Why this tune? Johnny Mercer’s lyrics for I Thought About You were inspired by a trip on a train. My lyrics for Snow Day were inspired by a trip on a bus, on a snowy day in Washington, DC, listening to music on my phone. That image became the first line of the song, whichContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Snow Day”
Author Archives: Oren Levine
Tunes on Tuesday: Banu Choshech Legaresh
Why this tune? Today is the fifth day of Hanukkah, so I’m staying on the subject of Hanukkah songs. This year I’m releasing instrumental versions of eight Hanukkah songs, one for each day of the festival of lights. For day five, I recorded an original arrangement of one of the classic Hebrew songs for theContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Banu Choshech Legaresh”
Tunes on Tuesday: Hanukkah Light
Why this tune? Hanukkah starts this week on Thursday night. At this time of year in 2009, I heard that Senator Orrin Hatch had written and recorded a Hanukkah song. I thought that if a Mormon senator (with a name close to mine!) can write one, I could write a better one. Hanukkah Light wasContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Hanukkah Light”
Tunes on Tuesday: I Thought About You
Why this tune? On this Giving Tuesday, here’s a song with an appropriate title for today’s focus on generosity and kindness. “I Thought About You” is another song by Jimmy Van Heusen and Johnny Mercer written in 1939, that became a popular jazz standard by the late 50s with classic recordings by Billie Holiday, EllaContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: I Thought About You”
Tunes on Tuesday: Thanksgiving With Uncle Rob
Why this tune? We celebrate Thanksgiving in the US this Thursday, and like so many other events this year, I expect many people will be celebrating virtually or in small groups due to the ongoing pandemic. I know my joy in the holiday is mixed with sadness about the traditions we may not be ableContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Thanksgiving With Uncle Rob”
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.