Customer Reviews

Channukah: Festival of Lights

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
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I received this CD as a Wish List gift (Thank you, Oh loyal reader of my reviews!) and I absolutely love it. There are traditional Chanukkah songs here that I've never heard anywhere else, plus some original compositions. If you thought that "Maoz Tzur" and the "Dreidel Song" were all there is to Chanukkah music, then you simply must hear this album!

In the days of the European stetl (Jewish village), bands of klezmer musicians would go from house to house, playing music while the Chanukkah candles burned brightly into the long winter nights. This album captures that old-time spirit perfectly. There are lively dances, peppy songs, and slow, contemplative vocal pieces called "Doinas," which might strike some Western listeners as sad because they're sung in a minor key. Not so. "Festival music in a minor key" is how Ot Azoi describes their music. The Doinas are contemplative, inward-looking vocal improvisations, using meaningless syllables to express that which cannot be said in words. Think of the human voice as a jazz trumpet and you are on your way to grokking this type of Jewish music.

The words, of course, are in Yiddish and Hebrew. One weakness of this album is that the insert doesn't include all the words to all the songs (although it does translate some of them.) But even if you don't know these languages, you'll catch the spirit. And you'll probably recognize the words to "Shalom Aleichem" (Peace be upon you), a song usually associated with the Sabbath, but also appropriate here in a soul-filled rendition that starts out slowly, then bursts into a joyous dance acceompanied by drums and other percussion. I especially like band #15, "a Lid fun Chanukkah" (Song for Chanukkah) which says, "Lomir tantzen, lomir zingen -- let us dance, let us sing!" Need I say more?

Ot Azoj keeps growing! When will they play in america? A good band like this shoudn't be kept for the europeans only!
This cd is a nice mixture between old and new, happy and sad.
It's the best chanukah cd I ever heard!
I'm very curious about their next cd. I saw it on their website... It's called Klezmer fon Kishinev. Should be interesting. I hope Amazon will have it soon!
Ot Azoj keep up the good work!

Ben Levi

What a great idea for a CD collection!! The opening song, Haneiros, is beautifully sung. The artist, Elan Barenholz, has a tremendous voice that leaves the listeners wanting more! And that is just the first song on the CD!!!!!!!!!!

So I'm online browsing the latest cd's, and I see everyone writing fantastic reviews about this song by Elan Barenholtz. I had to hear for myself. Well let me tell you -- UNBELIEVABLE!!! He's got a great voice, and the music really sinks in! Buy this one.

this collection is a remarkable tour-de-force. Its been a long time since Ive heard such an original,yet somehow traditional, selection of music. A truly astonishing piece is the single by the artist known as Elan Barenholtz.Who is this gigantic talent, and why hasnt he been discovered yet?

elan barenholtz is perhaps the most talented up and coming singer in contemporary jewish music. his opening track on this cd touches the spirit and stirs the soul. a must own for jewish music lovers!

The festival of Lights album includes a song by elan barenholtz (Haneiros- 1st track)who is the premeir jewish singer/songwriter around today. A definite must buy!!! He visited Penn and made quite a splash.

Last year we purchased the Erran Barron Cohen Songs in the Key of hannukah download the best contemporay Channukah album we have heard in years of searching for festival music. This album while traditional yiddish music is fresh and equally exciting, very soulful and just right for the holiday. It will make you reminice about Zede & Bube and break dance at the time. The music tradition while being current and fresh at the same time. It make you want to celebrate!

Really fine klezmer band. They get better with each cd. Check out their web site at otazoj.com. I'd highly recommend this cd as a gift. The production values are o.k. As a previous reviewer noted, the liner notes aren't so hot. But the music is awesome.