Tunes on Tuesday: Airegin
Why this tune? Sonny Rollins wrote “Airegin” (“Nigeria” backwards) in 1954, and recorded it first with Miles Davis and his band. I drew on the version on Miles’ 1957 “Bags Groove” album for mypiano track. The first version I heard of the tune couldn’t be more different. That was Maynard Ferguson’s loud, fast big bandContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Airegin”
Tunes on Tuesday: Bye Bye Blackbird
Why this tune? Bye Bye Blackbird is one of the oldest songs we still play as jazz standards, first recorded in 1926. I expect most jazz fans today will be more with Miles Davis’ 1957 interpretation and later recordings than the first versions from the likes of San Lanin and Nick Lucas “The Crooning Troubadour.”Continue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Bye Bye Blackbird”
Tunes on Tuesday: When The Morning Comes (lyrics video)
Why this tune? “ “When The Morning Comes” encourages us to welcome the chance for a new start on a new day. I wrote it after a period of writer’s block, taking inspiration from the early hour. You can hear it on my 2018 album “Making Up For Lost Time,” featuring Aaron Myers’ vocals andContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: When The Morning Comes (lyrics video)”
Tunes on Tuesday: You Are Too Beautiful
Why this tune? “You Are Too Beautiful” is another classic from the “Great American Songbook,” written by Rodgers and Hart the 1933 film “Hallelujah, I’m a Bum,” where it was sung by Al Jolson. The film was an experiment in “rhythmic dialogue,” where all of the lines in the script were sung in time. TheContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: You Are Too Beautiful”
Tunes on Tuesday: Dirty Work
Why this tune? I recorded a solo piano cover of Steely Dan’s Dirty Work in 2017, after the death of Walter Becker, half of the duo at the core of the group. I grew up listening to and loving Steely Dan, but usually have paid more attention to their to the music than their words.Continue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Dirty Work”
Tunes on Tuesday: On A Slow Boat To China
Why this tune? Frank Loesser’s 1948 song “On A Slow Boat To China” was inspired by a phrase used by poker players, according to his daughter Susan. He crafted a romantic story about a lover wishing to take her mate on the longest trip imaginable, to keep her “all to myself, alone.” This 70-year oldContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: On A Slow Boat To China”
Tunes on Tuesday: On All Other Nights
Why this tune? I wrote “On All Other Nights” before Passover 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic forced us to conduct our holiday seder meals virtually. The song was inspired by a question we ask at the seder: “Why is this night different from all other nights?” When I wrote the song, I was convinced thatContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: On All Other Nights”
Tunes on Tuesday: Speak Low
Why this tune? “Speak Low” is an another popular jazz standard that started as a song for a show, in this case the 1943 musical “One Touch of Venus,” As you might expect for a song by Kurt Weill with lyrics by Ogden Nash, it’s a musical and lyrical masterpiece. Nash’s lyrics are clever andContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Speak Low”
Tunes on Tuesday: Theme In Search Of A Jam
Why this tune? In 2012 I wrote the “18th Street Theme” for the DC Jazz Jam, which we played regularly to close this weekly jazz jam session in Washington, DC. I wrote another theme a few years later, but this time with no session as a customer. That led to the title “Theme in SearchContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Theme In Search Of A Jam”
Tunes on Tuesday: Biggest Part Of Me
Why this tune? “Biggest Part Of Me” was a huge hit for the band Ambrosia in 1980, reaching number 27 in the year-end pop singles chart. That year’s chart also included “Rock With You” by Michael Jackson and “Funkytown,” plus many other songs you still may hear on oldies radio or as background music inContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Biggest Part Of Me”
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