By Maryann Lopinto***West Coast-based Amanda McBroom returned to Birdland for her yearly visit with a new show, Winter Songs, featuring numbers from her newly-released album of the same name— a new venture into Christmas songs. Selections included “Are You Ready” and “Mary Said No,” both written with Michele Brourman, and “My 
Christmas Angel,” written with Tom Snow, quite possibly destined to become new Christmas classics. McBroom also included standards including “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day,” “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” “Auld Lang Syne,” “Ave Maria” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” inviting the audience to sing along.
Special guest Heather McRae sang an evocative “Hope Floats.” McBroom’s heartbreaking “Baby In A Box” was also offered, as well as her classic “The Rose.” On the political front, McBroom and Brourman wrote “The New Harris/Walz,” a brilliant campaign song available on YouTube. Note: Brourman couldn’t make this trip to New York; filling in on piano was Beth Falcone, with Ritt Henn on bass.
Photos by Maryann Lopinto
