Oren Levine

Tunes on Tuesday: Body and Soul

Why this tune? I was happy to find that I share a birthday, November 21, with Coleman Hawkins, one of the pioneers of the tenor sax as a true jazz instrument. One of his most famous recordings is his revolutionary 1939 solo on Body and Soul, a 1930 ballad by Johnny Green. The NPR criticContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Body and Soul”

Tunes on Tuesday: Your Mind Is On Vacation

Why this tune? There’s certainly no shortage of news and opinions about what’s going on in the world, and it’s easier than ever to hear from many different voices from many places. That’s a mixed blessing, of course, since there’s also no shortage of nonsense mixed in with more useful information. I found one wayContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Your Mind Is On Vacation”

Tunes on Tuesday: Have A Good Time

Why this tune? I noticed that yesterday was the birthday of the great also sax player Phil Woods. That reminded me of the first time I heard him, not on one of his many jazz recordings, but playing a solo at the end of Paul Simon’s song “Have A Good Time” from his classic 1975Continue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Have A Good Time”

Tunes on Tuesday: Ain’t It The Truth

Why this tune? Over the past few years, I’ve heard plenty of things on the news that made me angry. In two cases, I turned that indignation into inspiration and channeled that feeling into a song. The first was “Alternative Facts”, which I recorded on my album Making Up For Lost Time in 2018. TheContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Ain’t It The Truth”

“Ain’t It The Truth” available October 29!

Mark your calendar for the October 29 release of “Ain’t It The Truth,” a new song featuring the performance and producing talents of Carolyn Malachi, a DC-based, GRAMMY-nominated musician / producer / engineer.

Tunes on Tuesday: Stella By Starlight

Why this tune? When jazz musicians call out “Stella,” they’re not quoting Marlon Brando, but calling “Stella By Starlight,” a tune from a 1944 movie that has become a top 10 standard in the jazz world. It’s one of the first standards I learned to play by heart, and a regular feature at jazz jamContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Stella By Starlight”

Tunes on Tuesday: Ask Me Now

Why this tune? We’re just past the birthday of Thelonious Monk on October 10, a reminder that it’s always a good idea to spend some time with his music. One of my favorite Monk tunes is “Ask Me Now,” a lovely ballad he first recorded in 1951. As you might expect, many other players haveContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Ask Me Now”

Tunes on Tuesday: When The Morning Comes

Why this tune? With everything that’s going on around us, I’d like to offer an optimistic song this week that I hope can provide a bit of sunlight in these stormy times. I went through a period of mild writer’s block a few years ago. After going several months without writing any new songs, myContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: When The Morning Comes”

Tunes on Tuesday: Never Will I Marry

Why this tune? Frank Loesser wrote “Never Will I Marry” for the 1960 musical “Greenwillow.” I can see why the lyrics can sound odd today – Anthony Perkins sang it as a sad ballad about his desire to break his family curse, where (thanks Wikipedia) “the eldest in each generation of Briggs men must obeyContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Never Will I Marry”

Tunes on Tuesday: Autumn Leaves

Why this tune? Today (September 22, 2020) is the autumnal equinox, the first official day of the autumn season. The cool autumn weather has also arrived in Washington, DC, making this a good time to feature one of the most famous songs of the season, “Autumn Leaves.” I perform this regularly with Barbara Papendorp, whoContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Autumn Leaves”