With Latest Recording and Tour, Jazz Star Jane Monheit Promises Surprises

"The new album is only half on the eclectic side," notes jazz and cabaret concert and recording artist Jane Monheit of her eponymous recording, "Jane Monheit," released in mid-October. It is her 13th recording, and while half of it is a mix of Brazilian, pop, folk, and R & Bn she also assures "there will be plenty of Great American Songbook, because that's where I live. The way the lyrics sit on the melody, it's magical."

Monheit's album release is the impetus for her Fall 2024 concert tour taking this Grammy-nominated performer around the country finishing with a week at Manhattan's Birdland in December; but not before she stops in eastern Massachusetts for one show only at the Groton Hill Music Center, Groton, MA on Sunday, November 10.

While her upcoming show will feature a selection of songs from the new recording, Monheit promises some surprises. "I constantly do material that I haven't recorded, and I'll do some of those," assures Monheit. Broadway World's Rob Lester said of Monheit's performance at Manhattan's Smoke Jazz Club earlier this year, "When she settles into the sensitive stuff, with caring phrasing of lyrics about love or loss, without overly embroidering them, it's heavenly. That happens with 'Young and Foolish,' the reflective look back at an early romance." About her version of a Joni Mitchell song, he gushed, "I'd be happy to hear this J.M. sing anything by that J.M. ...or almost anything."

Speaking to Edge from her Los Angeles home, where she moved eight years ago from New York, Monheit chatted amiably about her music, her family, and an unexpected fact about her life in Los Angeles.  

EDGE: In San Diego a couple of weeks after the Groton Hill concert, you will be performing a tribute show to Ella, Billie, and Sarah. You've often been compared to Ella, but I hear elements of Sarah in your interpretive style. What would you say you've drawn from these three singers, if anything?

Jane Monheit: It's different qualities from each one. All were influences on me in different musical ways. The person that stands out to me was Ella. Not only was she the biggest musical influence on me in musical ways, but because of the person she was, a lovely human being on all accounts. Humble and grateful, appreciative of her audience, of her listeners, and that has influenced me greatly. We don't often get to say that about her in a tribute show.

EDGE: Are there other singers you've admired and felt moved by or influenced by during your development as a singer?

Jane Monheit: Absolutely! Singers from other genres, not necessarily jazz, have been very important to me. My Dad was a bluegrass musician and it led to him playing the music of singers like Bonnie Raitt and Joni Mitchell being played in the house constantly and they influenced me.

Lyrical interpreters from musical theater are my favorites. A huge influence. right up there with the jazz singers, is Bernadette Peters, for sure. Who is better with a lyric? Betty Buckley is a favorite of mine. I grew up on these divas. Barbara Cook and Rebecca Luker; I learned so much about technique from them. I grew up on Long Island and grew up with musical theater, and it comes out in my shows now that I'm old enough not to care.

EDGE: You don't sound like you're from Long Island; no accent.

Jane Monheit: My husband tells me It comes out when I get angry (laughs).

EDGE: You seem to be every American male jazz crooner's guest duet partner: Nicolas King, Tony DeSare, Jonathan Karrant, and on your last CD, "The Merriest," you have John Pizzarelli joining you on a number. What do you attribute that to?

Jane Monheit: (with excitement) They are all my friends in real life! They are the sweetest guys! The vocal community is so supportive right now, and all these collaborations are coming out of friendship. John [Pizzarelli] and I have worked a lot together over the last 20 years. Another male crooner with a beautiful, gorgeous voice, Robert Bannon, is also someone I work with. He lives in the cabaret world and I love him. I tell my students you have nothing to fear. Everyone in the vocal world is wonderful and the few jerks are easy to identify.

EDGE: At Groton Hill, will you be having your usual trio with you: your longtime musical director Michael Kanan at the piano, Neil Minor on bass, and your husband Rick Montalbano on drums?

Jane Monheit: Actually, no, not at this concert. Michael Kanan's going to be on tour in the UK with his own project. In his place I will have one of the New York greats John DiMartino on piano. Rick won't be with me because our teenage son will be at home in school. So, I'll have the drummer working with me in the last 8 years or so, the great Joe Strasser. But yes, I will have my long-time bass player Neil Miner. All have been part of the NY scene for decades.

EDGE: What are some of the songs in your repertoire that just thrill you to sing?

It's always the Brazilian stuff. For the length of my career, it's that I look forward to the most.

EDGE: Are there any songs in your repertoire that you identify with on a personal level?

Jane Monheit: All of them, for one reason or another. The swingers less so, because the lyrics are not as deep. I identify most with the ballads and the Brazilian. "Young and Foolish" is very special to me. When my husband and I were dating, a version of "Young and Foolish" came out by the king of jazz pianists, Brad Mehldau. Many of the songs I identify with come from my relationship with my husband.

EDGE: The last time I interviewed you, back in 2012, your son Jack was 4! He must be driving by now!

Jane Monheit: Not driving yet. He's not pushing it and I'm fine with that. I don't know how to drive. I've never gotten my license.

EDGE: You live in Los Angeles, and you don't have a driver's license?

Jane Monheit: Until eight years ago, we lived in New York City, and I never needed to drive, so I never learned.

EDGE: With such musical parents, is Jack also very musical?

Jane Monheit: He's an extremely musical person. He plays bass and drums and a little guitar. A gifted musician. Not jazz. Metal, and he's good at it. It's not the only thing he listens to, but heavy metal is the epicenter for him.

EDGE: Your touring schedule is full through the end of the year but stops just shy of New Year's Eve. Do you not have a New Year's Eve gig this year?

Jane Monheit: I don't this year. I was offered one and I didn't take it. It was in NY, and I have a contract for a week in New York in December and the contractual terms kept me from taking another New York gig so close to that one. Instead, I'm going to be home with my family and my cats and dogs and it'll be wonderful avoiding all the drunk drivers in LA, When I was young, I loved New Year's gigs, and my husband was with me, and it was really fun. And now I'm old and I don't wanna. I want to be in the house away from all the chaos.

Jane Monheit will perform on Sunday, November 10, 2024, 7 PM at Groton Hill Music Center, 122 Old Ayer Road, Groton, MA 01450. Tickets are $59.94-$80.38, including fees. For ticket information, click here.