Why this tune? This week I’m previewing the lovely lyrics video for “Island In The Sea,” which you can see this Friday 3/25 at 10 AM EDT on my YouTube channel, when the song is released on all major (and some minor) streaming services. “Island” is in part a love song to my favorite islandContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Island In The Sea”
Category Archives: Original music
Tunes on Tuesday: Pi Day
Why this tune? I’m publishing Tunes On Tuesday on Monday this week to celebrate Pi Day (3.14), the annual celebration of our favorite mathematical constant and the food it inspires. I wrote my musical tribute in 2015, a more special Pi Day when the year filled out another two digits (3.14.15). I was a bitContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Pi Day”
Tunes on Tuesday: Snowfall
Why this tune? When you’re looking for inspiration for a new song, there’s always the weather. This song was inspired by the snowstorm that blanketed Washington, DC earlier this month. I saw an opportunity to try out some creative ways to describe the snow in words and music, and capture some of the sense ofContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Snowfall”
Tunes on Tuesday: Next Slide
Why this tune? Sometimes the journey from idea to completed song is fast and direct. This week’s tune was one of those. It was triggered by a presenter on yet another online work meeting calling for the “next slide.” That reminded me of the countless slide decks I prepared and presented over my long technologyContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Next Slide”
Tunes on Tuesday: Bend Don’t Break
Why this tune? This week’s tune is another work in progress, a song inspired by our island second home of St. Croix, which I’m planning to record with a talented group of musicians from the island. “Bend Don’t Break” encourages us to face our problems and challenges with flexibility, taking inspiration from the palm trees,Continue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Bend Don’t Break”
Tunes on Tuesday: Mi Yimalel
Why this tune? Last year around this time I released a collection of eight short interpretations of Hanukkah songs, one for each of the eight days of the Festival of Lights. The oldest arrangement in the collection is one I’ve played with for several years, a jazz version of the Hanukkah classic Mi Yimalel (מיContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Mi Yimalel”
Tunes on Tuesday: Thanksgiving With Uncle Rob (2021)
Why this tune? I wrote this week’s tune ten years ago around this time, as part of an effort to write songs for holidays that need (in my opinion) more musical attention. I was inspired by the holidays we spent over the years with my late uncle Rob and his sister Nora (my late father’sContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Thanksgiving With Uncle Rob (2021)”
Tunes on Tuesday: A Little Late
Why this tune? I was late in planning for this week’s Tune, so it’s no surprise that I chose a song about just that condition. The inspiration for the song was a phrase “A little late, a little lame” which I heard somewhere sometime and wrote down in my file of words and phrases forContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: A Little Late”
Tunes on Tuesday: Nothing To Say
Why this tune? I was determined to write a new song for this week’s Tunes On Tuesday, but ran into a problem. I couldn’t come up with an idea for a song. I tried starting with a couple ofphrases I had in my notebook, but they were not sparking any good ideas. That left oneContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Nothing To Say”
Tunes on Tuesday: Be Free
Why this tune? I wrote this week’s tune in 2018 for the Lucky So & Sos, the latin/ jazz/ funk/ hip-hop ensemble I wrote about back in September before our show at the Capital Cider House. Now that the band has been reactivated I hope to perform it live with the group in the DCContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Be Free”
Oren Levine, jazz pianist and composer 