Janet Planet has been a jazz musician for over twenty-five years. Words taken from her pres kit, "She is a productive recording artist, performer, teacher and clinician. She has been self-produced and managed for the majority or her career. Jazziz Magazine hailed her as a 'Voice of the New Jazz Culture...amazingly powerful with seemingly limitless expression'."
In her biography it states that she has performed with legends such as Jackie and Roy, George Benson, and her mentor Nancy King, and shared the stage with many other accomplished jazz artists including Ellis Marsalis, John Harmon, Gene Bertoncini, and Marian McPartland. She is also apart of the Tritone Jazz Camp. This album was released September 15th, 2010. Every song was written by Bob Dylan himself. The album was produced by Planet, Kyle Knoke and Planet's husband Tom Washatka. Washatka also recorded and mixed the album. Planet is "a lover of words", and highly enjoyed having the pleasure of singing Bob Dylan's songs. Her statement is as follows, "Regardless of musical penchant, Bob Dylan has been ever present and influencing. His ability to craft a phrase simply and honestly is so plainly poetic it permeates the head and heart. I am a lover of words. And, like many other lyricists inspired singers of their time, Bob's prose inspired me to sing his "songbook."
As it turns out, I became a legitimate Dylan fan only after I tackled, articulated and assimilated his words...wrestled with, tampered with, and slept with his words. I made his words my own so I could pass them on through another set of pipes, another set of standards and yet another view." Planet found much interest in Dylan's artistic vocals because they were "challenging for his melodies posed for a jazz musician." Planet collaborated these songs with Tom Theabo who is the lead guitarist, and Tom Washatka. Words of JazzTimes, "The venerable Planed carves a jaunty path from east to west. Long-familiar destinations sound fresh and new...delightful." Words of TriTone Jazz, "Janet Planet's "Of Thee I Sing," is a very hip trip."
Words of Isobel Neuberger, Rochester Public Radio, "The effervescent and supremely talented Ms. Planet can stylishly sing anything she chooses." Words of Elizabeth Ahlfors, "Many cabaret performers call theselves jazz singers but Janet Planet is the real deal." Lastly, from Rob Lester, "When anyone has asked me, as they often do, what singer have I seen lately who really impressed me, I have one answer. And, it rhymes. Janet Planet."
