Westhampton Beach - I first interviewed Jane Monheit at the start of her career during the release of her highly acclaimed third album in 2002, "In The Sun." Her first two albums, "Never Neverland" and "Come Dream With Me" were both very warmly received, with the latter hitting number one on the Billboard Jazz Chart.

A song from each of these albums were also Grammy nominated for their Vince Mendoza arrangements. She was 24 years old at the time, newly married, and on the verge of taking the jazz world by storm. And take it she did.

Monheit's voice has been described as "crystalline" and her phrasing as "buttery." In truth, neither term truly does it justice. On Sunday, Aug. 1, Monheit brings her beautifully elegant jazz act to the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center (WHBPAC) and a lot has happened for her since we last talked, both professionally and personally.

On the professional level her lexicon of recorded work has grown exponentially since that third album, "I have seven studio albums, two 'Best Ofs,' two DVDs and one of the DVDs was released as a CD. So that would make about 10 CDs and two DVDs." Monheit is also in constant demand for side work and guest appearances on other artists' albums and projects.

Although jazz is considered America's original art form, it has almost from the beginning found its most avid following and appreciation outside the U.S. To that end jazz artists find themselves often on international tours. Monheit is no different, after a short hiatus from international touring because of a change in international management, she toured extensively last year and has another European tour set up for this fall. "It is wonderful being able to see the world. It is a big perk of the job."

I asked if she indeed agreed that our brethren across the big pond had a better appreciation of jazz, "Yes, it really does feel that way and forget Asia, you go to Japan and people really get it. They really understand it and enjoy it, it is a really wonderful environment to play in."

Along with loyal fans in Europe and Asia, Monheit is a South American favorite and Brazilian jazz is a favorite style of hers, releasing "Surrender" - a purely Brazilian flavored album in 2007. Other changes professionally have come in the form of her band format, "I am backed by a piano trio now. So I am really doing a lot more standards and traditional jazz than I have done in a long time. But I always have something Brazilian in there." I asked if she liked the change in format, "I love it, it has been fantastic. I have so much more room to sing. I am not competing with as many musicians, there is just so much more musical space I can use."

On the personal level one very big change occurred, the birth of her first child. "I have a little boy named Jack, he is 14 months old and he is amazing, very musical already. He is singing and playing drums already, at least he is trying to."

I told her that I didn't think I could take two drummers in the house, as Monheit is married to fellow band member, drummer Rick Montalbano. "The drums are in the basement so it is not too bad. Rick is an amazing dad and Jack travels all over the world with us."

Oakdale, Long Island born Monheit had lived in New York City with her husband for years, but actually considered relocating to LA. Instead they decided to have Jack and moved upstate to Montalbano's hometown of Rome, New York. "We wanted to stay on the east coast where are families still live. It is nice that we are close to so much family, we have a nice house on a lake, it's great."

Taking a break before her international fall tour, Monheit is playing some selected dates in the Northeast with Westhampton on the summer schedule. Although this may be Monheit's first performance at WHBPAC, she is not unfamiliar with Westhampton Beach, as she was married at Todd Jacob's Atlantica restaurant.

Although Monheit, like most jazz singers, enjoys the intimacy of a small club, she loves to perform in the kind of venture she will find herself in at WHBPAC, "I love singing in big halls, I really do. I love being on a big stage in a dress, doing that whole thing. I think I'd go crazy if I didn't have both."

Come 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 1 Hamptonians should show the rest of the world that we do indeed "get it" and pack the seats at WHBPAC to hear Jane Monheit, one of the truly great female voices presently performing in American jazz.

For tickets and more information call 631-28-1500 or go to www.whbpac.org.