Although the year has been mired in global turmoil and confusion, there is no reason we can’t celebrate the holiday season. We may not be able to participate in the festivities in a normal fashion, but listening to music requires no restrictions and remains an eternal gift.
It is always good to hear a new Christmas tune, and one of the best of the bounty is “Comin’ Up On Christmas” (Fermada Nowhere Music) by
Southern California-based singer, songwriter and multiple-instrumentalist Dan Markell.
Swinging and swooping to a bright and bold big band sound, the song flourishes with sharp and snappy brass arrangements. Dan Markell’s potent vocals are positioned somewhere between the supper-club glitz of Bobby Darin and a power-popping pitch, creating an inviting intersection of old-school stylings and a melodic freshness.
A class act on every level, “Comin’ Up On Christmas” focuses on how the holiday seemingly arrives earlier each year. Some of the points referenced: There’s not a flake of snow, but the radio is already playing Christmas songs – and there’s still chocolate leftover from Halloween. Glistening with finger-clicking rhythms and a cheery vibe, the catchy cut makes it impossible not to look forward to Christmas.
No stranger to the biz, Dan Markell possesses a history dating back a few decades. Albums such as Big Ideas and Eleven Shades of Dan Markell, coupled with appearances on compilations like Yellow Pills and International Pop Overthrow have garnered him a loyal following of pop-rock fans. Markell has also worked with a number of notable figures, including guitarist Jeff Healey, members of rhe Romantics and Blondie, and former Wings drummer Denny Seiwell.
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