Customer Reviews

Live at the Rainbow Room

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've read many of the posts that claim Monheit's voice is "lovely -- though not beautiful." I've heard others complain about her embellishment, demanding she sing more material without vocal interpretation. I've even read some that suggest she is mostly cheesecake.

This album, of all this singer has recorded, proves her critics wrong. And I have seen the singer live and I dined and listened at The Rainbow Room, and also love Ella, Dinah, Lena and Nina. Not to mention Rosie.

Ms. Monheit is blessed with two striking attributes. She is radiantly beautiful and and has an extraordinary voice. She is a physical performer, and so, as with most physically expressive performers, we miss something when we rely only on the ears. Having said that, my ears are happy, as will be yours when you listen to this.

The singer was 26 when she recorded this 74-minute performance, probably edited-from several shows, She is accompanied at times by a full 32-pice orchestra, a trio, a quintet and various solo instruments. Audience noises are unobtrusive, and the recording technique has wide dynamic range, even though it occasionally rolls off at the top.

Ms. Monheit is an original stylist who for the past five years, has been starting out -- just as her gifted predecessors did. I do not expect her to reach the mountaintop in fifteen minutes. The problem Ms. Monheit faces is that she is a "natural" with some material -- such as bossa nova and Gershwin -- but is a longer study with other materials, such as covers from popular song (Judy Collins' SINCE YOU ASKED).

Her OVER THE RAINBOW is directed perhaps at those listeners who at midlife recognized they might never achieve their dreams. Her TEA FOR TWO is completely playful and seductive. Her brilliant rendition of Bernstein's SOME OTHER TIME will catch your heart. As for Jobim's WATERS OF MARCHG, nobody since Astrud Gilberto has given the piece as much poignancy and love.

I'd love to see Monheit do a Gershwin album, an Arlen album, but most of all: a Brazillian album (or two), because her voice and sultry style gravitate toward the tropics as the river rus to the sea.

There is nothing in this performance I find objectionable. True, the digipak art is ugly. There is minimal documentation and an unwieldy hub which threatens to pop the disk in two. Pulling the disk out of the package is an aerobic exercise.

Having said that, what a rich, generous, satisfying set this is. It is not a product of the current music establishment, which markets brands instead of talent.. Ms. Monheit has a beautiful voice, and if you close your eyes for a few moments, I guarantee she'll take you over.

The jazzier she gets, the better I like her. The trouble with other Monheit discs like "In the Sun" and even "Taking a Chance" (though there are a few good, jazzy cuts on the latter), is that they seem to have been aimed at a wider (not jazz-oriented) audience. I prefer it when Monheit embellishes. That's exactly what I'm listen for. Consequently "Live at the Rainbow Room" contains my favorite versions of the songs that she has recorded on other albums. This includes "Over the Rainbow." I have heard two other Monheit renditions of it, and this is the best.
Curious that few reviewers think as I do that her rendition of "Tea for Two" is actually sad. Seductive, yes, but also sad. It's as if she's singing about how happy they'll be with their picket fence and 2.5 kids, yet subconsciously there is a dirge in there--she knows it won't turn out as she hope. It's about the melancholy pleasure of expecting happily-ever-after even though it won't ever be.
There are some numbers I like less, but mostly, it's great, and Joel Frahm on sax, Ron Carter on bass and the rest of the featured musicians are excellent. I think its on "Dindi" that Frahm really cuts loose with a great solo. And on the "Waters of March" there is an amazing duet between Monheit and a horn. (At least I think that's what I'm hearing.)

Jane Monheit is without question a gigantic talent. Her voice is magical. 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?

Jane Monheit, with her fresh and at the same time warm voice, conquests your attention and gains your approval since the first song. The way she renders "Over the rainbow" is superb. It is difficult for some of us to forget Judy Garland singing this song, nevertheless, I would say that Monheit is better.

Something similar happens with "Tea for Two". Those of us who remember that song by Doris Day, find in Jane Monheit something totally brand new.

I sincerely recommend this CD to any lover of jazz music and of vocal music. You won't be disappointed in any way, on the contrary, for sure, you will want more of Jane Monheit.

I just bought this CD this morning on a whim. I was not familiar with her previously but now I am highly impressed with Ms Monheit's voice and delivery. Perhaps the only slight complaint I have is that her presentation is so professional she seems to lack just that touch of heart and emotion that is needed. Still, I look forward to hearing more of her recordings. One side note that has no bearing on the music--I really detest the photography on this CD jacket. The photographs are either terrible digital enlargements or they were made from a video monitor. In either case, they are of technically poor quality. To make matters even worse, they were done with anamorphic distortion that makes Ms. Monheit's head appear elongated. It makes a very attractive lady look ridiculous and the pictures are a travesty.

An addendum a little over a week later. I've listened enough and I am impressed enough that I've bought Ms Monheit's other CD's. This girl can sing, folks! The only downside of having her previous recordings is that this CD now has lost its shine. Of all her recordings, this is my least favorite. She performs better with a small group where the orchestration doesn't interfere. Not that this recording is bad, but I'll have to dock it a half star (3 1/2 total) simply because the others are so good.

I saw Jane Monheit live at the San Jose Jazz Festival in August 2005. She had a very appreciative audience, and I was one too.

I surfed around Amazon to see if I was missing any of her recordings and found this one. This was converted from a DVD, but I like music in the background, so I prefer the audio only version. I have all of Monheit's CDs except "In the Sun," which got lukewarm reviews on Amazon. Ironcially this CD has all the same songs, except the title song, plus six others, and got a good reviews on Amazon. So much for Amazon reviews.

I'm a Monheit fan. I like the way she sings, her style, and accompaniments. Some other folks don't, and chime in with negative reviews, or "Not Helpful" votes on positive reviews. If you don't like Monheit, don't buy her CDs. If you do, buy this one. It's up there with her best.

The photos in the album are stretched, and don't look like Monheit at all. For those who complain that Monheit is too pretty to sing jazz, maybe the bad photos will help you get over it.

Roz

Yes, great songs; yes, lovely voice, beautiful room with wonderful New York views BUT really awful acoustics. If you want to hear these songs performed under ideal conditions stick to the studio recordings. One more thing: the strings are really schmaltzy. You had to be there!

I like Jane Monheit but I did not care overmuch for this album. Her voice is in fine form and the quality of the recording is above average for a live performance; it sounds almost like it was recorded on a soundstage. That being said, the selections on the album did not grab my attention. Others may well disagree. To me, there seemed to be a lack of enthusiasm.

Very possibly my favorite jazz album ever. The concert DVD by the same title is fabulous as well. Get both!

She is unique and splendid.
After so many years of Bobby Short at the Rainbow Room, I couldn't imagine
anyone topping him. Jane does it with style and a beautiful voice.