20 | DECEMBER 10 • 2020
A
version of the song “Chanukah, Oh
Chanukah” offers a unique sound
this year — reggae and soul. It is
heard on a recording made in the California
music studio of David Garfield, producer,
arranger and keyboardist.
The number retains the familiar words
sung in Hebrew and English by Sam Glaser,
a performer who specializes in Jewish songs
and has appeared many times at religious
celebrations in Michigan.
Lee Oskar, who worked with the band
War, plays the harmonica, and Larry
Klimas, who has worked with the band
Chicago and Neil Diamond, is on saxo-
phone. Other musicians are Israeli Oz Noy,
Tim Pierce and Andy Bassford (guitars);
Freddie Washington (bass); Steve Ferrone
(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.
Five languages are represented — English,
Hebrew, Italian, Spanish and Polish.
“I was approaching 60 when I got the
idea to record and collaborate with leg-
acy musicians and artists,
” said Garfield,
who has worked with musicians such as
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
a holiday album. Because of my Jewish
background, I decided on holidays. It
became a challenge because we don’t have
a lot of Chanukah songs. Maybe I’ll write a
Chanukah song.
”
Because of the pandemic, Glaser, based in
California, sang in his own studio.
“I’ve done Chanukah concerts, and I like
taking ‘Chanukah, Oh Chanukah’ to a new
level with the reggae sounds,
” said Glaser,
57, a colleague and friend of Garfield and a
recording artist since he was 11. He counts
some 25 albums to his credit.
“
A great melody is eternal, and this
Chanukah song has that quality,
” said
Glaser.
“I’m sure the author never intended
‘Chanukah, Oh Chanukah’ to
be a reggae song, but I think this melody
will help it reach a new audience. There’s
something beautiful, inspiring and heartfelt
about exploring heritage.
”
Independent of this project, Glaser has
released the recording “Sam Glaser’s Rockin’
Chanukah Revue.
” Locally, he appeared at
Adat Shalom Synagogue for a Lots of Latkes
party.
Garfield looked for an internation-
al group of musicians to perform for
“Holidays Outside the Box.
” This recent
album is among a series of “Outside the
Box” recordings that focus on a range of
music.
Legendary musicians featured through
the recording add their talents to “O Holy
Night” with vocalists Jacob Scheff,
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
recordings, Garfield works free-
lance. During the pandemic, he is perform-
ing on Zoom from his own studio, and his
work can be accessed at davidgarfield.com,
where the holiday recording also can be
accessed.
Although Garfield has not worked in
Michigan, he visits the state to see his
brother Stanley, who lives in
Northville.
A New Take on an Old Song
“Chanukah, Oh Chanukah” gets a reggae twist.
SUZANNE CHESSLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER
CHANUKAH
Sam Glaser,
David Garfield
and others in
concert last year
Details:
Listen to “Chanukah,
Oh Chanukah”
on YouTube Music,
Apple Music
or Spotify.
Sam
Glaser
SAMGLASER.COM