Jane Monheit - Live at the Rainbow Room

Starring:Jane Monheit, Peter Eldridge, Alan Broadbent
Studio: Encoded Music
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

Jazz fans who treasure Diana Krall's Live in Paris DVD can consider Jane Monheit: Live at the Rainbow Room the second half of a luscious double bill. Like Krall, Monheit is a singer whose ease with jazz standards belies her years (a mere 24, in Monheit's case), and both women are backed by a combo and an orchestra conducted by Alan Broadbent. Monheit doesn't play the piano like Krall, but her voice is a brighter, more supple instrument. Filmed in September 2002 shortly after the release of her In the Sun album, Monheit's visit to Manhattan's legendary cabaret venue mixes classic ballads ("It Never Entered My Mind," "Some Other Time") with Brazilian pop (Ivan Lins, Antonio Carlos Jobim's "Waters of March") and contemporary tunes. It's no surprise that a young voice like this can embody the hopes and dreams of "Over the Rainbow," but who ever knew Vincent Youmans's "Tea for Two" could sound so sexy? --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews:

Simply the Best.......2006-09-08

Jane Monheit has one of the greatest voices of our time. She was schooled in music theory, among other things, at the renowned Manhattan School of Music. Under the guidance of eminent vocal instructor Peter Eldridge she has achieved total command of the brilliant instrument that is her voice. Through many ranges and moods she will take you on a musical journey that will make you appreciate our good fortune in being able to enjoy the delight of hearing great music done well. The accomplished musicians who accompany her are some of the best in the business and it shows not only in their ability to 'Bring It', but in the way that they support Jane and let her 'Fly'. Just ask those guys if Jane is a prodigy! This is not Acid Jazz. Jane Monheit sings songs the way they should be sung. The way most of us want to hear them. You may fall in love with an old tune or hear something very satisfying that you've never heard before. But you will, most likely, fall in love with Jane Monheit's voice and think of a dozen songs that you wish she would put on her next album. Songs come alive when Jane sings them with a sincere feeling that is rarely witnessed these days. She lives the song. She captures the essence of it. And she truly appreciates her audience and loves what she does. And don't be fooled by her older 'Performing' appearance as she wows the famed Rainbow Room. This is a young girl and you can see the real fresh faced Jane as she rehearses in the 'making of' segment which is also offered on the DVD. You will also hear heartfelt praise by legendary musicians who are shocked at her knowledge of music and repertoire of songs. Many think that Jane Monheit is important to Jazz. I think she may be important to Music. I read one review that said Jane Monheit was just another Linda Rondstadt. Believe me when I tell you that Linda Ronstadt wishes she could sing like Jane Monheit. Just ask her!

Some thoughts.......2006-02-11

I don't have this DVD. I saw her on PBS and my first impression, confirmed throughout her performance, is that she's a Linda Ronstadt knockoff. I'm posting this because I didn't see that point in any of the reviews.

Yes she has a voice, not an amazing voice, but respectable enough, her intonation is good and she can manages some respectable vocalese.

But not an artist, IMO. The only identity I hear is Linda Ronstadt. Where's Jane Monheit?

Another thing I noticed is that she doesn't take advantage of her accompaniment. She saturates the texture, and spaces her phrasing in such a way that there's very little extra room. Some judicious use of silence would help.

Better on DVD!.......2006-01-01

I previously reviewed the CD in this DVD area and want to note the differences between CD and DVD. The CD is good but the DVD is better.

1) There are more songs on the DVD.
2) The DVD disk goes in and out of the case more easily so you are not as afraid you're going to break it.
3) Great visuals: Beautiful room, and seeing who is who in the band is very helpful. (It is almost as much fun to watch Joel Frahm's five saxophone solos as it is to hear them.)

Drawbacks:
1) As noted, Jane's mannerism are on display (though I don't think these are as bad as so many people complain) as is the dubious make-up job done on her. (It's not so bad as Bozo or Tammy Faye Bakker, but there's too much sparkle and too much grease for such hot lights; I thought the poor girl was going to break out in the flop sweats at any moment.)
2) If you think she talks too much between songs on the CD, you are going to appreciate how much talking was edited out of the CD after you hear the DVD. (Perhaps generously, I believe that Jane talks as a way of catching her breath.)

I think that Jane Monheit is wonderfully talented, and I look forward to seeing her in person this spring. Although, she often seems neither to want to be pure-jazz or commercial-pop (and sometimes ends up being neither), that is not the case on this DVD where she is jazzier than on any other record she has made.

She also likes to sing Brazilian Portuguese songs, usually in English translation ("Dindi," "Once I Walked in the Sun" & "Waters of March") but, in one instance, she sings in Portuguese ("Comecar de Novo"). Not being able to speak the language, I can only tell that it sounds good to me. (Notice she pronounces the name "Dindi" a little differently on this recording than on the previous record where she sang it; I suspect this is due to her taking lessons or something and that her pronunciation of Brazilian Portuguese has improved(?).) This might not appeal to jazz purists, but I would say she brings a jazz sensibility to these songs, and I for one enjoy them. Maybe she doesn't appeal to all Brazilians because she is too jazzy. (By the way, "Once I Walked" is one of several songs included on this DVD that are not one the "Rainbow Room" CD.) On her album "In the Sun," she sings "Once I Walked" as a duet with the composer Ivan Lins, but here she sings alone-albeit with musical accompaniment.

Where's the quality.......2005-08-13

The performance was unique and something I might have enjoyed if not for the intolerable level of THD. This is simply one poor recording or an even poorer dub.
If there is a satisfaction guarantee, I'll take my money thanks!

great deception.......2005-05-30

Very bad.
A cantora foi uma grande decepção para mim. Esforçou-se em tirar a beleza das musicas que cantou. Não consegui ouvir até o fim. Costaria de poder devolver o CD. Nem os excelentes musicos conseguem salvar o Cd. Very bad.

Average customer rating:

Jane Monheit: Live at the Rainbow Room
Starring: Jane Monheit , Alan Broadbent , Kenny Washington (II) , Ron Carter , and Rene Toledo
Director: Tom Case
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video

( J ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B00008S7HG

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