by Ron Wynn & Al CampbellVocalist Janis Siegel had been a member of the the Manhattan Transfer since 1972, she has also built a successful solo career since 1982. Siegel's first album as a leader, Experiment in White established her solo credentials, while the follow-up, At Home, earned a Grammy nomination in 1987 for Best Female Jazz Vocal. Siegel began the first of several collaborations with pianist/composer Fred Hersch on 1989's Short Stories. The duo relied less on standards and concentrated instead on modern pop songs by singer songwriters including Joni Mitchell, Judy Collins, Marvin Gaye and James Taylor. By 1994's Slow Hot Winds and the Tender Trap from 1999, Siegel had developed an eclectic showcase that blended several decades of popular songs. In 2000 Siegel signed with the Telarc label and released I Wish You Love in 2002 and Friday Night Special in 2003. Both discs feature contributions from top jazz musicians including Joey De Francesco, Houston Person, David Fathead Newman, Tom Harrell and Cedar Walton. She followed up these successes with an 2004 album, (Sketches of Broadway,) that featured her interpretations of lesser-known show tunes. All the while she remained a vital member of the Manhattan Transfer. A Thousand Beautiful Things from 2006 was a ambitious collection of modern pop songs arranged in an assortment of Latin styles.\r