Welcome Jane Monheit to her first official New York engagement at Birdland! A little preoccupied with the newness of motherhood and her five month old baby, singing is as natural as breathing. “I Was Doing All Right” is an understatement for this scat kitten as she plies her vocal instrument effortlessly. Hailing from Long Island, Grammy-nominated Monheit became a jazz phenomenon at a very young age, singing professionally while still in high school. She studied voice with Peter Eldridge at the Manhattan School of Music and has been concertizing internationally, having recorded seven albums. The latest CD is due out shortly.

Jane is especially comfortable on Portugese-Brazilian rhythms. But for those of us mad about the Great American Songbook, there’s no pleasure greater than listening to Monheit swing thru “Devil and the Deep Blue Sea,” which will appear on her new album, or “That’s All.” Her style is casual, ‘come-on-a-my-house’ and I’ll sing you a song. Jane has a pureness that pervades every note.

Monheit’s vocal interpretations are as natural as cool water flowing through a stream. She produces so much doing so little! She is an artist that has mastered impeccable phrasing, intuitively winding her magical chords in and around each note.

“Timing matters” says Monheit and “Lucky To Be Me” reflects the perfect timing of her life, highlighted with the richness of her vocal inflections. The interpretive arrangement on “By Myself” is unusually noticeable along with a sensual slow swing “My One and Only.” Choosing “I’m Glad There is You” as a perfect ballad to dance around with her new baby, this rendition was combined with top-notch improvisational scat. Her new “Rainbow Connection"/"Over The Rainbow” medley is joyous.

Although, Ms. Monheit considers herself “a goofball when she talks,” we find forgiveness because all we really want is to hear her sing! With husband Rick “Daddy” Montalbano on drums, Neil Miner on bass and Michael Kanan on piano and keyboard, Jane Monheit continues at Birdland thru October 25th.

Sandi Durell
Cabaret Scenes
May 13, 2008
www.cabaretscenes.org