Cantor Ellis ushers in Hanukkah




Cantor Kenny Ellis

Cantor Kenny Ellis

Cantor Kenny Ellis will perform three songs from his big band Hanukkah CD “Hanukkah Swings!” at the U.S. Military Academy’s annual holiday concert, “Hudson Valley Holiday,” at 3 p.m. Sun., Dec. 5 at the school’s Eisenhower Hall Theater.

The following Sunday, the production travels to Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center in New York City for shows at noon and 3 p.m.

Ellis, a resident of Agoura Hills, will perform with the West Point big band Jazz Knights and serve as master of ceremonies.

For some of the holiday songs he will be joined by female singers Master Sgt. MaryKay Messenger and Staff Sgt. Alexis Cole as well as the brass section of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra.

While on the East Coast, Ellis will also perform at a synagogue which his great-grandfather founded, Tiferes B’nai Israel in Warrington, Penn.

Ellis is the cantor at Temple Beth Ami in Santa Clarita and at The New Shul of the Conejo on the first Friday of every month.

He has released an in-concert CD, “Kenny Ellis: the Man Behind the Matzoh Ball” as well as the big band Hanukkah album. To date more than 85,000 people have viewed his music video of “Swingin’ Dreidel” on YouTube.

“Hanukkah Swings!” is available at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble.com and iTunes.

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