short time. So just wanted to let everyone know to check it out while it’s still up.

The Philosopher’s Stone – Van Morrison

Sorry, but it has been removed!

I know I have been pushing Caitlin and Will, but they just seem like great people and I hope this works out for them.

Make sure your sound is not all the way up because Caitlin really can blow (even though AI didn’t think so)!

Promo Video for their new Album – Dark Horse

I’m not a very religious person, but I do believe in prayer and positive thoughts. I find YsabellaBrave to be a very inspirational person and hope that she can recover from her illness.

From a post on her website:

MaryAnne will be going back into the Hospital Tuesday, Feb. 24th for more tests, again!! Her health has deteriorated to a worse condition. She does not know what they well be doing for her, nor how long she will be in the hospital. But, MaryAnne’s Spirit is very strong. Her Faith In The Lord is always with her.

Folks, it does not look good for MaryAnne. She is in dire need of all our prayers.

In the last few months Ysabellabrave (MaryAnne) was laid off from her job at Yahoo, had Youtube freeze her channels and then remove most of her music videos, and became hospitalized with a serious illness. I pray that YsabellaBrave receives our prayers of love and strength and is able to recover from her illness. We need this young woman!

Folks, I only know what I have read on YsabellaBrave’s site. She did post a few months ago about having fibromyalgia, so I have no reason not to believe that she is very ill, but this is the Internet and all I have to go by is what has been posted. I do know that she has given many of us a lot of pleasure with her music and talk videos. Some funny, some serious, but all very special. A small donation for all the work she has done and the pleasure she has given us is in order.

YsabellaBrave’s Web Site

Donations can be made at PayPal

It’s pronounced either “did nt” or “di dnt” – not “did dnt”.

So please don’t do it again!

I found a couple of new Melody Gardot songs on YouTube.  Both will be on Melody’s new album My One and Only Thrill scheduled for release in March, 2009. Melody is also playing 2 shows in DC at Proof on Jan 19 and 20.  See her MySpace page for more info.

Who Will Comfort Me (Love this one. Interesting video.  Should get some air play)

removed from youtube

Baby I’m a Fool

Melody’s Myspace – Baby I’m a Fool, Goodnite, Love Me Like a River Does, Goodnite, Cry Wolf

UK Web Site
US Web Site

Annie – Why couldn’t you just shut up and sing?

Going to have to ban any (positive) mention of you from this site.

My introduction to new artists has become very television and YouTube driven.  The 3 artists/groups that I discovered in 2008 that have the potential to make it big in 2009 are:

Melody Gardot – My favorite new artist.  Her 2008 album – Worrisome Heart is one of the best albums I have ever heard – the only problem with the album is that it is too short (10 songs).  A mix of Jazz and Blues with a little Folk,  Melody Gardot has produced some of the best Jazz of the last 10 years.

“I had ideas about how I wanted things to go. In the studio cutting `Worrisome Heart’, I remember standing in the recording booth and saying to the horn guys `can you make it sleazier?’ They said `yeah! Sleazy man, that’s cool!’ It may not have been the most musical way to put it but they knew exactly what I meant!” she laughs.  link

Caitlin and Will - Winners of  CMT “Can You Duet?”.   Caitlin can hang with any of the current female country greats while Will holds his own on vocals and plays a mean guitar.    They already have a huge fan base so look for their first album (Spring 2009) to go Platinum.  Check out their new songs on MySpace.  After winning the contest, Caitlin and Will hit the gym, got some new threads, and they are now look as good as they sound.

Josiah Leming - American Idol Season 7 contestant,  Josiah wowed the judges during the early auditions but was rejected during the Hollywood rounds.  But Josiah picked up a huge fan base that followed him to his Myspace page.  Jossiah posted several songs and the push was on.  Soon he was signed by Warner Music and recorded an album which is scheduled for release this Spring.  Several of the songs from the album are already available as downloads or as an EP from his MySpace page.

Josiah will make it as a songwriter for sure and possibly as a singer.  Check out YouTube and you will find many covers of his songs – before he has even released an album.  My guess is that he will release a few albums but will be a highly successful songwriter for years to come.

Link to Josiah’s MySpace page and several songs.

Arctic Outcry Wind