Some is great;;some a one time listen
Steven I. Ramm | Phila, PA USA | 06/29/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The concept of this CD, produced by Brooks Arthur is a commendable one. He knows lots of folks in show business who are Jewish and decided that newly recorded versions of "Jewish" songs would be great. All but one of the 13 tracks on this (somewhat short at 44-minute length) were recorded in 2006 and 2007 by the artists. The lone "oldie" is "Avinu Malkeinu" by Barbra Streisand, which comes from her 1997 "Higher Ground" album.
The CD starts off great with The Manhattan Transfer performing a great swing version of "Utt Da Say" about a tailor making a dress. It had me tapping my feet immediately. Then Neil Sedaka (who recorded a whole CD of Yiddish songs a few years back) slows it down with "My Yiddishe Momme". Smooth jazz meet traditional Yiddish Klezmer for the next two track which feature soprano sax player Dave Koz and then trumpeter Herb Alpert. Comedian Rob Schneider really surprised me with his version of "Bagel & Lox" a 1940s swing tune. THEN thinks stopped. Jason Alexander performs one of lesser-known (for good reason) Allen Sherman parodies ("Shake Hands With Your Uncle Max"). Okay, maybe it's cute once. But I doubt anyone will play this track a second time. The next two "comedy" tracks are also funny ONCE. Then things get serious. The last 5 tracks are more or less Jewish Religious vocal music or prayers. (Ironically, the one song titled "Sabbath Prayer" is the song that Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick wrote for the score of "Fiddler on the Roof" in the 1960s. Theodore Bikel does a nice job and Adam Sandler (who has single-handedly brought back the songs of Hanukah each December) sings the prayer "Hine Ma Tov" in a duet with his real-life Cantor. Marvin Hamlisch does "Hatikva" and it's Streisand's turn to wrap things up.
With a bit better programming (keep Schneider and Triumph The Wonder Dog - seriously - but delete the between song shtick) and Jason Alexander's take on the Sherman song, as well as the "goes on too long" number "Joe and Paul" and this would be a Cd you could repeatedly play from beginning to end. Since you can program your CD player for sequencing, I'm only complaining a bit .
The CD says that "a portion of the proceeds will benefit Jewish charities" so there's a "mitzvah" going on here as well.
Maybe this project will be successful and Richard Foos (exec at Shout Factory) will chance Volume 2. There's lots more Jewish performers out there and more songs to be covered. (Heck Irving Berlin wrote a bunch of great Jewish novelties.)
Steve Ramm
"Anything Phonographic"
"
Jewish Music Lovers CD
H. P. Glink | Chicago, IL, USA | 06/25/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Anyone who loves Jewish music should check out this CD. It is original and funny and brings back lots of memories."
Getting what you expect.
Irwin L. Cohen | 11/25/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"How satisfying it is to receive a product that is as good as or excedes just what you expected when you ordered."
Track Listings (13) - Disc #1