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About Reggae Chanukah
Product Description Woe zo, shalom, and welcome to Reggae Chanukah: Where drum-laden groove music of African origin and inspiration underscores well-loved songs for the "stand up for your rights" holiday of Chanukah. From the Caribbean: one drop reggae, the Rastafarian Nyabinghi heartbeat of thanks and praises to the Almighty, and skas upbeat skanks. From West Africa: traditional Ghanaian dance drumming and highlife. From Middle Eastern maksum played on doumbek and riqq (with clarinet) to batteries of Brazilian and Latin percussion as samba meets mambo for some salsa on their latkes. May all the warming lights of the winter season and this joyous collection of music illuminate your own re-dedication to a groove that makes you move in a positive way! Review ...new and reinvented traditional songs in a wonderfully upbeat and spiritual style. -- Robert Eshman, Jewish Journal of Los Angeles, Nov. 1999 captures the spirit of multicultural awareness, while sharing song and ceremony within and without the greater community." -- Chuck Foster, The Beat vol. 19, #1, 2000 speaks to the heart as well as the feet with a vibrant energy not often heard in more traditional arrangements." -- Robert Kaye, The Jacksonville Jewish News About the Artist All of the artists on this recording live and work in the Greater Los Angeles area. Almost all of them have personal history with California Institute of the Arts. Principal arranger, composer, and producer Alan Eder has been a songwriter all his life and for over two decades has played and studied traditional West African and reggae music. Alan earned a Bachelor's degree from UCLA in ethnomusicology, a Master of Fine Arts degree from California Institute of the Arts in African Music Performance, and a Fulbright Scholarship to West Africa for studies and research in traditional musics. Rhythm Section The guiding lights of the band, guitarist Dustin Boyer and keyboard player Tardu Yegin, pick up where they left off on our ground breaking first recording, "Reggae Passover." The amazing expressivity of Dustins mind and hands rejoin us courtesy of Descanso, the group he fronts on guitar and vocals. Tardu managed to work our sessions into his busy schedule with the Irish band, the Fenians (where he is affectionately known as everyones favorite Irishman from Ankara). Joining them are bass player and singer Ivan Garzon and percussionist Blake Colie, (the backbone of Rub-a-Dub, rising stars on the Southern California reggae scene) and drummer extraordinaire Bryon Holley (of Mamas Kitchen). Vocalists Cantor Dennis Parnell and vocalist Lorna Eder return with more of their fine vocal work, first heard on "Reggae Passover." Joining them are Chava Mirel and Natalie Azerad, two singers whose beautiful voices and worldly sensibilities are perfectly suited to our sound and feeling. Principal African Musicians Kobla Ladzekpo, my longtime teacher, mentor, and friend, is one of the pioneers in international performance and instruction in African music and dance. His nephew Agbi Ladzekpo is the Music Director of Zadonu African Music and Dance Company, and daughter Yeko Ladzekpo-Cole, in addition to being a drummer and singer, is one of the most agile and artistic African dancers around. (In our live performances, Yeko choreographs and dances along with her mother, Dzidzogbe Lawluvi, her sister, Afi Ladzekpo, and Yolanda Heath.) Featured Artists Keeping the Nyabinghi flame burning that he lit on "Reggae Passover," we are blessed to have back living legend of roots reggae music, Ras Michael. This remarkable singer, drummer, songwriter, band leader and guiding spirit was dubbed, "Your Nyabinghi specialist" by no less than Bob Marley. Guest appearances by multi-instrumentalists and groovemeisters Evan Fraser, Edson Gianesi, and Kiko Cornejo further broaden the posse's world of sound. Evan plays Southern African style kalimba in the Afa Medley, and in Latke, Edson plays berimbau and ganza and Kiko, co
