At the 1998 Thelonious Monk Competition, she took second prize to the
late Teri Thornton, who was making a dramatic career comeback in the
competition, shortly before her death. Monheit's performance led to her
immediately being signed for her first solo recording Never Never Land,
which placed her in the company of jazz veterans such as pianist Kenny
Barron, bassist Ron Carter and saxophonist David "Fathead"
Newman.
