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The Season | 
 enlarge | Artist: Jane Monheit
Label: Sony
Category: Music
List Price: $13.98
Buy New: $5.99
You Save: $7.99 (57%)
New (34) Used (11) from $5.99
Rating:  19 reviews
Format: Enhanced
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
MPN: 77711
UPC: 828767771120
EAN: 0828767771120
Release Date: October 18, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | This Christmas | | • | Merry Christmas Darling | | • | The Man With The Bag | | • | Moonlight In Vermont | | • | Sleighride | | • | Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas | | • | Medley: I Love The Winter Weather / I've Got My Love To Keep We Warm | | • | The Christmas Waltz | | • | I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day | | • | Santa Claus Is Coming To Town | | • | My Grown Up Christmas List |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Enamored since childhood with the Ella Fitzgerald Christmas record Ella Wishes You A Swinging Christmas, the young jazz singer Jane Monheit does the departed legend proud on her first seasonal spin. Monheit's in great and varied voice throughout, proving she can swing with a bigger section of added horn players, or croon, purr and excite with her more stylish quartet players with whom she works live and often records. While nailing the familiar Christmas fare she can also surprise with unexpected tunes like "My Grown Up Christmas List" and the left-field choice, "Moonlight In Vermont." Veteran producer Al Schmitt whose credits are almost as golden as Fitzgerald's, wisely puts Monheit's voice front and center, letting her put on an array of vocal faces, from the girlish to sophisticated. Monheit's keen ability to reinvent notes while never losing her stride or the song's character will delight fans and newcomers. She's got something fine in the bag for those jazz fans who know that the real gifts jazz singers bring to the mix are virtuosity, a sure sense of the tradition in which they're working and some risk taking. At a still decidedly young age, Monheit generously rewards them, just in time for Christmas. -- Martin Keller
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| Customer Reviews: Read 14 more reviews...
 If you appreciate a magical voice..... January 12, 2008
Wayne North (Toledo OH (USA))
I was fascinated by the voice I heard on Pandora one evening. I researched what I had heard and discovered Jane Monheit. As a seasonal music fanatic I purchased the CD and have spent hours listening to the nuance of her voice. The beginning acapella "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" is worth the entire CD. This is a singer worth a listen if you are at all interested in jazz, easy listening or standards.
"You And I . . . And Moonlight In Vermont" November 27, 2007
Rebecca*rhapsodyinblue* (CA USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Jane Monheit is very good at dramatizing the sentiments behind a song. This is particularly true with her dramatically beautiful interpretations of the Christmas songs in "The Season," a very well-produced CD which offers the kind of Christmas repertoire that keeps getting better as you listen to it year after year.
Produced by Jane Monheit herself with Al Schmitt, they chose the absolute best musicians from the world of jazz headed by a creative arranger, Rob Mounsey together with Michael Kanan (piano/keyboards), Dave Mann (sax), Rick Montalbano (drums), Mike Okazaki (guitar) and Dave Samuels (vibes), among others.
With an unparalleled arrangement by Rob Mounsey, Jane Monheit's persuasive rendition of "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" is simply splendid. It starts with a capella intro of "I'll Be Home For Christmas." Ms. Monheit's voice is an instrument by itself. Even without an accompanying instrument, her voice shines through. The medley of "I Love The Winter Weather/I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm" is so enlivening and refreshing.
Her delicate and refined rendition of "Moonlight In Vermont" written by John Blackburn and Karl Suessdorf is one of my favorite tracks. It is so lovely and spellbinding! What interpretation and musicianship! I haven't been to Vermont yet but with this song, I'm dreaming of visiting this place someday and experience its enchanting "moonlight and snowlight."
"Pennies in a stream
Falling leaves of sycamore
Moonlight in Vermont
Icy finger waves
Ski trails on a mountainside
Snowlight in Vermont
Telegraph cables, they sing down the highway
And travel each bend in the road
People who meet in this romantic setting
Are so hypnotized by the lovely ...
Evening summer breeze
Warbling of a meadowlark
Moonlight in Vermont
You and I and moonlight in Vermont."
The rest of the highlights include gorgeous interpretations of "The Christmas Waltz," which features Dave Samuels on vibes, "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town," "Merry Christmas Darling" and "Sleigh Ride."
In addition, her version of a meaningful song "My Grown-Up Christmas List" is just superb. It can stir up emotions with its luxurious backdrops of violins, violas and celli. Special mention goes to Concert Master Elena Barera, who did a great job in making this final track stand out. If you love this song, please check out another great version from Amy Grant in 20th Century Masters: The Best of Amy Grant - The Christmas Collection.
I invite the listeners to immerse themselves in this breathtaking Christmas music from this fabulous CD and let it be a part of your Christmas parties, family reunions and gatherings.
With my heartfelt recommendation for your listening pleasure this Yuletide Season.
MCGOVERN AND MONHEIT FIND THE RICH COLOURS AND TEXTURES IN CLASSIC HOLIDAY STANDARDS October 23, 2006
Mr. Alan Chivers (PORT MACQUARIE, NEW SOUTH WALES Australia)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Mel Torme once said of Maureen McGovern: "She is the most glorious singer to come down the pike in several months of Sundays...." And it is without surprise that one's introductory play of the legendary "Christmas With Maureen McGovern" album is enough to take your breath away. It still remains one of my favourite and most stunning holiday music experiences....And now, bless the power of beautiful voice, there is Jane Monheit's "The Season". Just as the angels must have brought McGovern's interpretation of "O Holy Night" to my senses, they are gracing me once more with Monheit's takes on the beautiful "I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day", and David Foster's destined to be holiday standard "Grown Up Christmas List". If you are in love with Maureen McGovern's ability to find the rich colors and textures in classic holiday standards and proceed to weave far richer tapestries with her adorable voice, then I think you'll find Jane Monheit to be "the voice" of a new generation of vocalists. ENJOY!!!
Silvery-smooth ear candy. March 30, 2006
M. Smith (West of Philly)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
How much have I fallen in love with Jane Monheit's voice? I bought her Christmas album in March, that's how much. After experiencing Ms. Monheit perform at the Sovereign Performing Arts Center in Reading, PA a few weeks ago, I've become a huge fan of hers and this CD will definitely be on my Christmas playlist this year. My only gripe about The Season is that it doesn't quite emit the passion and spunk Ms. Monheit projects in a live performance, but her CD voice is still silvery-smooth ear candy.
I'm planning on playing The Season along with Leon Redbone's Christmas Island and Vince Guaraldi's A Charlie Brown Christmas at this year's holiday party. They should shuffle together well in my stereo.
Really nice, and good variety January 2, 2006
anonymous
I buy several Christmas CDs each year, and this was my favorite for '05. Not at all like the Krall CD (which I thought was just pretty good), this CD covers a wider span of styles, from R&B (a surprisingly adept version of "This Christmas), to mellow slow samba (an unusually moody version of "Merry Christmas Darling"), to some Ella-inspired uptempo jazz.
But the highlight, as another reviewer has already noted, is the almost Eva Cassidy-style version of "I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day." It is CHILLINGLY beautiful, and probably the most emotional version of this or any Christmas song I've ever heard. It made me realize I'd never paid much attention to its lyrics before. It's a showstopper - truly a great moment in music.
All in all, a very satisfying and diverse set of Christmas songs from a singer who is really coming into her own.
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