Post Description

Jane Monheit - Come Dream with Me
Release Date   : May 22, 2001
Recording Date : Jan 18, 2001-Feb 28, 2001
Label          : Warlock Records
Genre          : Vocal Jazz
Covers         : Front, back, CD 



Jane Monheit's sophomore outing follows in the same accessible mold as her debut, Never Never Land. The young, fairly green vocalist is joined again by all-star musicians, including renowned pianist Kenny Barron, bassist Christian McBride, and drummer Greg Hutchinson, with Michael Brecker and Tom Harrell making a handful of guest appearances each. Closing the album on a surprising note, African phenom Richard Bona joins for an intimate duo rendition of Joni Mitchell's "A Case of You," playing acoustic guitar accompaniment and overdubbing fretless bass filigree behind Monheit's vocal. Monheit's exquisite voice is becoming more seasoned and expressive, particularly on sassier numbers like "Hit the Road to Dreamland" and "I'm Through with Love." She also wraps her seductive charm around Jobim's swaying free-association poem "Waters of March" and takes on two of jazz's grand ballads, Billy Strayhorn's "Something to Live For" and Fran Landesman's "Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most." The latter, a duet with Kenny Barron, prompts one to compare and contrast Chaka Khan's rendition with Chick Corea on 1982's Echoes of an Era. "Blame It on My Youth," "I'll Be Seeing You," and "Over the Rainbow" are pleasant but less remarkable. (The hidden 12th track, which features Monheit as a child croaking her way a cappella through "Over the Rainbow," is a harmless bit of self-indulgence.) There are a number of textural enhancements that distinguish this album from its predecessor, including subtle overdubbed background vocals, unobtrusive string orchestrations by Bill Fisher, and general arranging input from the superb young pianist David Berkman. With the Joni Mitchell tune and also with "If," a '70s soft rock hit by Bread, Monheit complicates her image as a retro jazz classicist, which earned her some rather severe critical drubbing when she broke onto the scene in 2000.

1. Over The Rainbow ~ Jane Monheit
2. Hit The Road To Dreamland ~ Jane Monheit
3. Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most ~ Jane Monheit
4. Waters Of March ~ Jane Monheit
5. I'm Through With Love ~ Jane Monheit
6. I'll Be Seeing You ~ Jane Monheit
7. Something To Live For ~ Jane Monheit
8. So Many Stars ~ Jane Monheit
9. If ~ Jane Monheit
10. Blame It On My Youth ~ Jane Monheit
11. Case Of You, A ~ Jane Monheit
12. (untitled) - (hidden track) ~ Jane Monheit

Personnel: Jane Monheit (vocals); Michael Brecker (saxophone); Tom Harrell (trumpet); Kenny Barron (piano); Richard Bona (electric & fretless basses); Christian McBride (bass); Greg Hutchinson (drums).
Recorded at Sear Sound, New York, New York in January & February 2000. Includes liner notes by Joel Dorn.
Jane Monheit's lush vocals do right by the songs on COME DREAM WITH ME. Influenced by Ella Fitzgerald, she has gained legions of fans with her warm, rich voice and wise-beyond-her-years, expressive style. Ably assisted by saxophonist Michael Brecker and Monk-influenced pianist Kenny Barron, Monheit continues her path to becoming one of the best-known contemporary female jazz vocalists with this collection, which contains standards such as "Over the Rainbow," "I'll be Seeing You," and "Blame It On My Youth."