Fog Blues And Brass Band get into the seasonal swing with their version of the holiday classic Here Comes Santa Claus — showcasing today on Tinnitist.
The latest single from the accomplished Kitchener septet rejuvenates the Christmas standard with keys, horns and a spirited vocal by lead singer Hilliard Walter. Produced by Grammy and Juno winner John ‘Beetle’ Bailey at Jancar Studios in Cambridge and The Drive Shed in New Hamburg, the cheerful ode to St. Nick was a natural fit for the group of veteran musicians who are known for their rousing and joyful playing style. Having worked with the Fog Blues & Brass Band on its well-received In The Fog! Record, Bailey suggested the band reinterpret the classic song in their own style.
“We had a blast cutting this one in the studio,” the band members recall. “The smiles on all our faces while tracking our first take said it all. All the pieces fit together easily.” The result is a jovial, freewheeling track, tailor-made for listeners in search of some Christmas cheer.
Here Comes Santa Claus was written and first performed by Gene Autry in 1947, quickly reaching No. 5 on the country charts and going on to become even more popular in subsequent years. In Fog Blues & Brass Band’s hands, the song is renewed yet again, buoyed by a swinging four-piece horn arrangement by writer/performer and Emmy-award winner Don Beithaupt (Monkey House, Breithaupt Brothers), guitarist Tim Palser’s melodic slide and the rest of the band’s accomplished playing.
Formed in 2015, Fog Blues & Brass Band is Walter, Palsar, Al Hosjak (bass), Domenic DiNino (drums), Bobby Becker (keys), Dan Jancar (saxophones) and Joe Dublanski (alto saxophone), a group of seasoned musicians with a wealth of performing and recording experience. Semifinalists in the band category at the 2020 International Blues Challenge, they released their debut record Into The Fog! In 2018, which quickly found widespread radio airplay and popular acclaim. With its firm command of classic blues, R&B and rock ’n’ roll and deep bench of soloists, the Fog Blues & Brass Band is a riveting live act, performing regularly at venues and festivals throughout Ontario.
Check out their version of Here Comes Santa Claus above, hear more from Fog Blues and Brass Band below, and find them at their website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
