Corinne Mammana: “In The Christmas City” (2022) CD Review

As the air turns chilly and the country braces for another wave of the coronavirus, jazz vocalist Corinne Mammana offers an EP of holiday favorites to warm our spirits. Titled In The Christmas City, this disc contains four classic Christmas songs and one original composition. This release follows her 2020 full-length album Yes, No, Next, and features some of the same musicians who played on that album, including Sean Gough on piano, Gene Perla on bass, and Ian Froman on drums. Also joining Corinne Mammana on this new release are Tom Kozic on guitar, and Missy Salvadeo on viola.

The EP opens with “Carol Of The Bells,” and it is clear from the beginning that she is putting her own personal spin on the song. It has a beautiful, slow, intimate feel. There is something almost wistful about its vibe as it begins. And in those moments when it builds in power, it is through Corinne Mammana’s vocal work. On this track, she is supported just by Sean Gough on piano, and in the middle they dip into “We Three Kings” briefly before Sean Gough delivers a warm and strong piano solo. Then “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” opens with some cool jazz guitar, setting the tone for this wonderful rendition. Corinne Mammana gives us just a bit of relaxed scat before delivering the song’s first lines. Her vocal approach is both warm and totally cool. Yeah, this is kind of a hip rendition, and I’m digging it. It features a good bass line, and the short instrumental section in the second half is led by the guitar. That’s followed by “In The Bleak Midwinter,” which begins with some somber work on piano. This track creates a strong atmosphere, and features some beautiful work on viola. But it is Corinne’s vocal performance that is most responsible for this being a compelling rendition.

Without a doubt, the best holiday television special is A Charlie Brown Christmas, in no small part because of the music by Vince Guaraldi. On this disc, Corinne Mammana delivers a pretty version of “Christmas Time Is Here.” Her voice has a friendly and intimate sound. When I close my eyes, I can easily imagine my family around me on Christmas morning, when the entire world seemed to be our living room with the decorated tree and the unopened gifts, and we felt safe and loved. Immersed in that memory, that feeling, all the world’s trouble disappears. Oh, how we want to hold onto that feeling as long as possible. This music helps so much. “Beauty everywhere/Yuletide by the fireside/And joyful memories there.” The EP then concludes with its title track, an original composition by Corinne Mammana. This is a song celebrating her hometown of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, which long ago adopted the nickname Christmas City. Here is a taste of the lyrics: “I don’t have to search too far/For that holiday feeling/‘Cause standing right outside my door/My heart’s already reeling/Much like a Hallmark Christmas film/This town’s got magic and charm.” My girlfriend loves watching those Hallmark movies, and so I’ve seen a number of them, and some of them do have charm. There is that sense of innocence to this song, as well as a sweet joy, just the sort of thing you just want to give yourself over to. I also love the bass work on this track. “‘Cause in the Christmas City/You are right where you belong.”

CD Track List

1. Carol Of The Bells
2. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
3. In The Bleak Midwinter
4. Christmas Time Is Here
5. In The Christmas City

In The Christmas City was released on November 18, 2022.