Emmaline, The Christmas Album Review

by Icrom Bigrad

Holiday albums arrive every season, and each year it is always enjoyable to hear and feel how these songs are shaped by a vocalist with a clear artistic identity and a deep understanding of the jazz tradition. Emmaline’s The Christmas Album is a record that honors the great mid-century holiday singers while celebrating the nuance, agility, and modern warmth that define her sound. Her phrasing, her tone, and her precise articulation bring this collection of Christmas tunes to life by the way she merges vintage glamour with contemporary soul, often through her dual role as both vocalist and violinist.

Her collaborators for the project are Ryan Mondak’s guitar, Russell “Trey” Campbell III’s upright bass, and the alternating drummers (Justin Vorp and Isaiah Cook). This ensemble forms a supportive rhythm section that sets warm environments for her voice. The brass contributors, especially Zach Douglas’s trumpet and Josh Scalf’s trombone, offer a retro jolt when needed, thickening the palette without compromising the album’s elegance. Throughout, Emmaline produces and co-arranges with Mondak, giving the entire project a cohesive sonic aesthetic: candle-lit warmth mixed with crisp modern contours.

“’Zat You, Santa Claus?” arrives with swagger. Emmaline leans into the song’s melody with a vibrant tone that mixes playful with sultry. Her expression is delightfully stylized as she uses bounce and micro-inflection to emphasize the song’s rhythmic feel. The horn arrangement by Russell “Trey” Campbell III and Emmaline adds big-band attitude. Emmaline’s violin solo shows her to be a multi-talented artist. She places phrases with that classic wink of 1950s jazz vocal phrasing and tone color.

Every vocalist knows “Christmas Time Is Here” is a deceptively difficult tune to shape, connecting ideas with its slow tempo and long sustained lines. Emmaline handles it with poise. Her tone is breath-infused as she blends a controlled airiness with centered pitch to evoke the song’s warmth within the band’s Latin feel. Chelsea Baratz’s flute melts into the changes, giving the track a pastel glow.

“Cozy November” is one of the album’s originals. Emmaline has a contemporary soul influence with a tone that feels rounded and plush.  The melody has just a hint of R&B glide. Her rhythmic phrasing is the highlight as she floats over the well-written backing vocal harmonies.  The melody has a casual sophistication and sensual hue. Her vocal approach is relaxed but precise; she uses vibrato to keep the mood and light embellishments to give notes a modern expression.

“The Christmas Song” can embellish any Holiday playlist with its beautiful melody. A singer can make or break this iconic standard, and Emmaline handles it with a refreshing approach that leans into her jazz and R&B skills. Her voice is centered, warm, and beautifully resonant. She leans into the sixteenth note jazz funk feel with unhurried lines that capture the feeling of the time. Her violin playing offers the same qualities her vocals bring to the classic melody. Her solo focuses on rhythm and melodies that are lyrical, shaping the shadows of the original’s contours. Cook’s drumming remains steady and creates a lush pad, allowing her to fully shape each section.

Her viral hit, “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch,” earns its place as the closer. Emmaline turns this classic into a swaggering showcase of vocal texture. She has a range that sounds appealing, from the growled low notes to sly vibrato in the mid-range, to bluesy slides in the upper range. Her violin solo adds a mischievous sparkle, too. Both her singing and violin playing have her charismatic rhythmic delivery.

Emmaline’s The Christmas Album succeeds in ornamenting songs from the Christmas catalog.  Her originals fit in as a continuation of the storytelling force of the season. With every song she sings, she demonstrates command, taste, and personality. Her violin adds an extra dimension, giving her interpretations vocal and instrumental depth.