Jane Scheckter grew up in the world of music. At a young age she honed her vocal skills with piano accompanist, Barry Manilow, at lunch hours during her busy career as a fashion designer. She turned to show biz full time, leaving the fashion world as she moved forward singing in supper clubs and cabarets in New York, Los Angeles and Paris.  With three CDs under her belt, this latest tribute to songwriter icon Irving Berlin seems a perfect match of music with Ms. Scheckter’s soft, lyrical and sultry tones.

She came out swingin’ direct and honest with “The Best Thing for You” and was silky smooth and salty on “You’d Be Surprised.” The richness of her colorful tones was especially noticeable on “I Got Lost in His Arms” and her smoky quality ever present in “How Deep Is the Ocean (How High Is the Sky),” a song that seemed to hold many meaningful moments, along with “What’ll I Do?,” adrift with misty longing, her voice easily slipping and sliding through the notes.

Ms. Scheckter is a very good jazz singer and less orchestrated movements, allowing for more natural indicating, would enhance. Top notch accompaniment was provided by Tedd Firth, Musical Director/Arranger; Tom Hubbard, bass; Peter Grant, drums. Erv Raible directed.

Sandi Durell
Cabaret Scenes
September 2, 2009
www.cabaretscenes.org