Why this tune? Winter officially starts this week, and with it the expectation of snow in the colder parts of the world. One of those snowy mornings inspired “Snow Day,” which I recorded with Aaron Myers for his 2015 holiday album “Snowing In Vegas,” that includes other original songs by Aaron and me plus someContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Snow Day”
Author Archives: Oren Levine
Tunes on Tuesday: Maoz Tsur מעוז צור (A Mighty Rock)
Why this tune? On this fifth day of Hanukkah I’m sharing a contemporary take on the oldest of Hanukkah classics, “Maoz Tsur.” The text is a Jewish liturgical poem that was likely written in Germany in the 13th century, and possibly earlier, perhaps in response to the Crusades. The poem recall stories from Jewish historyContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Maoz Tsur מעוז צור (A Mighty Rock)”
Tunes on Tuesday: Nerot Dolkim נרות דולקים (Candles Lit)
Why this tune? I’m sharing a Hanukkah song this week to mark the start of the eight day holiday on the evening of December 7. “Nerot Dolkim” (“Candles Lit”) was written by Hanina Karchevsky and Levin Kipnis, two pioneers of modern Hebrew song in the early 20th century. According to the National Library of Israel,Continue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Nerot Dolkim נרות דולקים (Candles Lit)”
Tunes on Tuesday: Isfahan
Why this tune? This week I’m revisiting “Isfahan,” which I shared in 2021 at around this time of year to mark the birthday of its composer Billy Strayhorn (Nov. 29). I added a piano track to the solo recording that the fine bass player Joel Bennett posted to the long-running Facebook group Jam Of TheContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Isfahan”
Tunes on Tuesday: Thanksgiving With Uncle Rob (2023)
Why this tune? We celebrate Thanksgiving in the US this Thursday, so I’m marking the day with my song for the season, which I wrote in 2011. The version you’re hearing in the video is the 2016 recording with Aaron Myers, which you can find on your favorite streaming services and YouTube. I’m thankful forContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Thanksgiving With Uncle Rob (2023)”
Tunes on Tuesday: Lu Yehi לו יהי (Let It Be)
Why this tune? This week’s song was written 50 years ago, in the midst of the 1973 Yom Kippur War, by the great Israeli poet and songwriter Naomi Shemer. The lyrics started as a Hebrew version of the Beatles’ hit “Let It Be,” but Shemer was persuaded to write her own original melody for herContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Lu Yehi לו יהי (Let It Be)”
Tunes on Tuesday: Yesh Ai Sham (There Is Somewhere)
Why this tune? I spent several years in Israel in the late 1980s and early 90s, and to this day have a strong emotional connection its music. This week’s song, “Yesh Ai Sham,” is one example of the work of Yoni Rechter, a giant of Israeli music, contributing his talents for decades as a composer,Continue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Yesh Ai Sham (There Is Somewhere)”
Tunes on Tuesday: Autumn Leaves
Why this tune? The thermometer here in Washington, DC tells us that it’s truly autumn in our region. That and the falling leaves, which bring to mind this week’s tune “Autumn Leaves.” “The falling leaves…” is the start of Johnny Mercer’s English-language lyrics for the chorus of Joseph Kosma’s melody, a departure from the originalContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Autumn Leaves”
Tunes on Tuesday: Hallmark Movie Marathon
Why this tune? This week’s tune is another collaboration I posted to the FAWM 50/90 community (fawm.org), which closed on October 1. My new songwriting friends David Graham and Vaughan Ray Daniel sent me lyrics for “Hallmark Movie Marathon,” and I took up the challenge of writing a Hallmark-movie worthy pop song around their gentleContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Hallmark Movie Marathon”
Tunes on Tuesday: Longue Maladie
Why this tune? This week’s tune is part of a four-song collection of French tunes I recently recorded with Barbara Papendorp, which we released on September 28 as “Amuse-bouche” under Barbara’s band name “Barbara et les bon vivants.” Barbara introduced me to “Longue Maladie,” which was written and recorded by Michel Delpech, a French singerContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Longue Maladie”
Oren Levine, jazz pianist and songwriter 