Melody Gardot: Next Steps

After putting a sultry personal stamp on midcentury jazz with her first two albums, the intensely individual Philadelphia-based singer/songwriter went (literally) abroad, resulting in lush yet light-footed tunes like the South African-esque "Amalia" and the late-night Spanish vibe of "Lisboa." Gardot later returned to her American roots on the bluesy "Preacherman" and the simmering, soulful "Same To You."