Marieann Meringolo serves up a tasty Christmas pudding by combining a fistful of old chestnuts—like the Traditional “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” (attributed to Felix Mendelssohn) and a properly reverent and beautifully sung “Silent Night” (Joseph Mohr & Franz Gruber) spiced up by an unexpected gospel-chorded backup with, alas, but a mere dollop of “O Holy Night” (Adolphe Adam & D. S. Dwight, English lyric, this arrangement inspired by Lennie Watts).A mouthful.

A crucial ingredient, the piano/arrangement, bass, and drums on this recording are dished up generously by Doyle Newmeyer, Boots Maleson and Brian Woodruff respectively.

Back to the recipe. Oh—not to be confused with “O”—those shivers and chills prickling your spine aren’t caused by holiday icicles hanging from the eaves; it’s the sexy simmer with which Marieann heats up ”Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” (Jule Styne & Sammy Cahn) and her smooth-as-“Silver Bells” (Jay Livingston & Ray Evans) is a stirring example of her seemingly effortless vocal support and projection. Actually breathtaking for us. She has breath to spare in this spicy mix.

Perhaps, though, she herself sometimes gets as caught up in savoring her easy, lush sound as we do, and forgets to suffer for her art.

The one jarring addition is a contemporary amuse-bouche: Alan Chapman’s “It’s Christmas and We’re Jewish,” awkwardly ethnic given the surroundings, though not as shmaltzy by half as “I’m Giving Love This Christmas” (Karen Benedetto).

All in all, a satisfying musical repast.

Well done.

Noah Tree
Cabaret Scenes
December 2009
www.cabaretscenes.org