Artist description Drum-laden groove music of African origin and inspiration underscores well-loved songs for the "Stand Up For Your Rights" holiday of Chanukah.

Music Style African/Jewish Roots, Rock, and Reggae

Musical Influences Rastafarian Nyabinghi, traditional Jewish celebratory music, traditional Ghanaian dance drumming and Highlife, Brazilian and Latin percussion (samba meets mambo).

Artist History Reggae Chanukah is the work of Alan Eder & Friends, two dozen extraordinarily talented artists, many with international reputations. Their lands of origin, native tongues, ethnic and cultural backgrounds, religious affiliations, and even their ages span a wide range. Their first album was Reggae Passover (1997), reggae and West African versions of Passover music, performed by a large international ensemble of artists ranging from reggae stylists to cantors to African drummers. Since its release this well-loved music has found its way into thousands of hearts and homes throughout the world.

Group Members the Band: Dustin Boyer--electric guitar, Blake Colie--percussion (tambourine, timbales, cabasa, cowbells), Ivan Garzon--electric bass, Bryon Holley--drumset, Tardu Yegin--Fender Rhodes electric piano, Hammond organ, and featuring: James King--alto saxophone, Gabrial McNair--trombone, Todd Simon--trumpet, the ‘Binghi crew: Repeater: Ras Michael Funde: Roman Cho, Kiko Cornejo, Alan Eder, Edson Gianesi, Bryon Holley, Tardu Yegin Bass Drum: Ras Michael the Chorus of Nations: Natalie Azerad, Alan Eder, Lorna Eder, Edson Gianesi, Yolanda Heath, Yeko Ladzekpo-Cole, Chava Mirel, Matt Segal, Tardu Yegin the Chai-3: Natalie Azerad, Lorna Eder, Chava Mirel the Vocal Quartet: Natalie Azerad, Lorna Eder, Chava Mirel, Dennis Parnell

Instruments Electric guitar; electric bass; tambourine; timbales; cabasa; cowbells; drumset; Fender Rhodes electric piano; Hammond organ; alto saxophone; trombone; trumpet; Agboba: a barrel-shaped Ewe lead drum about three feet tall and two and a half feet wide; Agogo: Brazilian double bell; Atsimevu: an Ewe lead drum four and a half to six feet tall and open at the bottom, which is smaller than the top and it is usually played with two sticks or stick and hand; Axatse: a rattle made from a hollow gourd with beads or cowrie shells woven around it in a net; Berimbau: a Brazilian musical bow; Campana: a Latin cowbell, the timekeeper in salsa; Doumbek: Middle Eastern goblet shaped hand drum; Gankogui: the ubiquitous African double-bell; Kaganu: a drum similar in proportions to Atsimevu; Kalimba: one of the most widely used African names, along with mbira and sansa, for lamellophones (instruments widely referred to by the ethnocentric misnomer,

Albums Reggae Chanukah (1999), Reggae Passover(1997)

Press Reviews Press reviews of Reggae Passover ----- "Focusing on tearing down religious, racial and musical fences that divide...like Stevie Wonder, Eder believes that music is the one language understood by people from around the globe." Frank Williams, Los AngelesTimes, April 17, 1997 ----- "Alan's good taste is evident on this selection of traditional Passover songs sung in Hebrew with reggae and African-inspired rhythms. There are plenty of reggae Christmas albums but this is the first that blends 'music from the Jewish and African Diasporas'...this one-drop extended family seder evokes a sense of universal brotherhood that crosses cultural and racial divides." Chuck Foster, The Beat (the premiere international periodical dealing with reggae, African, and other world music), June Issue (vol. 16, #3, 1997 ----- "Reggae Passover....a sound that is both foreign and familiar, both playful and profound....All of the songs are sung....to the the African-reggae combo's throbbing, leaping, and swirling beats. The African and reggae musicians....are consistently stunning. They play everything from saxophones and electric guitars to gourd rattles, bells, and nine different kinds of drums. With these, they create rhythms that gallop like camels, tempos that shift like breezes, and melodies that snake along like vines which startlingly sprout multi-colored blooms." Paul Wieder, JUF News of Chicago, April, 1997

Location Pacoima, CA - USA

Copyright notice. All material on MP3.com is protected by copyright law and by international treaties. You may download this material and make reasonable number of copies of this material only for your own personal use. You may not otherwise reproduce, distribute, publicly perform, publicly display, or create derivative works of this material, unless authorized by the appropriate copyright owner(s).