I had no idea what to expect when I moseyed my way over the the Waterside Stage on Saturday afternoon to see Melody Gardot. At the age of 19, Melody was disabled after being hit by a car while riding her bike. Her doctor encouraged her to explore music and songwriting to aid in her cognitive and memory repair. On Wikipedia her bio said she walked with a cane, used a special chair while playing to help alleviate pain from numerous pelvic fractures, wore dark sunglasses to combat a sensitivity to light and also endured a hypersensitivity to noise and sound. Imagine my astonishment when I walked into the (completely packed) tent and saw this ….

It wasn’t even that she looked like an average musician so much as something out of a fashion magazine! And not only was she jarringly poised and gorgeous – but she was funny. When she moved from her piano to play a piece on the guitar she asked an audience member to hold her a giant crystal ring that had been on her finger. She tossed the ring into the front row and it landed at the feet of an older woman who scurried to pick it up. “Now we’ll have to get married” she said – and went on to joke about how that would be possible if they moved to California together.

It is amazing to think that this talented young woman is only in her mid 20’s and already host to an eclectic and mature body of work that manages to be self aware without leaning on her disability as a crutch. Supported by a band of incredibly talented musicians Melody Gardot’s set was sensual, clean and worldly. It was hard not to think of Billie Holiday as Melody swept the audience into her tune, “Love Me Like a River Does.” Labeled as the ‘next Norah Jones’ it is clear that Melody’s melodies will continue to make soulful waves in the music scene for many years to come.