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Speaking of piano bars, as I did in my last
entry, I've been noticing increasing interest in the form, with
young performers doing old standards. Some get noticed for their
unusual voices or styles
(Norah
Jones comes to mind), while others stand out by not
standing out. Jane Monheit falls into the latter category; she takes
songs you know well and gives them new life by reminding you of why
those songs have stayed in the mind so long. I've been hearing
Over
The Rainbow since I was a baby, back in the days when
both parts of The Wizard of Oz were in black and white. And
yet somehow
this
version makes an old song new again.
In a world of increasing
noise, to be subtle is to take the greater risk. And at this,
Ms. Monheit succeeds admirably.
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