Review and More

Our Review

Kenny Ellis is an accomplished entertainer and synagogue cantor of tremendous vision. His remarkable Hanukkah Swings! covers ten swingin' holiday numbers with brilliant big band flair. This is no tentative living room production; Kenny Ellis is a top-notch, Sinatra-style crooner, and these Hanukkah pieces explode with the excitement, fun, and first-class musicianship. The liner notes are a treasure trove of terrific information about the recording and each individual cut; my one complaint, however, is that my aging eyes cannot readily read dark blue print on a black background--what were the cover designers thinking?

Singing in both English and Hebrew, Ellis treasures both Jewish culture and big band swing icons à la Count Basie and Benny Goodman; the results are electric and endearing. Not every number is 1940s swing. "Hanukkah Candles," for example, is a sentimental ballad with great back-up vocals, "Ocho Kandelikas" is a Latino-inspired jewel, and "Hanu-calypso" will take you to the islands, mon! Although this is a Hanukkah album, Ellis wisely does not ignore the significance of Santa. His hilarious "'Twas the Night Before Hanukkah" (based on the "anonymous" authors of an old Hanukkah card) brings this outstanding, creative, and well-crafted album to a close.

What a find! Kenny Ellis is funny and astute, and has a great voice, too. This novel album should certainly please those who celebrate Hanukkah, but will also present a most pleasant surprise for those unfamiliar with Jewish music.

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2005)

More

From the liner notes:

Album Concept by: Kenny Ellis
Executive Produced by: Ray Scherr
Produced by: Harvey R. Cohen, Stu Goldberg and Kenny Ellis
Arranged and Conducted by: Harvey R. Cohen
Engineered by: Stu Goldberg and Neil Citron

Mixed and Mastered by: Neil Citron at The Mothership Studio, Hollywood, CA

Musicians:
Kenny Ellis--vocals
Stu Goldberg--piano/keyboards/percussion
Mitch Holder--acoustic/electric guitars
Albie Berk--drums
Kirk Smith--acoustic bass
Larry Antinino--electric bass
Wayne Bergeron--trumpet
Roy Wiegand--trumpet
Jon Lewis--trumpet
Randy Aldcroft--trombone
Ira Nepus--trombone
Joel Peskin--alto saxophone/tenor saxophone/clarinet/flute
John Mitchell--tenor saxophone/baritone saxophone
Bill Liston--alto saxophone/flute/piccolo

Strings for "Hanukkah Candles" and "Children of the Macabbees":
Ruth Bruegger--violin
Raxdan Kuyumjian--violin
Ralph Morrison--violin
Marcy Vaj--violin
Margot Alcroft--viola
Maurice Grants--cello

Background Vocals:
"Hanukkah Candles" & "Children of the Macabbees": Brenda Lee Eager, Cynthia Bass, Sydney Davis
"Swingin' Dreidel" & "Sevivon, Sov, Sov, Sov": Harvey R. Cohen
"Sevivon, Sov, Sov, Sov": Stu Goldberg
All tracks: Kenny Ellis

From the Web site:

Come this December, the holiday season gets swingin' with Hanukkah Swings! Kenny Ellis--a multi-faceted musical performer and cantor--makes Hanukkah hip for pop, jazz and big band lovers with his Favored Nations' Cool debut "Hanukkah Swings!"

Kenny Ellis

Hanukkah Swings!

Order from Amazon

Track List