December 2005

Kenny Ellis
Hanukkah Swings!
Favored Nations

By Tad Hendrickson

Why should the Gentiles have all the fun? After all there's been plenty great Christmas albums by Jews (Diamond and Streisand anyone?). Eschewing a cantor's gravity, Ellis sings light swingin' traditionals as well as the patriotic-sounding original "Hanukkah Candles," but for this Shlemiel the best Chutzpah comes on such Meshugga deconstructions as "Twas the Night Before Hanukkah" and "Hanu-calypso."