Renowned Jazz Singer Performs in Oneida with Local Ties

Oneida High School's auditorium was transformed into a big band jazz club on Saturday night as Grammy nominee Jane Monheit kicked off her holiday tour performing with the Central New York Jazz Orchestra.

Monheit is the daughter-in-law of local Jazz legend, keyboardist and arranger Rick Montalbano of Rome, and she's credited as being one of the most important young jazz artists in music today.

Monheit showed off her amazing vocal range on Saturday singing a combination of originals, standards and her emotional interpretation of, "I'll Be Home for Christmas." She was accompanied by the CNY Jazz Orchestra, a local Big Band group that Montalbano serves as the Assistant Director of.

Montalbano teaches music at Colgate University, Syracuse University and Hamilton College. He also works with several national quality artists and was the music director for Lou Rawls back in the 1970's. Monheit has worked with some of the world's greatest artists including a collaboration with Michael Buble. She was nominated for a Grammy in 2003 and also in 2005.

The event was sponsored by the Oneida Performing Arts Center.

Watch Monheit perform with Michael Buble here: