Tag Archives: jazz

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: Are You Out Of Your Mind?

Why this tune? This week’s song is also the title of a cabaret revue I’m presenting at the new District Fringe festival this month
in Washington, DC. I put together a bunch of my songs (and two covers) to
create a narrative that explores our relationships with our 
friends, our partners and ourselves. I invited Barbara PapendorpContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Are You Out Of Your Mind?”

Tunes on Tuesday: Nothing To Say

Why this tune? This week’s tune comes from another rehearsal,
for a show on June 26, 2025 at the Lamond-Riggs
public library in Washington, DC. Vicki Golding, Percy White and I are playing 
”Nothing To Say,” which I wrote first in 2021 as a
way out of writer’s block. I wrote one verse then, turning a story aboutContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Nothing To Say”

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: I Will Wait For You

Why this tune? In honor of Bastille Day, which our French friends just celebrated on July 14, this week’s tune highlights a French composer. Michel Legrand wrote “I Will Wait For You” for the 1964 musical “The Umbrellas of Cherbourg,” and it quickly joined the jazz and pop canon alongside many of his other songs.Continue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: I Will Wait For You”

Tunes on Tuesday: The Changes

Why this tune? I’m continuing the song-a-day challenge I started at the beginning of January, managingto write at least part of a song every day. Today’s contribution is “The Changes,” which started from another phrase on my song ideas list: “sending more condolence cards thanwedding wishes.” That led to this self-referential tune about aging asContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: The Changes”

Tunes on Tuesday: Let Go

Why this tune? I’m starting the new year with a challenge, to write a song a day (or at least part ofone) through January. This challenge is hosted by Sarah Gulish and Kat Reinhert of “Songwriting for ME.” They provide resources and support for music educators who want to write music and teach those skillsContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Let Go”