Why this tune? I wrote “Island In the Sea” in 2016, inspired by the time we spent on the lovely Caribbean island of St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands. The singer invites their partner to get away from the rush and action of the city and travel to “a sunset shore under starry skies.”Continue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Island In The Sea”
Category Archives: Original music
Tunes on Tuesday: Fall In Boston
Why this tune? This week’s tune is a jazz waltz I wrote in 2008, which was originally supposed to have lyrics. I was trying to describe the sight and sounds of autumn in the Boston area where we lived. I worked on the lyrics for a while, but found that they were just not workingContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Fall In Boston”
Tunes on Tuesday: Sunday Night Blues
Why this tune? This song started as a request from a friend, who wanted a song to express the dread she felt on Sunday evenings, thinking of the busy work week starting the next day. According to an article by Angela Haupt in the Washington Post, the “Sunday scaries” have been a thing for years,Continue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Sunday Night Blues”
Tunes on Tuesday: Free Sailing
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”
Tunes on Tuesday: Sahara Dust
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”
Tunes on Tuesday: Park Road Serenade
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”
Tunes on Tuesday: Woman On The Moon
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”
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: 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: It’s Snowing In Vegas
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”
