Vol. 2 - Festival of Light

Various Artists - Miscellaneous - Holiday

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 14, 1999)
• Original Release Date: September 14, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Six Degrees
• ASIN: B00000K1IV
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #105,631 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #22 in	Music > Indie Music > Miscellaneous > Holiday
  #40 in	Music > Miscellaneous > Holiday > Hanukkah
  #68 in	Music > Folk > Klezmer

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

While the first Festival of Light compilation focused on putting an eclectic and young spin on music for Hanukkah, this follow-up is slightly more mellow (but no less diverse). Danny Heines's "Singing Flames" gives his mesmerizing guitar work a hint of Middle Eastern rhythms; Dave Koz's "Memories of a Winter's Night" features the musician's smooth saxophone work; and the Klezmatics--joined by Israeli vocalist Chava Alberstein--perform the soulful klezmer number "I'm Going to Take Off My Shoes." There's a ton of great, genre-blurring music here, but the real gems come from jazz trumpeter Frank London. His big band composition "Oh Hanukkah Groove" is spiritual yet swinging, while his atmospheric "Song of Praise"--featuring London, keyboardist Wayne Horvitz, and oud player Michael Kashou--is simply mesmerizing. --Jason Verlinde

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring Chanukah Melodies for the Holiday, December 15, 2000

By	Timothy J. Slivinski (Toledo, Ohio) - See all my reviews

Many seem to feel that this second volume in the Festival of Light series is not as good as the first. I do not agree, and in some ways I think it is actually stronger. Le'Eyla's opening track, "Haneros Halallu," is all I need to play to put me in the mood for Chanukah. A beautiful melody for this traditional prayer, I find myself playing it over and over. Neshama Carlebach's "A Love Trancsending" is another beautiful tune, haunting and moving. They Might Be Giants, an always quirky and offbeat group, give their take on the holiday with the wry "Feast of Lights," and it always makes me smile. Israeli vocalist Chava Alberstein is a standout with the Klezmatics on the Yiddish "I'm Going to Take Off My Shoes." As with the first CD in the series, the musical styles presented are varied, but they are all interesting and fun. Again, this is a great CD for getting into a Chanukah mood or frame of mind. As a bonus, it may expose the listener to some new or unfamiliar artists on the Jewish music scene.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Little Light Music, December 5, 1999

By	Jodester (Long Island, NY) - See all my reviews

Aha! A Hanukkah CD that's fresh, eclectic, and not too folksy-sappy. This is an enchanting, original combination of music styles to enhance the Festival of Light. In particular, "La Mujer de Terah," a Sephardic selection, was astoundingly beautiful. My only regret is that some of the songs don't have a more obvious connection to Hanukkah.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Holiday Inspiration, November 27, 1999

By	jennifer levy (Elizabeth, NJ) - See all my reviews

As a Jew who grew up with the song, " Dreidel Dreidel Dreidel I made out of clay" as the only song to Chanukah this CD opened up a whole new world of holiday music to me with a combination of music from around the continent. Also, it has a nice variety of up and coming musicians as well the regulars in the Jewish music industry. I especially was touched by the song Haneros Hallelu by Le'eyla. His voice is so soulful that I did not want the song to end. After you light the candles this Chanukah try to remember to say Haneros Hallelu after. It might be more inspirational.