I've read many of the posts that claim Monheit's voice is "lovely -- though not beautiful." I've heard others complain about her embellishment, demanding she sing more material without vocal interpretation. I've even read some that suggest she is mostly cheesecake.

This album, of all this singer has recorded, proves her critics wrong. And I have seen the singer live and I dined and listened at The Rainbow Room, and also love Ella, Dinah, Lena and Nina. Not to mention Rosie.

Ms. Monheit is blessed with two striking attributes. She is radiantly beautiful and and has an extraordinary voice. She is a physical performer, and so, as with most physically expressive performers, we miss something when we rely only on the ears. Having said that, my ears are happy, as will be yours when you listen to this.

The singer was 26 when she recorded this 74-minute performance, probably edited-from several shows, She is accompanied at times by a full 32-pice orchestra, a trio, a quintet and various solo instruments. Audience noises are unobtrusive, and the recording technique has wide dynamic range, even though it occasionally rolls off at the top.

Ms. Monheit is an original stylist who for the past five years, has been starting out -- just as her gifted predecessors did. I do not expect her to reach the mountaintop in fifteen minutes. The problem Ms. Monheit faces is that she is a "natural" with some material -- such as bossa nova and Gershwin -- but is a longer study with other materials, such as covers from popular song (Judy Collins' SINCE YOU ASKED).

Her OVER THE RAINBOW is directed perhaps at those listeners who at midlife recognized they might never achieve their dreams. Her TEA FOR TWO is completely playful and seductive. Her brilliant rendition of Bernstein's SOME OTHER TIME will catch your heart. As for Jobim's WATERS OF MARCHG, nobody since Astrud Gilberto has given the piece as much poignancy and love.

I'd love to see Monheit do a Gershwin album, an Arlen album, but most of all: a Brazillian album (or two), because her voice and sultry style gravitate toward the tropics as the river rus to the sea.

There is nothing in this performance I find objectionable. True, the digipak art is ugly. There is minimal documentation and an unwieldy hub which threatens to pop the disk in two. Pulling the disk out of the package is an aerobic exercise.

Having said that, what a rich, generous, satisfying set this is. It is not a product of the current music establishment, which markets brands instead of talent.. Ms. Monheit has a beautiful voice, and if you close your eyes for a few moments, I guarantee she'll take you over.

Jane Monheit is without question a gigantic talent. Her voice is magical. Jazz fans who treasure Diana Krall's Live in Paris DVD can consider Jane Monheit: Live at the Rainbow Room the second half of a luscious double bill. Like Krall, Monheit is a singer whose ease with jazz standards belies her years (a mere 24, in Monheit's case), and both women are backed by a combo and an orchestra conducted by Alan Broadbent. Monheit doesn't play the piano like Krall, but her voice is a brighter, more supple instrument. Filmed in September 2002 shortly after the release of her In the Sun album, Monheit's visit to Manhattan's legendary cabaret venue mixes classic ballads ("It Never Entered My Mind," "Some Other Time") with Brazilian pop (Ivan Lins, Antonio Carlos Jobim's "Waters of March") and contemporary tunes. It's no surprise that a young voice like this can embody the hopes and dreams of "Over the Rainbow," but who ever knew Vincent Youmans's "Tea for Two" could sound so sexy?

I just bought this CD this morning on a whim. I was not familiar with her previously but now I am highly impressed with Ms Monheit's voice and delivery. Perhaps the only slight complaint I have is that her presentation is so professional she seems to lack just that touch of heart and emotion that is needed. Still, I look forward to hearing more of her recordings. One side note that has no bearing on the music--I really detest the photography on this CD jacket. The photographs are either terrible digital enlargements or they were made from a video monitor. In either case, they are of technically poor quality. To make matters even worse, they were done with anamorphic distortion that makes Ms. Monheit's head appear elongated. It makes a very attractive lady look ridiculous and the pictures are a travesty.

An addendum a little over a week later. I've listened enough and I am impressed enough that I've bought Ms Monheit's other CD's. This girl can sing, folks! The only downside of having her previous recordings is that this CD now has lost its shine. Of all her recordings, this is my least favorite. She performs better with a small group where the orchestration doesn't interfere. Not that this recording is bad, but I'll have to dock it a half star (3 1/2 total) simply because the others are so good.

The jazzier she gets, the better I like her. The trouble with other Monheit discs like "In the Sun" and even "Taking a Chance" (though there are a few good, jazzy cuts on the latter), is that they seem to have been aimed at a wider (not jazz-oriented) audience. I prefer it when Monheit embellishes. That's exactly what I'm listen for. Consequently "Live at the Rainbow Room" contains my favorite versions of the songs that she has recorded on other albums. This includes "Over the Rainbow." I have heard two other Monheit renditions of it, and this is the best.
Curious that few reviewers think as I do that her rendition of "Tea for Two" is actually sad. Seductive, yes, but also sad. It's as if she's singing about how happy they'll be with their picket fence and 2.5 kids, yet subconsciously there is a dirge in there--she knows it won't turn out as she hope. It's about the melancholy pleasure of expecting happily-ever-after even though it won't ever be.
There are some numbers I like less, but mostly, it's great, and Joel Frahm on sax, Ron Carter on bass and the rest of the featured musicians are excellent. I think its on "Dindi" that Frahm really cuts loose with a great solo. And on the "Waters of March" there is an amazing duet between Monheit and a horn. (At least I think that's what I'm hearing.)

Jane Monheit es indiscutiblemente, una joven y talentosa cantante. Tengo sus anteriores cds y al escuchar este "EN VIVO" me parece que no logro obtener lo acogedor de sus anteriores trabajos, pese a que su calidad interpretativa esta al mas alto nivel (por algo ha colaborado con musicos como Blanchard y O'Connor, por citar algunos)
No obstante lo anterior, el aporte de esta grabacion es reunir en un solo cd, los "standard" mas destacados de sus anteriores trabajos.
Recomendable para quienes empiezan a escuchar a Jane Monheit, para el resto, me inclino por sus trabajos anteriores.