Category Archives: Original music

Why this tune? Sometimes it can take months to write a song, and sometimes it can happen much more quickly. “Free Sailing” was the result of an afternoon at the piano, after I (for some reason) decided to write a be-bop tune. I called the tune “Free Sailing” in part because I started with aContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Free Sailing”

Why this tune? Every year around this time, clouds of dust from the Sahara desert blow across the Atlantic ocean. We just experienced this year’s storm on St. Croix and other Caribbean islands. The resulting haze can be irritating to breathe, but it does have a positive effect of reducing the chance of major hurricanes.Continue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Sahara Dust”

Why this tune? I wrote “Park Road Serenade” in mid-2020, and shared it first in a livestream concert.This was one of the shows sponsored by Mr. Henry’s restaurant in Washington, DC. The tune didn’t yet have a title, so I asked for suggestions from the audience. Ian Taronji proposed the title I used – itContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Park Road Serenade”

Why this tune? In February, I received a Facebook message from Dee Osinski, a songwriter and musician based in St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands. She had heard a livestream I performed in from the Caribbean Museum Center for the Arts on the island, and asked if I could add chords to her newContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Woman On The Moon”

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)”

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”

Why this tune? When I read last week about a rare snowfall in Las Vegas, I was ready with a song. That song, “It’s Snowing In Vegas,” started one evening in our home. We told a group of friends about one of our trips to the West Coast. We drove from Los Angeles to LasContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: It’s Snowing In Vegas”

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”

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”

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”