MARGEE MINIER-TUBBS & PREMIK RUSSELL TUBBS, "The Bells"

When the visionary creative team of husband-and-wife duo Margee Minier-Tubbs & Premik Russell Tubbs first released their infectious hipster, jazz and spoken word piece “The Bells,” it was the playful closing track of their inspirational global fusion masterwork Oneness-World.

Released in May, it was simply another fascinating entry among many other more prominent focal points on the album – and something of a colorful outlier on a project that was about so many other more significant themes.

Finding its niche as a holiday time single, however, “The Bells” comes to life as the most unique jazz-centric holiday track of 2025. Featuring Margee’s optimistic spoken word vocals (among a slate of contributions that include executive producer, artistic director, composer and lyricist) and composer/producer Tubbs on sax, flutes and EWI, the charming and colorful exploration of darkness and light could have been subtitled “Edgar Allen Poe celebrates the holidays!” based on guest vocalist Patrick Carmichael’s haunting recitation of the famed poet’s classic, also named “The Bells.”

The other prominent element driving the fascinating production is Grammy winning violinist Zach Brock’s whimsical violin, which dances solo and behind some of Margee’s uplifting poetry.