Description
Melody Gardot and Philippe Powell – Entre Eux Deux – Vinyl Record
Melody Gardot & Philippe Powell – Entre Eux Deux (2022) is a stunningly intimate and deeply romantic collaboration between the American-born jazz singer-songwriter Melody Gardot and French-Brazilian pianist and composer Philippe Powell. The title, Entre Eux Deux—which translates roughly as “Between the Two of Them”—captures the essence of the record perfectly: it is a dialogue of two musicians, pared down to voice and piano, where every note, breath, and silence is imbued with meaning. Recorded in Paris and released by Decca Records in May 2022, the album is a love letter to classic chanson, bossa nova, and jazz balladry, steeped in sophistication and emotional nuance.
For Gardot, who has often embraced lush arrangements and cosmopolitan sonic palettes on previous albums (My One and Only Thrill, Currency of Man), this project is a radical act of simplicity. Stripped of any ornamentation beyond Powell’s piano, her voice becomes even more central, revealing a level of vulnerability and subtlety that is breathtaking. She sings in English, French, and occasionally Portuguese, floating effortlessly between languages, always connected to the emotional core of each song. Her tone is smoky, sultry, and languid, never forced—more whispered confession than performance. It’s the kind of singing that leans into the microphone rather than reaching out to the back of the room.
Philippe Powell, son of the great Brazilian guitarist Baden Powell, brings with him a rich heritage of Brazilian harmony and European classical tradition. His playing throughout the album is lyrical and understated, filled with refined voicings and harmonic sophistication reminiscent of Bill Evans, Antônio Carlos Jobim, or even Chopin. But what makes Powell remarkable here is his sensitivity: he doesn’t just accompany Gardot, he converses with her, echoing her phrasing, extending her breath, filling silences with just the right touch of melancholy or grace. The chemistry between them is palpable—not just musical, but deeply emotional.
The repertoire consists entirely of original compositions, co-written by Gardot and Powell, though they feel like lost standards—timeless in melody and lyricism. Songs like “This Foolish Heart Could Love You” and “A La Tour Eiffel” are rich with longing and poetic nostalgia. The former, with its aching melody and romantic surrender, could sit comfortably beside a Cole Porter classic, while the latter plays like a chanson infused with a touch of smoky bossa. The lyrical content throughout the album is elegant, often meditative, and occasionally tinged with sadness or yearning, but always delivered with Gardot’s signature restraint and emotional intelligence.
A particular standout is “Plus Forte Que Nous,” a piece that feels like it could have come from a Michel Legrand soundtrack. It’s cinematic and wistful, a perfect example of the Franco-Brazilian aesthetic that runs through the album. Another highlight, “Samba Em Prelúdio,” pays homage to Powell’s Brazilian roots, drawing on the legacy of Vinicius de Moraes and Baden Powell with sincerity and tenderness. Gardot handles the Portuguese lyrics with elegance, her phrasing respectful of the song’s quiet dignity.
What’s most striking about Entre Eux Deux is its uncompromising minimalism. In an era dominated by production-heavy pop and even increasingly elaborate jazz recordings, this album dares to be quiet, slow, and emotionally transparent. There are no drum solos, no overdubs, no sweeping string sections—just a piano and a voice, recorded with crystalline clarity. This stark setting allows both artists to explore nuance, space, and the emotional weight of silence, making each track feel like a carefully held moment, suspended in time.
Critically, the album was met with admiration for its artistry and courage. While some may find its pace glacial or its mood consistently melancholic, those who appreciate classic songcraft, lyric-driven jazz, or the emotional intimacy of torch songs and bossa nova will find it profoundly moving. It is not an album of grand gestures; rather, it thrives on micro-expression—on the breath between words, the linger of a piano chord, the slow unfolding of a melody.
In the larger context of Gardot’s career, Entre Eux Deux is her most chamber-like and refined project to date—a natural evolution of the quieter moments from her earlier work, but distilled into pure form. For Philippe Powell, it is a coming-out party of sorts in the global jazz spotlight, proving him to be not only a virtuosic pianist but a deeply empathetic musical partner.
Together, they have created something rare: a contemporary jazz album that feels timeless, deeply personal, and quietly transcendent. It’s music for late nights, for solitude, for reflection—and for anyone who believes that the most powerful moments in music often happen when nothing more than a voice and a piano are in perfect balance.
Brand new, never played and still sealed in the factory plastic
Track Listing
This Foolish Heart Could Love You
What Of Your Eyes
Plus Fort Que Nous
À La Tour Eiffel
Fleurs Du Dimanche
Samba Em Prelúdio (Un Jour Sans Toi)
Perhaps You’ll Wonder Why
Recitativo (Instrumental)
Ode To Every Man
Darling Fare Thee Well
