Hanukkah Swings!
Reviews
Craig Matsumoto
Reviewed 2005-12-11
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.
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 Bluegrass — Dec 13, 2011
Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah/Who Can Retell, 'twas The Night Before Hanukkah
the jewish alternative — Dec 22, 2006
Children Of The Macabbees, Ocho Kandelikas, Sevivon Sov, Sov, Sov, Hanukkah Candles, Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah/Who Can Retell, Swingin' Dreidel
the jewish alternative — Dec 15, 2006
Swingin' Dreidel
No Cover, No Minimum — Dec 15, 2006
Ocho Kandelikas
No Cover, No Minimum — Dec 30, 2005
Swingin' Dreidel
Memory Select — Dec 23, 2005
Charting
2005-12-11 — 2006-02-12
Jazz
| Week Ending | Airplays |
|---|---|
| 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 |