MELODY GARDOT ANNOUNCES U.S. TOUR DATES

Acclaimed singer Melody Gardot will start a US concert tour this Fall beginning September 20th in San Francisco, it was confirmed today by her label, Verve Records and Beaver Productions, her national tour promoter. Her newly released third album The Absence debuted at No. 3 in France, No. 1 on the Billboard Jazz Charts as well as No. 1 on iTunes Jazz Charts around the globe. The album also reached Top 10 in several countries including Germany and Japan. The Grammy nominated Philadelphia native will also perform at the famed Monterey Jazz Festival and appear in concert in Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, NYC and Philadelphia. Tickets are scheduled to go on sale on August 3rd.

Gardot who has just completed a highly successful European tour also performed at the Montreal Jazz Festival to rave reviews including the Montreal Gazette which described her show as "a spellbinding festival set for a bonafide star...From the moment she walked on stage...Gardot absolutely radiated in front of the rapturous crowd...She seemed to have every single listener under her spell... She sounded every bit the star." Jazz Times concurred by stating, "Gardot and band guided an adoring crowd on a haunting musical journey through swamp and samba, part funk and fado, with stops at blues and bossa nova."

"The Absence" has been receiving glowing reviews as well: "Gardot's melodies recall the golden age of Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald." – People Magazine. 

"Spellbinding."...'The Absence' is an album of seductive, mysterious atmospheres conjured by a pop-jazz singer whose audacity, raw talent and intense feeling recall the young Rickie Lee Jones, even though the two have little in common beyond a fierce individuality." – Stephen Holden, New York Times.

"On tunes that traverse styles from samba to bluesy pop, Gardot wields her power with a light, sure hand... She could teach other singers volumes about restraint." ***1/2 stars – Elysa Gardner, USA Today.

The Absence was inspired by the culture that the singer-songwriter soaked up during travels to Portugal, Morocco, Argentina and Brazil. The songs remind her listeners that while often compared to such musical icons as Nina Simone, Judy Garland, Miles Davis, Edith Piaf, Astrud Gilberto, Stan Getz and others, Melody Gardot is a unique talent, a beautiful voice and a well earned reputation as one of the great live performers touring today.

Melody Gardot US Tour Dates:
Sept 20 – San Francisco, CA – Herbst TheatreSept 21 – Monterey, CA – Monterey Jazz FestivalSept 22 – Los Angeles, CA – Orpheum TheatreSept 25 – Chicago, IL – Park WestSept 27 – Boston, MA – Berklee Performance CentreSept 28 – New York, NY – Town HallSept 29 – Philadelphia, PA – Merriam Theatre
For more information, please contact:
Liz Rosenberg / Karen MossLiz Rosenberg Media

~ Verve Records