My small addendum. Monheit has the best voice in jazz today. I'm a 5 year fan.
On stage 3 weeks ago in Boston with her band she was great. But she badly needs a statement album - one that defines her and her talent. She has been with at least 3 labels and I think that they have been pulling this immensely talented singer in too many directions. Her vocal breadth is so extraordinary and she can do so much vocally that she ends up doing a little of everything well but her albums are not cohesive sounding. They sound watered down and undefined. You never know what you are going to get from song to song and it's been getting worse on the newer albums. I was hoping with the change to a Jazz label like Concord that this would be behind her but not yet. What are those A&R types doing? I even congratulated here on her new label after the show and there was an unstated acknowledgment that her and Sony were not a good fit. Like RC I hope the next CD is great, because I'm running out of patience after 7 CD's and several other tracks on various artists albums and 6 live shows. She is t o o good t o o waste. So how about it producers? - Give us some jazz, give us some swing. Give us the real Jane and get rid of the strings.

This is easy listening muzac, pure and simple - more at home in a dentists surgery or an elevator. The voice is wonderful, but where's the spark and the passion? It feels like the lights are on, but nobodys home. Jazz? No way!

Jane Monheit is my favorite singer, and I love her other albums, but this one is just one boring song after another. Please Jane, go back to the jazz!!

Jane Monheit, a once-promising talent, released "Surrender" in 2007. It is her weakest, most spiritless release to date. Her "Surrender" song interpretations are unremarkable, undemanding, and unconvincing. Her vocal stylizations distinctly lack variety and virtuosity. Most condemnable of all, her uninspiring delivery makes every lyrical sentiment of every song sound routine and insincere.

Her vocals are framed cheaply by "canned" instrumental (especially the string) arrangements that sound like some of the worst Muzak or "elevator music" ever recorded. Jane Monheit and crew are creating audio mannequins on "Surrender"--lifelike but bloodless songs that remind me of puddles of standing water on a city pavement at night, reflecting light, but flowing nowhere. And that's the once-potent Jane Monheit on vocals, lazily poking at the puddles with a twig. If "Never Never Land," her debut album, suggested a young vocalist on the rise, budding like a rose, "Surrender" features the same singer, clueless, compromising, and on her knees. "Surrender" indeed.

R & R Bossa Nova is a musical phrase I coined to classify some of the CDs from my collection ... it stands for Refreshing and Relaxing Bossa Nova music. This CD, "Surrender" is a fitting example for it contains quite a lot of Brazilian-infused numbers that are absolutely enchanting and very pleasing to the ears.

Sergio Mendes, Ivan Lins, Toots Thielemans, Vince Mendoza and Jorge Calandrelli are some of the most trusted names when it comes to exquisite music - their presence in this recording adds beauty, brilliance and timeless appeal that most listeners often look for in an album.

What makes this disc so special? Jane Monheit's impeccably refreshing, relaxing and soothing renditions; tasteful choice of material from the pens of Henry Mancini, Johnny Mercer, Sergio Mendes, Johnny Mandel, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Burt Bacharach, Hal David, Stevie Wonder, Alan and Marilyn Bergman, among others; sublime musicianship from a fine group of studio musicians that include pianist Michael Kanan, percussionist Paulinho Da Costa, drummer Rick Montalbano (Monheit's husband), saxophonist Ari Ambrose, just to name a few; a lush string orchestra; and more importantly, Vince Mendoza's arrangements and Jorge Calandrelli's grand orchestral charts.

The Bossa Nova charmers include "Caminhos Cruzados" featuring Toots Thielemans on a stunning extended harmonica solo, an enthralling duet with Ivan Lins, "Rio De Maio" and "So Tinha De Ser Con Voce." The tasteful repertoire wouldn't be as wonderful as it is without "Moon River," "A Time For Love," "Overjoyed" and "Alfie," the track that spotlights Monheit's impressive vocals accompanied only by the romantic sound of Michael Kanan's piano.

Monheit is at her most gentle and relaxed mood in "Like A Lover" treating the lyrics like the delicate petals of pink roses. "So Many Stars" is breathtakingly beautiful! It features on piano its famed composer and Bossa Nova icon Sergio Mendes, whom I've met at his 40th anniversary concert at the Hollywood Bowl over a year ago. Its lovely arrangement is based on the original chart recorded by Sergio Mendes and Brasil '66 entitled Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 - Greatest Hits.

Who could better interpret "If You Went Away" with heartfelt emotion and tender perfection? She aced it and made it her own. This track is such a beauty from the first note to the last.

"My world is safe and it's worth living for
Even more with you
I've learned to treasure each moment of time
You've even taught me how high love can climb"

If you will listen closely with undivided attention to each track focusing not only on Monheit's vocals, but also the arrangements, instrumentations especially the solos, you'll agree with me that this is by far her best offering.

A gem of a CD. With my heartfelt recommendation.