Jane Monheit, who was profiled in our May 2021 issue, has 24 years making a career in jazz. She is the kind of skillful and nuanced vocalist that musicians love to work with. The kind that can make an album of Christmas classics that is as rewarding and moving as your favorite renditions. Monheit has released thirteen albums, including an earlier Holiday album in 2005. Her most recent, released this year is self titled. The Merriest was released in 2022.
While she is based in Los Angeles, Monheit tours regularly. After a few California shows early this month she will be at Birdland in New York City for ten appearances between December 10th and 14th. She finishes December with appearances in Philly, D.C., and New Hampshire. I have no particular knowledge that this December tour will include titles from The Merriest, but it wouldn’t surprise me.
Her vocals are the most overtly jazz part of this album. She has a fluidity and sense of timing that secures her place among the best vocalists exploring the American Songbook today. In a crowded field, she stands out as a true professional. Everyone has something to say in their interpretations, Monheit knows how to say it, and therein lies the art. Aside from her outstanding performance, the setting is a friendly contemporary jazz sound. The musicians are all excellent. She is joined on one of nine tracks by John Pizzarelli to sing a duet. Titles include “The Christmas Song,” “Winter Wonderland,” “Let it Snow,” and several more obscure titles like “(Christmas) Stay With Me.”
Christmas is a unique phenomenon for each of us. Like jazz we are all playing with the same material but our emotional reactions are unique to us, improvisational even, and they will never be exactly the same year to year. A vocalist like Jane Monheit can bring us to those new familiar places in these old songs. If you will be putting Spotify on for company this Christmas I encourage you to seek out Jane Moneit’s The Merriest so that someone worthy can get the pennies. If what you hear touches you the album is available on LP and CD from her website.
Jane Monheit • The Merriest
Club 44 Records
www.janemonheitonline.com
