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. by Jonathan Widran
Tracklist :
1 Like A Star 5:15
Written-By – Corinne Bailey Rae
2 Something Cool 4:56
Written-By – William C. Barnes
3 Slow Like Honey 5:58
Written-By – Fiona Apple
4 This Girl's In Love With You 4:56
Written-By – Burt Bacharach-Hal David
5 I'm Glad There Is You 5:08
Guitar – Frank Vignola
Written-By – Jimmy Dorsey, Paul Mertz
6 Get Out Of Town 3:40
Tenor Saxophone – Seamus Blake
Written-By – Cole Porter
7 I Do It For Your Love 4:04
Written-By – Paul Simon
8 I Ain't Gonna Let You Break My Heart 5:21
Written-By – David Eldon Lasley, Julie Ann Lasley
9 Ballad Of The Sad Young Men 6:01
Written-By – Frances Landesman, Thomas J. Wolf, Jr.
10 No Tomorrow (Acaso) 5:12
Written-By – Abel Ferreira Da Silva, Ivan Lins, Peter Eldridge
11 Lucky To Be Me 5:26
Written-By – Adolph Green, Betty Comden, Leonard Bernstein
12 A Primeira Vez 3:03
Written-By – Armando Marcal, Bide
13 Rainbow Connection 4:09
Written-By – Kenneth Ascher, Paul Williams
Credits :
Accordion – Gil Goldstein (faixas: 9, 13)
Arranged By – Gil Goldstein (faixas: 1 to 4, 7 to 9, 13), Michael Kanan (faixas: 5, 6), Romero Lubambo (faixas: 10, 12)
Bass Clarinet – Charles Pillow (faixas: 1, 7, 9)
Double Bass [Bass] – Neal Miner (faixas: 5, 6, 10), Scott Colley (faixas: 1 to 4, 7 to 9)
Drums – Antonio Sànchez (faixas: 1 to 4, 7 to 9), Rick Montalbano (faixas: 5, 6, 10)
Flute – Gen Shinkai (faixas: 1, 7, 9)
Flute [Alto] – Gen Shinkai (faixas: 2), Kathleen Nester (faixas: 1, 3, 7, 9)
Flute [Bass] – Kathleen Nester (faixas: 2), Wendy Stern (faixas: 1 to 3, 7, 9)
Guitar – Peter Bernstein (faixas: 3, 4, 8, 13), Romero Lubambo (faixas: 1, 2, 7, 9, 10, 12)
Other [Makeup & Hair] – Maria Verel
Other [Wardrobe Stylist] – Nikko
Percussion – Bashiri Johnson (faixas: 1, 3, 4, 7, 10)
Piano – Gil Goldstein (faixas: 1 to 4, 7, 8, 13), Michael Kanan (faixas: 5, 6, 10, 11)
Vibraphone [Vibes] – Stefon Harris (faixas: 2 to 4, 7, 9)
Viola – Kathryn Lockwood (faixas: 1, 3, 7 to 9)
Violin – Entcho Todorov (faixas: 1, 3, 7 to 9)
Vocals – Jane Monheit
