Why this tune?
Here’s another song that is on the list for my show at Blues Alley in Washington, DC on August 26, a tune we recorded in 2020. I wrote “Don’t Sleep On Me” in 2019, as a reaction to feelings of inadequacy that I felt at jam sessions or gigs, in the presence of other, perhaps “better” players and in the face of critical comments from musicians and others. Aaron Myers helped me turn my initial lyric into a more singable and swinging tune.
We recorded it in February 2020, right before the big shutdown, and produced a music video the next year. I think the song had additional resonance during the pandemic, which forced all of us to stay at home with our hangups.
This rehearsal sounded fine, and I’m looking forward to a fun performance of this tune (and the rest of the set) at the show. If you’re in the DC area, please join us! You can buy tickets for the 7pm and 9 pm show at bluesalley.com
Tunes On Tuesday Reel
Check it out!
Music video: Aaron Myers (vocals). Steve Arnold (bass), Tyler Leak (drums)
Oren Levine, jazz pianist and songwriter 