Though it’s only six years old, the DC Jazz Festival is well on its way to becoming a world class event, attracting top-notch talent and an increasingly large audience. Unfortunately, the weak economic climate has taken its toll on the festival, forcing its organizers to scale back on programming for the past two years. But things are looking up: there is a stable board of directors in place, and increased corporate sponsorship will allow the return of marquee events like the Jazz on the Mall concert and the closing performance held at Voice of America, both of which were cancelled in 2010.
Though it appears the festival has weathered this economic storm, the search for funds is never-ending. To meet this demand, festival organizers have programmed a series of invitation-only performances, dubbed Ladies In Jazz, to attract potential donors to the festival. The second of four concerts took place last Thursday at the historic Bohemian Caverns, where vocalist Jane Monheit led her band through an intimate set of jazz standards and holiday classics.
Monheit, who also gave an area performance at The Birchmere last Wednesday, has risen to the top of the jazz world since first gaining notice with a second-place finish at the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition in 1998. A graduate of the famed Manhattan School of Music, Monheit began her recording career with her 2000 release, Never Never Land. She is a two-time Grammy nominee, has performed at many of the world’s most renowned concert halls, and has appeared as a guest artist at Christmas at the White House, the Capitol Fourth of July Celebration and the National Memorial Day Celebration. Her discography includes a live orchestral album recorded at New York’s Rainbow Room and a well-received Christmas album. Monheit’s most recent effort — Home, which came out earlier this year — is her first featuring her touring ensemble.
Monheit was gracious enough to take a few minutes before her sound check on Thursday and chat with DCist about her new recording and her impressive career.
