Unfortunately the pre-release
copy of this album, which I received
for review has no detailed notes and
Jane Monheit will not be well known
to many UK jazz enthusiasts. That is
a great pity, because she is a very
fine singer indeed and at 27 she has
the experience to enable a superb performance
on every track.
Born in 1977, she grew
up in Oakdale, Long Island. She was
born into a musical family and began
singing at a very early age. At school
she studied clarinet and music theory,
but it was singing that was her first
love and Ella Fitzgerald her idol.
Her formal vocal training
took place at New York City’s prestigious
Manhattan School of Music where she
studied with Peter Eldridge a founding
member of the vocal group New York Voices.
At 20 years of age she was runner up
in the 1998 Thelonius Monk Institute
Competition and this launched her career
in the big time jazz world.
She has made several
previous albums, on one called Never
Never Land, she sings ballads with the
likes of Ron Carter, Kenny Barron, Lewis
Nash and Bucky Pizzarelli, these guys
only work with the best. Unfortunately
I have not been able to track down the
composition of the backing groups, but
they are top class.[see footnote]
Jane’s singing is nothing
short of sensational; she has drawn
from the ‘greats’ of the past, like
Ella and Sarah and developed a style
of her own. She has all the assets required
of a great singer, perfect intonation
and tuning, a fine jazz feel, inventive
delivery and the ability to make a song
sound very special when she sings it.
Too Late Now is a fine example.
I recommend very strongly
that you trackthis disc down. I’m sure
that if you like a fine jazz vocalist,
who sings the songs her way, but does
not make them unrecognisable, this album
is for you. She has a male singing partner
on I Won’t Dance, but who it is, I don’t
know, but the band swings like mad!
Don Mather
[Footnote]
Detail from Sony website
One
of today's hottest jazz singers and
already an established star at the age
of 26, Jane Monheit makes her Sony Classical
recording debut with "Taking A
Chance On Love," the new album
featuring classic songs from the glamorous
era of the MGM musicals. The album celebrates
what Jane does best, delivering fresh
interpretations of these classic songs
by combining an unabashed, retro sense
with a softly modern sensibility.
"Taking
A Chance On Love" also marks Jane's
first collaboration with producers Peter
Asher and Al Schmitt, each the winner
of multiple Grammy® Awards for work
with such artists as Diana Krall, Linda
Ronstadt, and others. Singing sensation
and best-selling artist Michael Bublé
joins Jane in a special duet of "I
Won't Dance." Jazz greats
Christian McBride, Ron Carter and guitarist
Romero Lubambo round out guest artist
appearances.
Jane
sings in a variety of musical settings
on the album; backed by two small combos
and in lush orchestral settings ("Dancing
in the Dark," "In the Still
of the Night" and "Do I Love
You?").
The
album's bonus track is a newly recorded
version of the Oscar-winning standard
"Over The Rainbow," which
will be featured as the end title song
in the Fall blockbuster film Sky Captain
And The World Of Tomorrow.
Ever
since wowing the judges at the 1998
Thelonious Monk Competition -when she
was only 20- Jane Monheit has emerged
as one of the premiere jazz talents
of her generation. With three solo albums
to her credit, and having held previous
positions at the top of the Billboard
Jazz chart, "Taking A Chance On
Love" is a stunning showcase for
this young artist and an album that
will surely catapult Jane to the forefront
of the marketplace.
CD Reviews
Columbia Records 92495
