I should probably save this for the week before Christmas, but I'm one of those people who opens his presents early (actually, I'm not...except with holiday music).
Isabel Rose is a fantastic actress, writer and Old School vocalist. By Old School, I mean the school of folks like Bing Crosby, Peggy Lee, Judy Garland, and Frank Sinatra...people that, today, we call Jazz vocalists. But, for some reason, when a contemporary vocalist follows that school, they just call them Pop vocalists. And I just don't think Pop vocalist is entirely accurate or fair. It's a craft, what Isabel and those we've mentioned do. "Pop vocalist" is so....Britney Spears (not that there's anything wrong with that). Isabel, herself, calls it "retro Vegas pop delivered with a completely modern punch." I can live with that. I'm still going to call her a Jazz vocalist, but I can live with that.
Anyhow... I'm strolling through the Internets one day and I came across an absolutely brilliant piece of writing. I wish I could write so well. Not long, mind you, but brilliant. It was called "Christmas Song Blues (Confessions of a Jealous Jewess)" and it was a blog post from Isabel Rose. I hope you'll go read it (and her other fabulous posts), but the gist is Isabel spoke of her love of Christmas songs and lamented the lack of Hanukkah songs. Lamented the lack of Hanukkah songs AND the lack of modern interpretations of the ones most people know. So she took matters into her own hands and cut the version of "Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah" that, hopefully, you're listening to right now. It's a beautiful Jazz reading, complete with vibraphone, sleigh bells, a cold wind a-blowing and some original lyrics. She even weaves in echoes of "Carol Of The Bells" that dance their own special Hora with the song's traditional melody. (If the song runs out, hit repeat. And, later, don't forget to look for the Zebra with menorah stripes in the video; it's pretty cool.) "Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah" by Isabel Rose is available on Amazon and iTunes and it deserves a place in your holiday collection.
I did comment on Isabel's post that there is some Hanukkah music out there. But she's right that, outside of Adam Sandler, you're not going to hear it on the radio or in the malls.
Anyhow... I'm strolling through the Internets one day and I came across an absolutely brilliant piece of writing. I wish I could write so well. Not long, mind you, but brilliant. It was called "Christmas Song Blues (Confessions of a Jealous Jewess)" and it was a blog post from Isabel Rose. I hope you'll go read it (and her other fabulous posts), but the gist is Isabel spoke of her love of Christmas songs and lamented the lack of Hanukkah songs. Lamented the lack of Hanukkah songs AND the lack of modern interpretations of the ones most people know. So she took matters into her own hands and cut the version of "Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah" that, hopefully, you're listening to right now. It's a beautiful Jazz reading, complete with vibraphone, sleigh bells, a cold wind a-blowing and some original lyrics. She even weaves in echoes of "Carol Of The Bells" that dance their own special Hora with the song's traditional melody. (If the song runs out, hit repeat. And, later, don't forget to look for the Zebra with menorah stripes in the video; it's pretty cool.) "Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah" by Isabel Rose is available on Amazon and iTunes and it deserves a place in your holiday collection.
I did comment on Isabel's post that there is some Hanukkah music out there. But she's right that, outside of Adam Sandler, you're not going to hear it on the radio or in the malls.
As a Goy, my own interest in Hanukkah music started in earnest around 1996. Adam Sandler's "Chanukah Song" had been officially released and I included it in one of my Christmas mixes. Several of my avid listeners were Jewish and one asked if it would be possible to do for Hanukkah what I had done for Christmas for over a decade by then. I recalled a gorgeous Folk song New York DJ Vin Scelsa used to play on the radio, "Chanukah Chase" by the Short Sisters (who weren't sisters, though I can't attest to their height). Sounded like a good and fun challenge. It actually took me until 2001 to finish my first Hanukkah mix. It included Jazz, Folk, Alt Rock, New Age, Folk Pop, A cappella, Reggae and more. Houston Person, They Might Be Giants, Alan Eder, Marc Cohn, Jane Siberry and more. After that, Hanukkah music seemed to arrive more readily and Hanukkah mixes became a regular part of my holiday output, including my personal favorite, the 2-disc set "A Hanukkah Now" (especially for the cover art to the left). I mention this because I'm thinking of adding either a page or a section to the site devoted to Hanukkah music and I'd be interested in your feedback. True enough, there are already some neglected corners of the site. But I figured it was something I could work on in the off-season.
Last year, Hanukkah coincided with Thanksgiving and that was weird, but this year's holiday convergence is nigh on perfect. The first night of Hanukkah is December 16th. Do the math. Hanukkah's gonna roll right into Christmas. How cool is that? I can think of no better track to kick off the holidays--all of them--than "Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah" from Isabel Rose. You want that song on your wall. You need that song on your wall. (OK, A Few Good Men allusion not my best effort.) Get it from Amazon or iTunes. If it does well enough, maybe we can convince Isabel to record an entire Hanukkah album. Check out Isabel's other fine records, "Trouble In Paradise" and "Swingin' From The Hip", as well. And there's lots of good reading on Isabel's website and her Facebook page. (And don't forget to look for the zebra in the video). L'chaim.
Last year, Hanukkah coincided with Thanksgiving and that was weird, but this year's holiday convergence is nigh on perfect. The first night of Hanukkah is December 16th. Do the math. Hanukkah's gonna roll right into Christmas. How cool is that? I can think of no better track to kick off the holidays--all of them--than "Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah" from Isabel Rose. You want that song on your wall. You need that song on your wall. (OK, A Few Good Men allusion not my best effort.) Get it from Amazon or iTunes. If it does well enough, maybe we can convince Isabel to record an entire Hanukkah album. Check out Isabel's other fine records, "Trouble In Paradise" and "Swingin' From The Hip", as well. And there's lots of good reading on Isabel's website and her Facebook page. (And don't forget to look for the zebra in the video). L'chaim.
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