In the Sun

In the Sun

Having shown off her precocious jazz skills and love for old standards on her commercially eye-opening first two albums, the beautiful young star Jane Monheit is more relaxed and in her element on her third effort, which plays up her appeal as a pop chanteuse. Though she oversells the Eric Kaz-Libby Titus '70s rock classic "Love Has No Pride," and is too young to penetrate "Haunted Heart" (listen to Jo Stafford's 1947 version for some real chills), she brings a fresh vibrancy to "Just Squeeze Me" and "Cheek to Cheek," and acquits herself nicely with a pair of numbers by Brazilian tunesmith Ivan Lins. Best of all is her affecting, vocally pure rendering of Leonard Bernstein's "Some Other Time" (from the musical <I>On the Town</I>), featuring strings arranged by Alan Broadbent. Her accompanists include bassist Ron Carter, trumpeter Tom Harrell, drummer Kenny Washington, and tenor saxophonist Joel Frahm. <I>--Lloyd Sachs</I>