A New Take on an Old Song

CHANUKAH

Sam Glaser, David Garfield and others in concert last year

A New Take on an Old Song “Chanukah, Oh Chanukah” gets a reggae twist.

SUZANNE CHESSLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Aversion of the song “Chanukah, Oh a holiday album. Because of my Jewish be a reggae song, but I think this melody Chanukah” offers a unique sound background, I decided on holidays. It will help it reach a new audience. There’s this year — reggae and soul. It is became a challenge because we don’t have something beautiful, inspiring and heartfelt heard on a recording made in the California a lot of Chanukah songs. Maybe I’ll write a about exploring heritage.” music studio of David Garfield, producer, Chanukah song.” Independent of this project, Glaser has arranger and keyboardist. Because of the pandemic, Glaser, based in released the recording “Sam Glaser’s Rockin’

The number retains the familiar words California, sang in his own studio. Chanukah Revue.” Locally, he appeared at sung in Hebrew and English by Sam Glaser, “I’ve done Chanukah concerts, and I like Adat Shalom Synagogue for a Lots of Latkes a performer who specializes in Jewish songs taking ‘Chanukah, Oh Chanukah’ to a new party. and has appeared many times at religious level with the reggae sounds,” said Glaser, Garfield looked for an internationcelebrations in Michigan. 57, a colleague and friend of Garfield and a al group of musicians to perform for

Lee Oskar, who worked with the band recording artist since he was 11. He counts “Holidays Outside the Box.” This recent War, plays the harmonica, and Larry some 25 albums to his credit. album is among a series of “Outside the Klimas, who has worked with the band “A great melody is eternal, and this Box” recordings that focus on a range of Chicago and Neil Diamond, is on saxo- Chanukah song has that quality,” said music. phone. Other musicians are Israeli Oz Noy, Glaser. Legendary musicians featured through Tim Pierce and Andy Bassford (guitars); “I’m sure the author never intended the recording add their talents to “O Holy Freddie Washington (bass); Steve Ferrone ‘Chanukah, Oh Chanukah’ to Night” with vocalists Jacob Scheff, (drums); and Kevin Ricard (percussions). The Chanukah song is the one Jewish track on the album “Holidays Outside the Box,” which gives some new sounds to familiar religious and seasonal ballads, including “Let It Snow” in contemporary jazz and “Sleigh Ride” in calypso. Details: Listen to “Chanukah, Oh Chanukah” on YouTube Music, Apple Music or Spotify. who worked with the band Chicago, and Robbie Wyckoff, who worked with Pablo Cruise. Nick Lane, strings arranger for “Ave Maria,” has been associated with Chicago and Rod Stewart. Besides producing his own

Five languages are represented — English, recordings, Garfield works freeHebrew, Italian, Spanish and Polish. lance. During the pandemic, he is perform-

“I was approaching 60 when I got the ing on Zoom from his own studio, and his idea to record and collaborate with leg- work can be accessed at davidgarfield.com, acy musicians and artists,” said Garfield, where the holiday recording also can be who has worked with musicians such as accessed. Motown’s Smokey Robinson. “I had three Christmas songs out in the same year, and the big question for me was whether to do a Christmas album or SAMGLASER.COM Sam Glaser Although Garfield has not worked in Michigan, he visits the state to see his brother Stanley, who lives in Northville.