One of the few true chanteuses around, Meldoy Gardot shows both vulnerability and sass during this concert filmed in Paris in October, 2015. Most of the material here is from her two albums Currency Of Man and My One And Only Thrill, and the two conflicting moods from the albums is reflected in the concert.
While Ms. Gardo sings, plays piano and guitar, the team of Chuck Staab/dr, Mitchell Long/g, Edwin Livingston/b and Devin Greenwood/key create moods from the raucous “Don’t Misunderstand” with swaying horns by Irwin Hall/reeds, Korey Riker/sax and Shareef Clayton/tp to the dramatic closer It Gonna Come.” She likes to show moxie and attitude during these moments, but she is truly at her most penetrating when she peels off a couple layers of protection and lets herself delve into a blue period as on “Morning Sun” and the fragile “Les Etoiles.” On the upright piano, she delvers a bluesy “March For Mingus” and as she strums the guitar she lets her heart on her sleeve as she confesses “Baby I’m A Fool” and “Who Will Comfort Me.” It’s during these moments that you can hear a pin drop in the upscale theatre, and where she wins you over with her stark vocal stare.