Marieann Meringolo
In the Spirit 2021
Feinstein’s/54 Below, NYC, December 4, 2021
Reviewed by Ron Forman
Marieann Meringolo returned to Feinstein’s/54 Below for her annual holiday show In the Spirit 2021. Her show was a delightful way to begin the holiday season, and her cheerful and friendly demeanor instantly put us in a holiday mood. She combines a beautiful sound with a powerful yet controlled voice, and she is able to insert funny stories between her musical numbers. The song list is a nice mix of traditional Christmas songs and modern, sometimes funny, holiday songs. This show included a delightful new title song “In the Spirit” written by Meringolo with Jeff Franze and Tom Kimmel, who were in the audience for this performance. She was backed by an excellent trio featuring Boots Maleson (bass), Brian Woodruff (guitar) and music director Doyle Newmyer (piano) whose voice blended nicely with Meringolo’s on their duets.
She opened with a lively “Silver Bells,” followed appropriately by Larry Kercher’s “Winter in Manhattan.” She induced the audience to join in singing the title phrase “Present Face,” over and over, in the amusing song about Christmas presents by Garfunkel and Oates. She belted “Do You Hear What I Hear” ending with a big finish by holding the final note on the word “love.” This was followed by a very different, almost bluesy duet with Newmeyer on “Silent Night.” She then walked over to the piano and hilariously flirted with the married Newmeyer, leading into their wonderfully performed duet “Baby, It’s Cold Outside.”
After that she then did another new song to capture the season: “New York On New Year’s Eve,” (Anthony Nunziata/Jeff Franze/Nina Ossoff). She got very big laughs with Alan Chapman’s “It’s Christmas and I’m Jewish,” given that it was the next-to-last night of Chanukah, whenMeringolo powerfully performed Karen Bennedetto’s “Chanukah Prayer,” her thrilling finish brought loud applause. Her seductive sexy side returned with “Santa, Please Be Mine” (Kati Mac). She closed by having the audience sing along with her on her lilting “My Favorite Things.” Her encore was a very moving “I Am Blessed” (Marsha Malamet/Marc Mueller).
