I'm listening to one of my new CDs, Jane Monheit's album Taking A Chance On Love.

Actually I'm playing a burned copy of the CD. For some reason the actual CD wouldn't play in my DVD/CD player in my living room. I suspect that my player is just brain-dead. I've had trouble with a few other CDs too. But the burned copy—I ripped the original and burned a copy to use—plays just fine. Odd.

It's nice. She's very good at vocal scatting. Picking the right kind of songs, having a good arrangement, and a having great back-up band sure complement a good singer.

My sister, Katie, would be happy to hear I've got this CD, since she's been an avid Jane Monheit fan for years.

While listening, I got thinking of some of my all-time favorite vocalists. I think my all-time top female vocalist would have to be Ella Fitzgerald. My all-time top male vocalist pick would have to be Nat King Cole. Anything either sings is going to sound good. I'd have to include Frank Sinatra up there among the greats, and Norah Jones too. But Nat and Ella win the top spot, no contest.

At this point in listening to the CD, I'd have to say I mostly prefer the quick, energetic songs. When Jane sings the slower songs, a little Jane goes a long way. Don't get me wrong, she's very good. I like variety, and apparently this evening, I like a little energy.

Jane probably ranks at about the same place as Harry Connick Jr. They're both good, but sometimes I can't make it through an entire CD.

Harry's CD Songs I Heard is an exception to that rule. It's one of my top favorite CDs. I can listen to it again and again. Proving that with such talent, picking the right music, the right arrangements, and a good band or orchestra can make a very good singer sound great.

I did really like the duet with Michael Bublé, I Won't Dance. (He's another favorite vocalist.) And now Love Me Or Leave Me is playing. I like it.

Except even with the burned CD, my stupid player is introducing audio glitches here and there now. Argh! I'm gonna have to get me a new DVD/CD player it looks like!

Oooh, using an acoustic guitar as sole accompaniment for Gershwin's Embraceable You was a good way to provide some contrast. Good choice! Nice. And it's hard to go wrong with a classic Gershwin.

From acoustic guitar to symphonic orchestra for accompaniment for Dancing in the Dark is nice. But I would have broken up the two slower songs with an energetic one in between, though.