Band leader, saxophonist, composer and arranger Eyal Vilner has released unique holiday album titled, Hanukkah. Presenting six traditional Hanukkah songs (“These Candles” is a bonus track, only available digitally), the album features Vilner’s 16-piece big band, a vocal trio (in the style of the Boswell Sisters) and special guest, Israeli flutist, Itai Kriss. The big band gathered at one of the oldest synagogues in the U.S.to record the album, – the Museum at Eldridge Street, – a National Historic Landmark dating back to 1887 in what used to be a Jewish immigrant neighborhood and is now Chinatown. The style of the album blends the traditional Hanukkah songs with jazz colors and swing, Brazilian and Afro-Cuban rhythms with the ornaments and scales of the Middle East. Vilner is a master at keeping a balance of sophistication and richness of orchestration and counterpoint while keeping the lyrical maturity and class of the original melody clear and in focus. That’s the short of it!
Hanukkah
1. Prelude
2. Maoz Tzur
3. Sevivon (The Dreidel Song)
4. Oh Hanukkah
5. Mi Yemalel (Who Can Retell?)
6. These Candles (Hebrew: Hanerot Halalu) bonus track, only available digitally
Personnel:
Eyal Vilner: alto sax, clarinet, shofar, conducting, arrangements (solo: track 1) Pronounced A’-yall
Vocals: Tamar Korn, Martina DaSilva, Vanessa Perea (track 3)
Itai Kriss: - flute (track 2)
Jay Rattman: alto, clarinet, flute
Bill Todd: alto, clarinet, flute
Evan Arntzen: tenor, clarinet (solo: track 3)
Dan Pearson: tenor, clarinet, flute
Eden Bareket: - baritone, bass clarinet
Bryan Davis: lead trumpet, shofar
Andy Gravish: trumpet
Wayne Tucker: trumpet (solo: track 4)
Jim Seeley: trumpet, shofar
Stuart Mack: trumpet
Matt Musselman: trombone
Becca Patterson: trombone
Max Seigel: bass trombone
Jack Glottman: piano
George DeLancey: bass
Erán Fink: drums
-All music was written and arranged by Eyal Vilner (BMI) based on traditional holiday songs.
Release Date: November 16, 2016
Eyal Vilner Big Band
24 minutes
Vilner’s big band brings a fresh and swinging approach to these tunes and each of the six arrangements is an adventure in rhythms and flawless big band playing. The ensemble’s playing in this project is excellent, tight band hits, seamless tempo and style changes, and the horn sections articulations and effects are a real treat to listen to. Vilner’s alto saxophone on “Maoz Tzur” displays his ability as a soloist as well as an exciting arranger.
Andy Ezrin, I Was Here Review
Pritesh Walia, Hopetown Review
