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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!
A joyous labor of love reflecting Ellis' lifelong affinities for Jewish culture and swing era legends Count Basie, Les Brown and Benny Goodman, Hanukkah Swings! features Ellis on lead vocals performing lively, jazzy twists on festive classics (some done in medley form) in English and Hebrew. One song has a dash of Yiddish tossed in on the humorous parody "Twas The Night Before Hanukkah," whose lyrics are complemented by a dashing jazz/blues piano solo by co-producer Stu Goldberg. The collection, which includes two original pieces, the lush orchestral ballad "Hanukkah Candles" and the fun-filled tropical flavored "Hanu-calypso," features brilliant ensemble arrangements by Emmy Award winning composer/arranger Harvey R. Cohen, arranger and co-producer of Hanukkah Swings!
Heavily involved in Jewish Education for many years, Ellis has spent a lifetime finding new and creative ways to forge connections between young children and their heritage. "Part of my life's work has been discovering new entertaining avenues to show what Jewish life can be, and this time I happened to put it in a package that includes my deep love for the big bands my father loved and exposed me to when I was young. It's a celebration of Jewish life and music, not just for people of our culture and faith, but for everybody. It's Hanukkah for everyone, and you don't have to be Jewish to sing along!"
"I have always wondered why some Jewish performers shy away from embracing this incredible heritage, but I have always chosen to bring that into every one of my creative endeavors," says Ellis. "I grew up in a culturally Jewish home hearing my Lithuanian grandmother and my father's parents talk about life in the old country, and I was profoundly moved by their experiences. The music on Hanukkah Swings! is part of what makes me who I am, and I hope everybody finds enjoyment, excitement, and love from the music. I'm proud not only that I have been able to share this music, but that we did it with class and originality. No matter your religious or cultural background, it's bound to make the holiday season more festive and a lot more fun."
CLICK HERE TO BUY HANUKKAH SWINGS!
