So in researching this week’s Throwback, I literally tripped and fell down the rabbit hole. Well, okay, so I’m using the word “literally” wrong here; I didn’t literally trip and fall into any hole, but if you’re familiar with any incarnation of “Alice and Wonderland,” you get the allusion. I was minding my own business, and before I knew it there was a whole unknown world sitting right in front of me.

I should explain. I wanted to feature “Lucas With the Lid Off” this week—a killer jazz-infused hip-hop track from 1994—but doubted that I’d find anything recent about the songwriter, the aptly named “Lucas.” I was wrong.

Turns out that after the video for “Lucas With the Lid Off” was nominated for a Grammy, Lucas Secon stepped out of the limelight and decided to focus on production instead. I took a look at his résumé and felt my jaw drop. Check this out:

Britney Spears
Pixie Lott
Kylie Minogue
Weezer
Sean Paul
Toni Braxton
Gym Class Heroes
Jordin Sparks
The Pussycat Dolls
Sean Kingston
Aaron Carter
Mos Def

That’s only a sample of the people he helped write songs for. And then there’s the story of how he introduced the Notorious B.I.G. to Puff Daddy. I mean, he didn’t exactly discover one of the top three greatest rappers of all time, but he certainly played a huge role in getting him to fame and fortune, right?

See what I mean? Rabbit hole.

To tie it all up in a pretty bow, Secon’s father and Uncle Morris founded Pottery Barn in the 1950s. You can’t make this shit up.

To come full circle, allow me introduce you to “Lucas With the Lid Off,” one of my favorite songs of the ‘90s and a pretty sweet video, to boot. But I gotta wrap this up. I’m late. I’m late for a very important date.

The name you are given at birth has great influence over the person you will become.  For instance, if you are named Mortimer you can safely bet that you will get your butt kicked on the regular while growing up.  If you are named Nitro, you will no doubt be doing the aforementioned butt kicking.  And if you are named Melody, well, you best be able to sing.  In the case of Melody Gardot, she can sing.  Not only does she live up to her name, but she makes up for all of the Melody’s out there that are not doing justice to the name.

In late 2003, Melody Gardot was involved in a horrible accident when she was struck by a car while riding her bike.  The accident landed her in the hospital with serious head injuries and kept her confined to a bed for a year.  Neurological issues manifested in the form of severe light sensitivity, memory problems and troubles with communicating.  The deck was certainly stacked against her and yet, she has prevailed.  Music became her therapy and was a big piece of her recovery.  Music was a part of her life growing up, but now it had so much more importance and meaning.  During her hospital stay is when Melody learned to play the guitar and she began her song writing.

It’s hard not to be impacted by Melody’s story.  When I first discovered her music I was not aware of all that she had been through.  Adding that knowledge to her beautiful music makes it even more special for me.  I must say that her recent release, My One and Only Thrill, is absolutely incredible.  From start to finish, the album is a smooth and smoky masterpiece filled with emotion and soul.  Melody Gardot is breathing new life into the American Jazz genre and bringing happiness to a lot of people.  Treat yourself to tracks like “Baby I’m A Fool”, “Who Will Comfort Me” and her rendition of “Over the Rainbow”.  I think you will agree that Melody is more than living up to her name.

Melody Gardot performs her single “Who Will Comfort Me?” on David Letterman

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If you are loving the sound of Melody Gardot you will enjoy Zee Avi

I can appreciate Michael Buble just as much as the next guy. Proof: my wife and I danced to his version of “I’ve Got the World On a String” at our wedding. So I dig the dude, who’s about as mainstream as jazz gets, but we here at Fresh Scouts would contend that he’s not the most soulful, contemporary jazz musician out there. In terms of writing catchy music that’s memorable and respectable at the same time, nobody does it better than Jamie Cullum. Not even Buble.

Cullum’s new album, “The Pursuit,” is his best yet. His debut, “Twentysomething,” was revolutionary in its own right and produced some classic Cullum hits, but musically this new cut does a little bit of everything. And by “everything” I mean “everything that’s good and right about music.” His voice cuts and rolls with the rasp of a seasoned blues singer, but he’s got the vibrato and range of an R&B artist. Plus, ya know, he plays his own instrument. Guess who doesn’t? I’ll give you a hint—it rhymes with “Michael Schmooblay.”

Like all good jazz, this new Cullum album is heavy with the patient four-measure beats that tend to circle his piano riffs. Also as you’d expect, there’s plenty of improvisation and solos on the ivories. The second track, “I’m All Over It,” is typical upbeat JC, which means it’s catchy as hell and rocks some really nice melodies. “We Run Things” is a head-bobber that sounds good enough to be sampled by a hip-hop artist. And, always good for an interesting cover or two, Cullum uses this album to try on some Rhianna. You won’t recognize “Don’t Stop the Music” at first, but once you realize what you’re listening to it’s pretty cool. More than pretty cool. Awesome, even. Gnarly, tubular, etc…

Look, we all love Michael Buble. We really do. He does good work, but he’s got more of a crooning, loungy style to his bits. Cullum, on the other hand, is the kind of artist you’d catch at a smoky jazz club late on a Saturday night. You’d leave this imaginary smoky jazz club thinking, “That guy was friggin’ awesome. My night is now better having experienced that.” Now, what sounds more badass—a crooner in a lounge, or a rocker in a smoky jazz club?

Exactly.