College is usually the place where most people decide what they want to do for the rest of their life. Jazz vocalist Jane Monheit knew she wanted to be a singer a little before entering the world of higher education.
“I think I always knew, literally, from probably when I was still in the womb,” Monheit said during a phone interview from Manhattan. “I can’t remember not singing. I started singing when I started talking.”
Monheit will bring her seasoned voice to the University when she performs Saturday at Kobacker Hall to cap off Jazz week on campus.
Although she has only performed at a few universities, Monheit looks forward to college crowds.
“It’s neat because we are seeing more people our age and people who are involved with and excited about music,” she said. “It’s wonderful to be able to identify with people in the crowd.”
Monheit says “our” age because at only 25, she has made quite a mark on the jazz scene. The 1998 runner-up in the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Vocals Competition, Monheit has three albums under her belt and a newly-released DVD, “Live at the Rainbow Room.”
“Technically, I was discovered by Peter Eldridge of the New York Voices because he was my voice teacher, and he made sure I did the Monk Competition where I met my management and my record company.”
With all her success, some have referred to Monheit as a jazz “diva.” While she thinks of herself as “one of the guys in the band,” Monheit says the description of her as a diva is fine, as long as it is used in the right way.
“There are two ways to use the word ‘diva.’ There is a good way and a bad way. When it’s the good way it’s great, but I pride myself on not being the bad way.”
Good or bad, and one would be hard pressed to find something bad about Monheit, many find it hard to argue with her ability to sing jazz. While the songs on her first three records are tracks she did not write herself, she is starting to get the itch of performing songs she wrote back in her college days.
“I wrote a lot back then, and it was something I really enjoyed. I’ve been starting to think about whipping out one of the old tunes,” she said with a laugh.
At such a young age, it is hard to believe Monheit can hold her own in a scene that is traditionally dominated by older performers. But she says the criticism does not bother her.
“I think it is a common misconception that jazz musicians have to reach a certain age before their music is truly meaningful,” she says. “I’m constantly opening papers and seeing people telling me I’m too young to be singing this music. I think jazz can be as much about youth, joy and love as it can be about wisdom and sadness.”
Monheit points to her own personal life as an answer to those critics who say she is too young to sing jazz.
“I know what I’m singing about. I’m old enough to be a happily married woman but I’m not old enough to sing a standard? It doesn’t quite make sense so I just brush it off and keep singing.” Being a happily married woman is something Monheit can be reminded of both at home and on the road. She married her drummer Rick Montalbano last May and says there is no problem having her husband in her band.
“It’s such a blessing, because I think we would truly hate being separated. In addition to being my husband, he is also the exact right drummer for me.”
Monheit met her husband at the Manhattan School of Music while she attended classes there. Aside from meeting Montalbano, Monheit says her college days were uneventful.
“College was, I dare say, a little boring. I went to a conservatory so nobody partied. Everyone just went back to their dorm rooms and practiced for 12 hours.”
While Monheit felt college was boring, she hopes the audience does not feel the same way about her live show.
“Basically what it comes down for us on stage is the band, we are very close friends and chances are we are having a good time. We’re laughing a lot and it’s as much fun for us as we hope it is for the audience.”
One thing Monheit has yet to attempt is involving the audience in the show. It’s something she hopes to try one day, but does not know when that day will come.
“I don’t do a whole lot of audience participation. In fact, I’m always amazed people who do because it’s taking so much of a leap. What if everyone says ‘no, I really just don’t feel like singing along?’ I often wonder what would happen if I tried something like that.”
Jane Monheit and her band will appear in the University’s Festival Series at 8 p.m. Saturday in Kobacker Hall, Moore Musical Arts Center. Tickets are $32, $24 and $16 at the center box office. For tickets, call 419-372-8171 or 800-589-2224.
