Tag Archives: jazz piano

Tunes on Tuesday: Always and Forever

Why this tune? Tunes on Tuesday celebrates the birthday of the great
guitarist and composer Pat Metheny with one of
his lovely ballads. He recorded this one on his 1992 album “Secret Story“
in a lush orchestral arrangement. I had planned to play this song this week in any case,
following a chat with another musician at a jamContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Always and Forever”

Tunes on Tuesday: The Last Banana

Why this tune? I just spent an enjoyable weekend at the
Vocal Jazz Summit in Virginia Beach, VA, learning and
connecting with over 80 jazz vocalists from all over. For my spot in the vocal jam session I pulled out
this song, which I wrote in 2024 as a musical apology for a breakfast offense. I was gratifiedContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: The Last Banana”

Tunes on Tuesday: Conversation

Why this tune? I’ve heard from several songwriters that
the best writing is rewriting. I’m following that
principle with this week’s tune. I started working on “Conversation” in February,
when I wrote the first version during a “skirmish”
challenge, writing to a song prompt. I’ve gone back several times to review and
improve the lyrics and the structure. I madeContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Conversation”

Tunes on Tuesday: Road Song

Why this tune? This week’s selection goes back to the standards with “Road Song,” a 1968 tune by Wes Montgomery. It was the title track of his album of that year, a “commercial” project that was also his last album. Montgomery died later that year of a heart attack. The track list includes covers ofContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Road Song”

Tunes on Tuesday: My Dear Acquaintance

Why this tune? This week’s tune was written by legendary singer and composer Peggy Lee, near the end of her 60-year career that included over 250 songs and 1000 recordings. She wrote the song with Paul Horner for an autobiographical musical “Peg” in 1983. The song was dropped from the show, and the show wasContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: My Dear Acquaintance”

Tunes on Tuesday: Hanukkah Time

Why this tune? This week’s tune “Hanukkah Time” is brand new, written earlier the same day as this post and the Tunes on Tuesday video. Songwriters are often asked if the words or the melody come first when writing a song. The answer for this one is neither. This song started with that drum loopContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Hanukkah Time”

Tunes on Tuesday: What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?

Why this tune? This week’s tune is a classic by Frank Loesser that has become one of the standards of the American holiday season. Loesser wrote it as a standalone song in 1947, and it was quickly picked up by performers in a variety of genres. The song was an R&B hit for The OriolesContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?”

Tunes on Tuesday: What Kind of Fool Am I?

Why this tune? This week’s tune is a classic written by Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse in 1962 for the musical “Stop the World – I Want to Get Off.” Sammy Davis Jr. recorded it that same year, scoring a hit record and a Grammy for Song of the Year in 1963. I found theContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: What Kind of Fool Am I?”

Tunes on Tuesday: It Might As Well Be Spring

Why this tune? As the weather gets colder in DC, I turned to an American classic about spring by Rodgers and Hammerstein, written for the 1945 film “State Fair.” “It Might As Well Be Spring” is not really about spring as a season, but as a metaphor for joy and new beginnings. Thereare many otherContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: It Might As Well Be Spring”

Tunes on Tuesday: Stand Right (Election Day 2024)

Why this tune? On this Election Day Tuesday in the USA, I added a new introduction to an old song, hoping to share something we can all agree on. I wrote “Stand Right” soon after returning to Washington, DC in 2010, when I learned about the etiquette expectations on the local subway system. The DCContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Stand Right (Election Day 2024)”