Jane Monheit

Jane Monheit was born on November 3, 1977, in Oakdale, New York, on Long Island. Her early exposure to music came from her parents; her father played banjo and guitar, and her mother sang and introduced her to influential vocalists like Ella Fitzgerald. Monheit developed an early interest in jazz and Broadway musicals, beginning her professional singing career while attending Connetquot High School. She further honed her skills at the Manhattan School of Music, studying voice under Peter Eldridge and graduating in 1999. In 1998, she was the runner-up in the vocal competition at the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz.

Monheit launched her recording career at the age of 22 with her debut album, “Never Never Land,” released in 2000 through N-Coded Music. This album, like much of her subsequent work, featured her interpretations of songs from the Great American Songbook. Over her career, she has released albums with various labels including Epic, Concord, and EmArcy. In 2016, she established her own label, Emerald City Records, and released “The Songbook Sessions,” an album dedicated to Ella Fitzgerald. Her vocal talents were also featured in the 2010 film “Never Let Me Go,” where she sang the titular song.

Her career includes collaborations with a range of jazz artists. She has worked with Terrence Blanchard, Tom Harrell, John Pizzarelli, Christian McBride, Vince Mendoza, Jorge Calandrelli, and Ivan Lins. Monheit has also performed with her longtime trio, featuring pianist Michael Kanan, bassist Neal Miner, and drummer Rick Montalbano. Her discography spans several studio and live albums, consistently showcasing her musical versatility across vocal jazz, pop standards, and Brazilian music, while maintaining a focus on lyrical integrity and harmonic sophistication.