Why this tune? In honor of Jewish American Heritage Month in the US, this week’s tune is a tribute to one of the many Jewish American composers who helped create the body of work we know as the “Great American Songbook,” source of many of the jazz standards we still play today. Arthur Schwartz, andContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: You and the Night and the Music”
Tag Archives: solo piano
Tunes on Tuesday: Prelude to a Kiss
Why this tune? April 30 is International Jazz Day, established by UNESCO in 2011 to celebrate this BlackAmerican music we call jazz and its role in global diplomacy around the world. The date was chosen in part to honor Duke Ellington, who was born on April 29, 1899. I thought it appropriate to mark theContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Prelude to a Kiss”
Tunes on Tuesday: Two For The Road
Why this tune? This week’s we’re celebrating the 100th birthday of the great composer Henry Mancini with one of my favorite Mancini songs. “Two For The Road” is the title song of a 1967 film directed by Stanley Donen, starring Audrey Hepburn and Albert Finney. This beautiful song has been recorded over 200 times, withContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Two For The Road”
Tunes on Tuesday: Maoz Tsur מעוז צור (A Mighty Rock)
Why this tune? On this fifth day of Hanukkah I’m sharing a contemporary take on the oldest of Hanukkah classics, “Maoz Tsur.” The text is a Jewish liturgical poem that was likely written in Germany in the 13th century, and possibly earlier, perhaps in response to the Crusades. The poem recall stories from Jewish historyContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Maoz Tsur מעוז צור (A Mighty Rock)”
Tunes on Tuesday: Nerot Dolkim נרות דולקים (Candles Lit)
Why this tune? I’m sharing a Hanukkah song this week to mark the start of the eight day holiday on the evening of December 7. “Nerot Dolkim” (“Candles Lit”) was written by Hanina Karchevsky and Levin Kipnis, two pioneers of modern Hebrew song in the early 20th century. According to the National Library of Israel,Continue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Nerot Dolkim נרות דולקים (Candles Lit)”
Tunes on Tuesday: Lu Yehi לו יהי (Let It Be)
Why this tune? This week’s song was written 50 years ago, in the midst of the 1973 Yom Kippur War, by the great Israeli poet and songwriter Naomi Shemer. The lyrics started as a Hebrew version of the Beatles’ hit “Let It Be,” but Shemer was persuaded to write her own original melody for herContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Lu Yehi לו יהי (Let It Be)”
Tunes on Tuesday: Yesh Ai Sham (There Is Somewhere)
Why this tune? I spent several years in Israel in the late 1980s and early 90s, and to this day have a strong emotional connection its music. This week’s song, “Yesh Ai Sham,” is one example of the work of Yoni Rechter, a giant of Israeli music, contributing his talents for decades as a composer,Continue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Yesh Ai Sham (There Is Somewhere)”
Tunes on Tuesday: Autumn Leaves
Why this tune? The thermometer here in Washington, DC tells us that it’s truly autumn in our region. That and the falling leaves, which bring to mind this week’s tune “Autumn Leaves.” “The falling leaves…” is the start of Johnny Mercer’s English-language lyrics for the chorus of Joseph Kosma’s melody, a departure from the originalContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Autumn Leaves”
Tunes on Tuesday: Peace
Why this tune? This week’s tune is another jazz classic, the beautiful ballad “Peace” written by Horace Silver in 1959. Silver would have celebrated his 95th birthday this week (Sept. 2). He was a pioneer of “hard bop” in the 1950s and 60s and wrote many tunes that have become jazz standards, like “Song ForContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Peace”
Tunes on Tuesday: All The Things You Are
Why this tune? I’m returning to the standards this week with another tune I’ve been working to add to my repertoire of songs I can play in any key. I shared my version of the most popular jazz standard “Body and Soul” a few weeks ago. This week it’s the runner-up, “All The Things YouContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: All The Things You Are”
Oren Levine, jazz pianist and songwriter 