Hanukkah Swings!

Ellis, Kenny
Favored Nations
Jazz | Dec 2005

Reviews

Craig Matsumoto
Reviewed 2005-12-11
We pass on a dozen "swingin' Christmas" CDs every year, but something about a swingin' Hanukkah CD seems novel and fun. Most songs combine English and Hebrew for extra charm. Ellis has a bright, clear voice and is backed by a slick band.

1- The Dreidel song, with big-band horns. Mid/fast and yeah, a bit corny, but fun.
2- Fast minor key, w/ cool guitar/marimba/piano backing
3- Slow, w/piano and strings. A bit gospel-like.
4- Mid/fast
5- Whoa -- Latin Hanukkah jazz! In Ladino, a language related to Spanish. It's legit, written by a descendant of Spanish Sephardic Jews, although Ellis notes in the promo materials that it's a children's counting song at heart. (See liner notes for history)
6- Slow, reverent, w/choir-like overdubs and strings
7- Mid/fast holiday melody, very '50s
8- Calypso!
9- Midtempo; a low-key, upbeat swing w/guitar solo
10- Upbeat sing-speaking, a funny "Night Before Xmas" satire based on a novelty Hanukkah greeting card.

Recent airplay

'twas The Night Before Hanukkah, Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah/Who Can Retell, Sevivon Sov, Sov, Sov
That's Not BluegrassDec 13, 2011
Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah/Who Can Retell, 'twas The Night Before Hanukkah
the jewish alternativeDec 22, 2006
Children Of The Macabbees, Ocho Kandelikas, Sevivon Sov, Sov, Sov, Hanukkah Candles, Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah/Who Can Retell, Swingin' Dreidel
the jewish alternativeDec 15, 2006
Swingin' Dreidel
No Cover, No MinimumDec 15, 2006
Ocho Kandelikas
No Cover, No MinimumDec 30, 2005
Swingin' Dreidel
Memory SelectDec 23, 2005

Charting

2005-12-11 — 2006-02-12 Jazz
Week EndingAirplays
Jan 1 1
Dec 25 1
Dec 18 2

Track listing

1. Swingin' Dreidel
2. Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah/Who Can Retell
3. Hanukkah Candles
4. Sevivon Sov, Sov, Sov
5. Ocho Kandelikas
6. Children Of The Macabbees
7. Hanukkah Swingin' Holiday/Pour The Oil
8. Hanu-Calypso
9. Rock Of Ages
10. 'twas The Night Before Hanukkah