Jim Caruso's 12 Days of Christmas... Jane Monheit Awaits the Man with the Bag

By: Dec. 17, 2016
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Jane Monheit is one of the most gifted vocalists in the world, and I'm thrilled that she's become a good friend. A few years ago, she, Billy Stritch and I teamed for a concert celebrating the Golden Age of Hollywood. At our first rehearsal, I was so excited to be standing next to the ravishing sounds I'd come to know and love from her recordings...I literally couldn't open my mouth to sing. Finally, I just stopped trying, and she asked, "What's wrong?" I screamed, "You sound exactly like Jane Monheit!" Of course, this was all so much folderol to pumps-on-the-ground Jane. She threw her head back and roared with laughter, did a signature hair flip, and continued to sing. I've never stopped being dazzled by her talent, but why should I? Her intonation is a miracle, the phrasing is sublime. This swinging performance also shows off her devilish sense of humor. Beautiful, talented and funny...who could ask for anything more?

Jim Caruso made his Broadway debut alongside Liza Minnelli in the Tony Award-winning Liza's At The Palace!, singing, dancing and celebrating the music and arrangements of Kay Thompson and the Williams Brothers. He has won six MAC Awards for his nightclub appearances, performed with the New York Pops in a tribute to Kander & Ebb, performed with Rosemary Clooney in a celebration of Bing Crosby, and sang songs of Hope & Crosby with Michael Feinstein at Carnegie Hall. Jim was honored to sing with Barbara Cook at President Clinton's First State Dinner at the White House. For the past fourteen years, he has hosted the weekly showbiz bash "Jim Caruso's Cast Party" at Birdland, Town Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center and across the globe. He also produces the Broadway at Birdland concert series and has a weekly segment on Legends Radio 100.3 FM called "A New York Minute with Jim Caruso." As a crooner, he performs regularly with Billy Stritch at Bemelmans Bar at The Carlyle Hotel. His two cds, "The Swing Set" and "Caruso Live and In Person" are available online.

Over the next few weeks, you can catch Jim hosting Cast Party every Monday at Birdland, and singing at Bemelmans Bar at The Carlyle Hotel every Sunday. He'll be joining his pals KLea Blackhurst and Billy Stritch in "A Swinging Christmas" at The Long Center in Austin, and for the seventh year in a row at Birdland during Christmas week.
Photo Credit: Bill Westmoreland

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