A Treasury of Jewish Christmas Songs: A Cool Jazz Tribute with Jake Ehrenreich and the Roger Kellaway Trio celebrates the album release of Jewish songwriters from Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas” to Mel Tormé’s “The Christmas Song” to Johnny Marks’ “Holly Jolly Christmas” and “Rudolph the Red- Nosed Reindeer.” Many folks don’t think of these composers as Jewish so much as quintessentially American, nor do they think of these Christmas songs as Jewish. But Ehrenreich, who grew up in Brooklyn as a child of Jewish Holocaust survivors, does.
Growing up incongruously loving Christmas music, Ehrenreich first explored this theme in his acclaimed Broadway show A Jew Grows in Brooklyn, called the New York Times “…a beautiful medley of Christmas Songs written by Jewish composers. …his finest moments are completely nonsectarian…” Ehrenreich and Grammy winner / Oscar nominee Kellaway first clicked musically when Ehrenreich sang “Forget the Woman” at a memorial for the conductor and composer Ettore Stratta, who had written the song for Tony Bennett and his The Art of Excellence album. Ehrenrieich flew to LA to record with Kelaway’s trio, featuring Bruce Forman and Dan Lutz. They added Kevin Winard on percussion and the result is this unique new recording.
“He sings these songs with easy pop-jazz panache, a slightly husky tone and casual swing that more than once “evokes a younger Tony Bennett.” (George Kanzler, Hot House Magazine)
“Swings like a young Tony Bennett. Add Roger Kellaway and some solid jazzbos to the mix and you get this record that runs so deep.” (Chris Spector, Midwest Record)
“You will wish Christmas came more than once a year when you listen to Roger Kellaway & Jake Ehrenreich’s version of ‘A Christmas Love Song.’ It’s just wonderful!” (Alan & Marilyn Bergman Legendary Grammy/Oscar winning songwriters)
“I can’t think of a better Christmas present! Jake & Roger’s rendition truly brings the song to life.” (Johnny Mandel, Grammy/Oscar winning songwriter)
For more information on Jake Ehrenreich and the album, click here. To check out The Jake Ehrenreich Show, a variety/talk program taped before a live audience at The Triad Theater in NYC, featuring Jewish performers, comedians and entertainers from Broadway, ilm and TV, click here.
Birdland Jazz Club is located at 315 West 44 Street, NYC. For more information and tickets click here
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