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Avg: 4.0 (68 ratings)
- Date Released: January 20, 2009
- Genre: Jazz
- Style: Jazz Vocal
- Label: Concord Jazz
Monheit's most mature and also sexiest recording to date
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We Say...
Jane Monheit turned 30 and had her first child during the process of this recording, so it's not surprising that Lovers would be the most mature of her nine recordings to date. But it's also arguably the sexiest. A conservative stylist with a powerhouse voice in the mode of Barbara Streisand, Monheit demonstrates her growth on songs containing emotional complexity within durable narratives. Check out her recognition that her verbal sparring partner is also her soul mate — and how her voice drops conspiratorially to rebut the lyric "it's not a secret anymore" — on Corinne Bailey Rae's "Like A Star." Listen to the erotic undercurrent and growing submission as she has a drink and a smoke on "Something Cool," a hit June Christy recorded in 1954 when, ironically, Christy also was pregnant. Hear how Monheit handles the beguiling, languorous tease of Fiona Apple's "Slow Like Honey." And that's just the first three songs.
Not everything is up to those initial high standards. I've never been impressed by Monheit's stabs at hipness and sass, and the minor scat and talk-song on Cole Porter's "Get Out Of Town" doesn't alter that opinion. Despite sublime vibes from Stefon Harris, Paul Simon's "I Do It For Your Love" is merely ordinary. But unfettered from the overly lush arrangements of her previous disc, Surrender, her grace and intelligence shine through on classics from Jimmy Dorsey ("I'm Glad There Is You) and Leonard Bernstein ("Lucky To Be Me") when backed by an intimate, piano-led ensemble, or by guitarist Romero Lubambo on the samba "A Primeira Vez."
The closer, "Rainbow Connection" from the Muppet movie, is a companion piece to "Over The Rainbow" from an earlier Monheit record: A simple sentiment and simple arrangement (this one neatly sketched by accordionist Gil Goldstein beautifully rendered by Monheit's restrained yet voluptuous voice. -
They Say...
The beautifully subtle pop/jazz vocalist has been one of the great old souls of music since launching her recording career after winning the first runner up prize at the 1998 Thelonious Monk Institute Vocal Competition. But she celebrated the significant chronological milestone of passing 30 while making this graceful and exquisite album. Beyond that, Monheit also celebrates her new motherhood to son Jack, and that's what inspired the inclusion of the always welcome "Rainbow Connection"; she sings the charming song -- and its lyrics that inspired the name of the recording -- to Jack all the time. At home, however, it doesn't have the exquisite Gil Goldstein accordion touch that makes this one of the best renditions ever. Goldstein arranged many of the tracks, but one of the most exciting jazzy turns, Monheit's swinging, swaggering "Get Out of Town," was done by pianist Michael Kanan, who was part of the ensemble that recorded half of these tracks while the singer was still pregnant. In many ways, then, this 13-track collection is a chronicle of the singer pre- and post-motherhood -- and all something that Jack will be proud of as he grows older. As always, the key to a great interpreter's project is the choice of material, and Monheit makes interesting picks, ranging from a wistful take on Paul Simon's "I Do It for Your Love" to Fiona Apple's dark and haunting "Slow Like Honey" and Corinne Bailey Rae's "Like a Star." She also mines her traditional comfort zone with songs by Cole Porter, Jimmy Dorsey, and Leonard Bernstein, but taps into even richer emotions with Ivan Lins' "Acaso" and the bubbling samba "A Primeira Vez." Another triumphant set, no matter what side of 30 or motherhood Monheit is on.
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| 01. |  |
Like a Star |
5:15 |
|
| 02. | |
Something Cool |
4:56 |
|
| 03. | |
Slow Like Honey |
5:57 |
|
| 04. | |
This Girl's in Love with You |
4:56 |
|
| 05. | |
I'm Glad There Is You |
5:07 |
|
| 06. | |
Get Out of Town |
3:40 |
|
| 07. | |
I Do It For Your Love |
4:04 |
|
| 08. | |
I Ain't Gonna Let You Break My Heart |
5:21 |
|
| 09. | |
Ballad of the Sad Young Men |
6:00 |
|
| 10. | |
No Tomorrow (Acaso) |
5:12 |
|
| 11. | |
Lucky to Be Me |
5:25 |
|
| 12. | |
A Primeira Vez |
3:03 |
|
| 13. | |
Rainbow Connection |
4:08 |
|
13 Total Tracks, 63:04 Total Length
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Credits
- Gil Goldstein - Piano // Gil Goldstein - Accordion // Gil Goldstein - Arranger // Bashiri Johnson - Percussion // Peter Bernstein - Guitar // Peter Bernstein - Guitar // Peter Bernstein - Guitar // Seamus Blake - Sax (Tenor) // Seamus Blake - Sax (Tenor) // Seamus Blake - Sax (Tenor) // Scott Colley - Bass // Scott Colley - Bass // James Farber - Engineer // James Farber - Mixing // Romero Lubambo - Guitar // Romero Lubambo - Arranger // Joe McEwen - Executive Producer // Kathleen Nester - Flute (Alto) // Kathleen Nester - Flute (Bass) // Matt Pierson - Producer // Antonio Sanchéz - Drums // Andy Snitzer - Digital Editing // Frank Vignola - Guitar // Frank Vignola - Guitar // Mark Wilder - Mastering // Randee Saint Nicholas - Photography // Charles Pollow - Clarinet (Bass) // Maria Verel - Make-Up // Maria Verel - Hair Stylist // Stefon Harris - Vibraphone // Michael Kanan - Piano // Michael Kanan - Piano // Michael Kanan - Arranger // Michael Kanan - Arranger // Gen Shinkai - Flute // Gen Shinkai - Flute (Alto) // Jane Monheit - Vocals // Jane Monheit - Performer // Neal Miner - Bass // Kathryn Lockwood - Viola // Entcho Todorov - Violin // Rick Montalbano - Drums // Matt Taylor Band - Package Design
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