Jane Monheit (born November 3, 1977) is considered by some to be one of the most promising American jazz vocalists of her generation, and by others to be more of a cabaret/broadway style singer and not really a jazz singer at all.
Jane Monheit was born in Oakdale, New York on Long Island. Monheit began singing professionally while attending Connetquot High School. At 17, she began to study at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City under the tutelage of Peter Eldridge. She earned a Bachelor's degree in music in 1999. At the age of 20, as a senior, she won the first runner-up prize at the 1998 Thelonious Monk Institute Vocal Competition.
Monheit's classically trained voice has been compared to that of Ella Fitzgerald, whom she lists as one of her influences. Even though she is often cited as a jazz vocalist, her recorded tracks range from jazz to MGM/RKO 1930s–1950s musicals and Latin American rhythms such as the song "Comecar De Novo."
Her debut album Never Never Land was released in October 2000 and became an instant success. Her second CD album, Come Dream With Me, was released in May 2001. Her third album In The Sun was released in October 2002.
Her fourth album Live at the Rainbow Room was released in December 2003. A DVD entitled Live at the Rainbow Room was released to complement the CD.
Her fifth album Taking a Chance on Love was released in September 2004. It rose to the number one spot on Billboard's traditional jazz chart and entered Billboard's top 100 pop chart the first week it was released. This album included the song "Over the Rainbow", which was included on the soundtrack for the film Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow.
The Taking a Chance on Love DVD was released in March 2005 and contains performances from the Brecon Jazz Festival in Wales, UK. In October 2005, Monheit released her sixth album The Season, her first holiday-themed album, which debuted in the top 10 on Billboard's jazz chart. Monheit told jazzreview.com it was inspired by Fitzgerald's Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas.
The singer recently signed a recording contract with Concord Records.
Monheit married drummer Rick Montalbano in 2002, and they currently reside in New York City.
In season 5 of the TV show American Idol, the runner up, Katharine McPhee, sang an interpretation of Judy Garland's "Over The Rainbow", using Monheit's version of the rarely heard introduction, with the rest of the song clearly inspired by Eva Cassidy's unique 1996 rendition.
Year
Cover
Album
Sales
Never Never Land
Come Dream with Me
In the Sun
Taking a Chance on Love
The Season
Surrender
Year
Cover
Album
Sales
Live at the Rainbow Room
The Very Best of Jane Monheit
