It is a lifelong musical journey from the dreamy innocence of “Never Never Land” to the world-weary delusion of “Something Cool.” Yet, Jane Monheit, now firmly established as one of the post-millennial jazz world’s foremost vocalists, has managed to make the trip in just eight years. In 2000, Monheit chose the sweet, escapist Peter Pan lullaby as the title tune for her debut album. Now, with The Lovers, the Dreamers and Me, her sophomore release for Concord (following 2006’s sumptuous Surrender), she is plumbing the gin-soaked escapism of the heartrending tune made famous by June Christy in 1953.
But “Something Cool” is just one of several tracks on The Lovers, the Dreamers and Me, Monheit’s widest-ranging and most accomplished album to date, that suggest the honey-voiced chanteuse is ushering in an artistic era of heightened sagacity and maturity. She also navigates the dark corners of Tommy Wolf and Fran Landesman’s poignant “The Ballad of the Sad Young Men,” delivers a superlative interpretation of Paul Simon’s bittersweet “I Do It for Your Love” and embraces such contemporary songwriters as Corrine Bailey Rae (“Like A Star”) and Fiona Apple (“Slow Like Honey”). “I was,” confesses Monheit, “obsessed with Fiona Apple’s first record when I was in college, and that’s the album that song is from. I thought it was interesting to do it and “Like A Star” because both are by female songwriters who are almost exactly my age, and they’re songs I really love. I’m always doing songs from the Great American Songbook by long-dead composers, mostly male. Standards are still where my heart is, but it’s great to go beyond that.”
And, of course, The Lovers, the Dreamers and Me, does include a rich assortment of jazz and pop classics, ranging from Cole Porter (“Get Out of Town”) and Jimmy Dorsey (“I’m Glad There Is You”) to Leonard Bernstein (“Lucky to Be Me”). Nor does Monheit ignore her deep adoration for Brazilian gems, adding Ivan Lins’ “Acaso” (“No Tomorrow”) and the effervescent samba “A Primeira Vez” to her recorded repertoire.
"DJ Monkey …soul-stirring, excitingly edgy music…just disturbing (read ‘mind-f**king’) enough to demand attention. There is a whole spice rack of auditory flavors here, served up like fractured poetry on a collection of intensely listenable Hallmark cards from Hell." Bill Margold, Cinema Seen, L.A. X..Press
Hi, Jane!! I will thank you for your comments about my new song, a bossa in French, “Revenir dans ta Vie”.God bless you! www.myspace.com/cristianrosemary
Revenir dans ta Vie Lyrics & music: Cristian Rosemary). J'aimerais revenir dans ta vie j'aimerais retrouver la magie j'aimerais reposer dans ton lit d’où je ne devrais jamais être sorti.
Le froid a envahi la nature comme l'hiver qui est rentré dans mon cœur j'ai couru dans cette vie à toute allure en risquant ta tendresse, ta chaleur. Les ombres ont caché la lumière comme le bruit a couvert le silence. Les ombres ont caché mon soleil qui brillait grâce à ta présence.
Les rêves qu'on avait...où sont-ils? Leur as-tu permis de mourir? Les rêves qu'on avait...où sont-ils? Leur as-tu permis de partir? Pense à moi un petit peu, pense, ma chère. Je regrette de t'avoir fait pleurer, mais tes larmes généreuses m'ont soignées. Es-tu prête, mon amour, es-tu prête?
Tu es la seule. Le sais-tu? Le sais-tu? Je le sais maintenant, je le sais. Est-ce trop tard pour rentrer dans ton âme? Est-ce trop tard pour rentrer dans ton corps? Les années ont passé comme le vent. et pourtant, nous gardons notre amour. Nous mourrons plein de rides, amoureux, amoureux, comme toujours, si tu veux.
After you've finished here, you may like to hear this poem sung on myspace...
Poem 162 of 230, WalkaboutsVerse (please see my blog): TEES TO TYNE: FIRST IMPRESSIONS - SUMMER 2001
Where traditions are not so rare; Sea, country and works scent the air; A multitude of monuments, Planted tubs and patterned pavements.
The longish pedestrian malls; The remnants of defensive walls; Historic buildings are a gauge Of the respect for heritage.
Wheat, rape and pines in the fields; Estuaries guarded by shields; Long sandy beaches and wide scenes; Romantic-ruin go-betweens.
Rivers in parts licked by trees, Or fringed by boat clubs, wharfs, gantries, And crossed by practical delights - Varied spans, forming pleasing sights.
Fine churches headed at Durham; Football kits ad infinitum; Kept castles - one for study; Masonry behind masonry.
And, with moulding-works out that way, It’s somewhere for a longer stay..?
Happiest of birthdays, Jane! I bought yet another one of your albums a few weeks back and I never grow tired of your voice. Continue to bless the world with your talent and I hope to hear you live soon!
Sincerely, Specialist Shannon Rafferty 257th Army Band, Washington DC
