Album Notes

In 1942, Woody Guthrie moved to Brooklyn and
soon, through his mother-in-law, the renowned
Yiddish poet, Aliza Greenblat, he became involved
with the Coney Island Jewish Community. He wrote
songs about Hanukkah, about Jewish history and about
spiritual life.

After his death in 1967, these songs sat forgotten in archives. "Lost" for almost thirty years, Guthrie's Hanukkah lyrics were discovered in 1998 by Woody's daughter, Nora Guthrie. She was so inspired by what she found, she asked the Klezmatics to write new music for the lyrics.

"Woody Guthrie's Happy Joyous Hanukkah" is the first
recorded release of this amazing material. Deftly intermingling Klezmer with American folk and bluegrass, "Woody Guthrie's Happy Joyous Hanukkah" is destined to become a holiday classic for generations to come.

This delightful collection of songs, including "Hanukkah's Flame", "Hanukkah Gelt", "Bubie’s Dance", “Do The Latke Flip Flip” and others, is among the best of Guthrie's work, and the Klezmatics playful renditions cast a new light on the Hanukkah tradition.

Klezmatics trumpeter Frank London says, “each of us found our own way to confront Woody's poetry. The words are all his, but the diversity of musical styles is quintessentially Klezmatic.” London says that some songs lent themselves to overtly Jewish klezmer music, others to more American forms, like classic dust-bowl country tunes. Some felt brand new to the musicians, while others felt more like folks songs “that had been around forever.” The band’s influences in setting the lyrics to music ranged from sacred (Hasidic nigunim --wordless tunes often used in prayer – and Gospel) to secular (freylekhs – traditional dance music – and hoedowns).”