Jane Monheit
As a child growing up in a musical family in Oakdale, Long Island, Jane Monheit studied clarinet and theory while acting and singing in local theater productions. She was 17 when she began formal vocal training with Peter Eldridge at the Manhattan School of Music. She began gigging with Rick Montalbano, her college boyfriend, and pianist David Berkman in a quintet. In 1998, at age 20, she placed second among vocalists in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition.
In 2000, Monheit released her debut album Never Never Land through N-Coded Music, with accompaniment by such notables as pianist Kenny Barron, bassist Ron Carter, and saxophonist David “Fathead” Newman. Never Never Land remained on the Billboard Jazz chart for over a year and was voted Best Debut Recording by the members of the Jazz Journalists Association.
In 2001, her second album Come Dream with Me (N-Coded/Warlock) entered the chart at No. 1. It included the Judy Garland classic “Over The Rainbow,” today a favorite among Monheit fans the world over, and the personnel included Michael Brecker (saxophone) and Tom Harrell (trumpet). In the Sun (N-Coded, 2002) blended popular standards (“Cheek to Cheek,” “It “Never Entered My Mind”) with the sounds of Brazil (“Chega De Saudade,” “Comecar De Novo”); the track “Since You’ve Asked” was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocals.
Monheit made her major label debut in September 2004 with Taking a Chance On Love on Sony Classical. Co-produced by Peter Asher and Al Schmitt, this album-length expression of the singer’s passion for 1930’s and ’40’s movie musicals included a duet with Michael Bublé on “I Won’t Dance” along with her deeply personal interpretations of “Love Me Or Leave Me,” “Dancing In The Dark,” and “Embraceable You,” among other timeless favorites. “Dancing in the Dark” was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocals. Taking a Chance On Love has remained on the Billboard Top 10 jazz chart since its release.
