The mathematical formula which creates a great musician is complicated: several parts musical ability, several parts technical ability, several parts sensitivity...but what I think is perhaps the most important piece is emotion. In my mind, a great concert needs to move the audience and must be performed with emotion and sincerity. Jane Monheit is a musician who brings all of these parts to the table. With Home - the title of her newest recording - Jane is celebrating her tenth anniversary as a recording artist. Over those ten years, she has earned acclaim from groups such as the Jazz Journalist's Association, the Billboard Jazz chart and the Grammy Awards, and has earned a well-deserved reputation in the worlds of jazz and cabaret as an outstanding interpreter of the classic songbook.
What strikes me about Jane's performance - in addition to her voice and the way she makes each standard her own - is the enthusiasm and passion she brings to what she does. She's not interested in just singing a song; for Jane, each performance's repertoire is carefully selected - each tune has a special meaning to her. That connection to the repertoire clearly comes across in her performance, and as a result the audience is swept along for the ride. What's more, she always seems to be having a great time! Check out the music video to "Cheek to Cheek":
I'm also impressed by Jane's involvement in her new project from top to bottom. She's credited as the sole producer of the album, which means she was responsible for making all of the decisions: what repertoire to include; how the arrangements would go; whether a take was good or needed to be done again; the order of the tunes on the final product...it's a big job for anyone, but an even bigger job when the producer is also one of the album's performers! That tells me a few things about Jane: beyond her musical talent, she has a clear understanding of the process involved in creating a musical project, a vital ability to work with other musicians, and a willingness to work hard until it is just right. In my mind, a perfect example of a truly professional musician. You can get a glimpse into the making of the new CD with the following video. It's 14 minutes long, but worth watching - it shows Jane as a performer and producer, and in the various interview segments demonstrate her true passion for what she does.
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