Instead of old (or dead) guys let’s focus on someone who is not a guy—old, dead, or otherwise. Jane Monheit fits that bill and you might even spot her name on the marquee at your local jazz club. She spends a lot of time on tour. Plus she’s definitely part of the internet generation, frequenting Twitter and Instagram.
Ok my cat Luke was born on Long Island (as was I) and when I just started blasting our patron saint, @billyjoel …he instantly needed to be held and to lick my entire face. Coincidence? I THINK NOT. #billyforever
— Jane Monheit (@JaneMonheit) April 23, 2018
For some reason, most women in jazz have been vocalists. I’m sure that in the old days that may have been because having a pretty girl up front with a microphone was a better draw than having her hiding behind music stand in the saxophone section. Whatever the reason, female jazz vocalists were still performing jazz complete with the improvisational element—the voice is their musical instrument.
Even in the more traditional Great American Songbook vocals, female singers put their ad lib spin on melodies just like any horn player might.
This video is a good intro to Jane’s style as she partners up with guitarist and singer John Pizzarelli.
Her voice is at once clear as a bell as well as smoky and soulful. It’s like if Karen Carpenter had learned to sing from Ella Fitzgerald.
She recorded her first album Never Never Land at age 22 and has recorded about a dozen since in addition to television performances, movie soundtrack work, and appearing as a guest artist with many other jazz performers.
She spends most of the year on tour with her band, which includes Michael Kanan on piano, Neal Miner on bass, and Rick Montalbano on drums. She also performs with the major symphonic orchestras throughout the country.
Monheit has also been a featured performer in the nationally televised Christmas at the White House, the Capitol Fourth of July Celebration, and the National Memorial Day Celebration. She has appeared on numerous television shows including Emeril, Ramsey Lewis’ Legends of Jazz, Late Show with David Letterman, The View, and The Today Show.
Monheit’s vocals were featured in the 2010 film Never Let Me Go for the titular song, written by Luther Dixon, and credited to the fictional Judy Bridgewater.[5]
In 2013, Monheit was a judge and mentor for the Songbook Academy, a summer intensive for high school students operated by the Great American Songbook Foundation and founded by Michael Feinstein. In 2015, Monheit joined the judging panel for The 14th Annual Independent Music Awards and in doing so, helped to assist the careers of upcoming independent artists.
If you remember that retro style sci-fi movie Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, Monheit sang that version of Over the Rainbow on the soundtrack.
Her latest album is a tribute to Ella – The Songbook Sessions: Ella Fitzgerald.
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