Oren Levine

Tunes on Tuesday – For A Tree

Why this tune? This year’s national Arbor Day is on April 24, and I’m celebrating the day original song dedicated to the trees, called For A Tree. This is part of an ongoing project to write songs for holidays that don’t, in my opinion, have enough good ones. I recorded For A Tree at homeContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday – For A Tree”

Tunes on Tuesday – I-95

Why this tune? I’m using this week’s tune to remember the songwriter Adam Schlesinger, one of the too many musicians we have lost recently to the COVID-19 pandemic. I’m most familiar with his work in the brilliant pop band Fountains of Wayne, which he founded with Chris Collingwood in the 1990s. They released several albumsContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday – I-95”

Tunes on Tuesday – An August Day In April

Why this tune? This week I’m celebrating spring with one of my songs. We were visiting friends in Ithaca, NY on a hot April weekend. It was so hot that our friend remarked that it was like “an August day in April.” How could you not write something with a title like that? It’s aContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday – An August Day In April”

Tunes on Tuesday – It Could Happen To You

Why this tune? “It Could Happen To You” is an excellent example of what makes the Great American Songbook great – interesting lyrics and interesting harmonies that are fun to solo on. I’m clearly not the only one who thinks so – this song has about as many instrumental versions as vocal ones. It’s soContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday – It Could Happen To You”

Tunes on Tuesday – Teach Me Tonight

Why this tune? Teach Me Tonight was written in 1953 and became a hit several times in the 1950s, including Dinah Washington’s recording in 1954. It’s been recorded over 250 times and easy to see why – it’s clever, sexy (but not too much), and works for male and female singers. I’ve played it manyContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday – Teach Me Tonight”

Tunes on Tuesday – Alone Together

Why this tune? You’re likely to hear Alone Together at almost any jazz jam session. Like many familiar standards, most of the people playing it probably don’t know the lyrics to the original song, or know that it was written for the musical Flying Colors in 1932. I didn’t know that until I prepared thisContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday – Alone Together”

Tunes on Tuesday – The Heart Says

Why this tune? I got a brunch invitation from a friend, who asked whether I wanted bagels or donuts. I thought “my head wants bagels, but my heart really wants a donut.” I was trained as an engineer, so that struggle between thinking and feeling really resonated, and led to this very personal story aboutContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday – The Heart Says”

Tunes on Tuesday – Peel Me A Grape

Why this tune? I picked “Peel Me A Grape” this week to have an opportunity to talk about the great pianist and songwriter Dave Frishberg. If you’re of a certain age, you may know him from Schoolhouse Rock – he wrote and sang “I’m Just a Bill.” If you’re a bit older, you might knowContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday – Peel Me A Grape”

Tunes on Tuesday – The Old Country

Why this tune? Nancy Wilson’s birthday was on February 20, so I’m marking that date with this song from one of my very favorite albums, Nancy Wilson and Cannonball Adderley from 1962. I love how she brings out the story in the lyrics and adds a snarky edge that really stands out against the cool swing ofContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday – The Old Country”

Tunes On Tuesday – Nine Miles Wide

Welcome to the first edition of Tunes on Tuesday! Every week, I’ll post a short note about an that I wrote or one that influenced or inspired me. I look forward to hearing your comments on the songs and what they might mean to you. Why this tune? It seems appropriate to start the seriesContinue reading “Tunes On Tuesday – Nine Miles Wide”