Author Archives: Oren Levine

Tunes on Tuesday: Always and Forever

Why this tune? Tunes on Tuesday celebrates the birthday of the great
guitarist and composer Pat Metheny with one of
his lovely ballads. He recorded this one on his 1992 album “Secret Story“
in a lush orchestral arrangement. I had planned to play this song this week in any case,
following a chat with another musician at a jamContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Always and Forever”

Tunes on Tuesday: Googling My Ex

Why this tune? I’ve had an exciting and busy week performing my revue “Are you out of your mind?” with Barbara Papendorp at the District Fringe festival in Washington, DC. The show includes a bunch of my songs plus one from Dave Frishberg and this week’s song by Jill Leger, an accomplished songwriter currently livingContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Googling My Ex”

Tunes on Tuesday: Are You Out Of Your Mind?

Why this tune? This week’s song is also the title of a cabaret revue I’m presenting at the new District Fringe festival this month
in Washington, DC. I put together a bunch of my songs (and two covers) to
create a narrative that explores our relationships with our 
friends, our partners and ourselves. I invited Barbara PapendorpContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Are You Out Of Your Mind?”

Tunes on Tuesday: Nothing To Say

Why this tune? This week’s tune comes from another rehearsal,
for a show on June 26, 2025 at the Lamond-Riggs
public library in Washington, DC. Vicki Golding, Percy White and I are playing 
”Nothing To Say,” which I wrote first in 2021 as a
way out of writer’s block. I wrote one verse then, turning a story aboutContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Nothing To Say”

Tunes on Tuesday: Short Term Memory Loss Blues

Why this tune? This week’s tune comes from a rehearsal with 
Tony Gudell for his show at Alfio’s (just outside DC)
on June 21, 2025. It’s a fun song written by the late composer and
screenwriter Ray Jessel, who passed in 2015. Jessel had a very successful career writing musicals
and TV shows, and started performing his own
comedyContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Short Term Memory Loss Blues”

Tunes on Tuesday: The Last Banana

Why this tune? I just spent an enjoyable weekend at the
Vocal Jazz Summit in Virginia Beach, VA, learning and
connecting with over 80 jazz vocalists from all over. For my spot in the vocal jam session I pulled out
this song, which I wrote in 2024 as a musical apology for a breakfast offense. I was gratifiedContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: The Last Banana”

Tunes on Tuesday: Conversation

Why this tune? I’ve heard from several songwriters that
the best writing is rewriting. I’m following that
principle with this week’s tune. I started working on “Conversation” in February,
when I wrote the first version during a “skirmish”
challenge, writing to a song prompt. I’ve gone back several times to review and
improve the lyrics and the structure. I madeContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Conversation”

Tunes on Tuesday: Can’t Take You Nowhere

Why this tune? I’m preparing for my show tonight at Washington’s 
Blues Alley club, where I’ve prepared a set of
original songs and tunes by others that have
inspired me. Many of my songs are influenced by the work
of the late, great Dave Frishberg, so I had
to include one Frishberg tune in the show. If you grewContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Can’t Take You Nowhere”

Tunes on Tuesday: Rubato

Why this tune? This week’s song is another one I have been
”polishing” since I wrote the first version in January. Since then I added a bridge, cleaned up the
melody, and made some improvements to the lyric. Every revision has been better than the last,
and closer to what I’d consider “finished.” As I wrote in January,Continue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Rubato”