Oren Levine

Tunes On Tuesday: Caravan

Why this tune? As our COVID crisis continues, I’m thinking back to the regular gigs we enjoyed before the virus, like the monthly dates at Mr. Henry’s in Washington, DC with Aaron Myers and his band: with Percy White on bass and Will Stephens on drums. One instrumental we used to call regularly was Caravan,Continue reading “Tunes On Tuesday: Caravan”

Tunes On Tuesday: If I Were A Bell

Why this tune? If you’re a jazz fan, you may know If I Were A Bell as that Miles Davis tune from one of his great 1956 sessions for Prestige Records. Like so many jazz standards, though, it’s a song from a musical, in this case Guys and Dolls, written by the great Frank Loesser.Continue reading “Tunes On Tuesday: If I Were A Bell”

Tunes on Tuesday – St. Thomas

Why this tune? I’m writing this from St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands. We heard a jazz concert here on one of our first visits, and weren’t surprised when the band closed the set with “St. Thomas,” named for another island in the VI. We associate the tune with Sonny Rollins, who recorded itContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday – St. Thomas”

Tunes on Tuesday – Alternative Facts

Why this tune? I have been working with the International Center for Journalists for several years on projects supporting independent journalism and countering disinformation. When I heard a government official talk about “Alternative Facts” on the news, that moved me off the couch and to the piano to start writing a response. I call thisContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday – Alternative Facts”

Tunes on Tuesday – Route 66

Why this tune? You must have heard “Route 66” – that iconic song about driving that highway “from Chicago to LA.” Perhaps it was during that little movie about cars in 2006, which included two versions of the song on the soundtrack, by Chuck Berry and John Mayer. The first version I remember hearing wasContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday – Route 66”

Tunes on Tuesday – Here, There and Everywhere

Why this tune? My late father Mel grew up in Boston with the jazz cornetist Ruby Braff, a great player in the Dixieland and swing tradition who passed in 2003. I remember my father playing his version of Here, There, and Everywhere when I was growing up in the mid-1970s. It’s from a 1973 albumContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday – Here, There and Everywhere”

Tunes on Tuesday – I Believe In Rhubarb

Why this tune? Spring means gardening, which in my case was the inspiration for my first song with lyrics, “I Believe In Rhubarb.” If you’ve heard me perform this with Barbara Papendorp and others, you’re heard the story – I mentioned to a friend that my wife doesn’t like rhubarb, and in fact doesn’t believeContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday – I Believe In Rhubarb”

Tunes on Tuesday – They Say It’s Spring

Why this tune? “They Say It’s Spring” could apply to the weather here in the Washington DC area this year, where the warmth of spring has been late to arrive. It’s really about much more than that, a spring song that’s not about spring at all. The tune was written for Blossom Dearie, who recordedContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday – They Say It’s Spring”

Tunes on Tuesday – All The Things You Are

Why this tune? Today’s tune was inspired by the new album from Aimee Nolte, a pianist, singer and songwriter from California. She sings a lovely version of All The Things You Are, which as a jazz player I’m most familiar with from jam sessions, where it’s a very popular choice. It’s a pleasure to hearContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday – All The Things You Are”

Tunes on Tuesday – All You Need To Say (Never Say Yes)

Why this tune? “Never Say Yes” is one of my favorite instrumental tracks from one of my favorite albums, the classic “Nancy Wilson/Cannonball Adderley” session I mentioned in an earlier Tunes On Tuesday. This vocal version, “All You Need To Say”, comes from Karrin Allyson’s 2006 album Footprints, featuring classic bop tunes with superb lyricsContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday – All You Need To Say (Never Say Yes)”