This second interpretation of Woody Guthrie's Jewish-themed lyrics by the Klezmatics--America's premiere Yiddish band--revolves around Hanukkah, and by the title, it's not surprising that most of the offerings boast a live... more »ly tone. Guthrie, the Dust Bowl balladeer, lived in post-war Brooklyn (Coney Island, to be exact), and, inspired by his mother-in-law, the Yiddish poet Aliza Greenblatt, wrote a newly found series of poems that focused on Jewish culture. Primarily set to music by the Klezmatics' Lorin Sklamberg and Frank London, the holiday lyrics come alive to prayerful Hasidic nigunim and playful klezmer freylekhs, as well as to Nashville-tinged country fare. The band also conjured several instrumentals to flesh out Guthrie's slight Hanukkah catalogue, though the funk-'n'-jazz "(Do the) Latke Flip-Flip" seems a mistake. Sequenced near Guthrie's "The Many and the Few," a somber persecution-and-renewal story song about King Cyrus's release of the Jews from their Babylonian captivity, it seems as out of place as Christmas in October. But this innovative collaboration still has the makings of a holiday classic, as appealing to children as to the parents who spawned them. --Alanna Nash« less
This second interpretation of Woody Guthrie's Jewish-themed lyrics by the Klezmatics--America's premiere Yiddish band--revolves around Hanukkah, and by the title, it's not surprising that most of the offerings boast a lively tone. Guthrie, the Dust Bowl balladeer, lived in post-war Brooklyn (Coney Island, to be exact), and, inspired by his mother-in-law, the Yiddish poet Aliza Greenblatt, wrote a newly found series of poems that focused on Jewish culture. Primarily set to music by the Klezmatics' Lorin Sklamberg and Frank London, the holiday lyrics come alive to prayerful Hasidic nigunim and playful klezmer freylekhs, as well as to Nashville-tinged country fare. The band also conjured several instrumentals to flesh out Guthrie's slight Hanukkah catalogue, though the funk-'n'-jazz "(Do the) Latke Flip-Flip" seems a mistake. Sequenced near Guthrie's "The Many and the Few," a somber persecution-and-renewal story song about King Cyrus's release of the Jews from their Babylonian captivity, it seems as out of place as Christmas in October. But this innovative collaboration still has the makings of a holiday classic, as appealing to children as to the parents who spawned them. --Alanna Nash
"This is an unexpected pleasure. And it gives you what it says on the cover - happy joyous music.
Is there anything for pesach?"
Who Knew Woody Gutherie Wrote Hanukkah MusicI
Henry M. Diamond | 12/11/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I think that Gutherie's "HAPPY JOYOUS HANUKKAH" CD is great, especially for children. The songs are surely joyous and wonderful to listen to. My only complaint were the addition of 4 pieces ("Gilad and Ziv's Sibra", "Latke Flip-Flop", "Groovy"s Freyekhs", and "Spin Dreydl Spin") that were not written by Gutherie and made no sense for this project.
Still, I would highly recommend this CD>"
Joyous and hip
Bella Miriam | Los Angeles, CA United States | 02/07/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Woody Guthrie...for Hanukkah. A gift every joyous Jewish family will love. And Wonder Wheel by the Klezmatics was nominated for a Grammy... and may actually win it (Grammy's are next week). Woody may be gone, but the Klezmatics have made his fun, sweet spirit come to life... with a Jewish edge.
Great!"
Woody Guthrie's Happy Joyous Hanukkah
Seraph | California,USA | 01/09/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"How could you not like something that is so sweet. We all love this cd. Shipping was fast."