Tag: Jerome Kern
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On Writing and Storytelling: After the Dance Ends…(an Excerpt from ‘Reunion: Coda’)
Here’s a moment from Reunion: Coda that I’ve always loved for its simplicity and emotional precision. It’s the third and final vignette in the chapter where Jim Garraty meets Maddie at the Moonglow nightclub — the point where their quiet chemistry finally gathers enough momentum to feel like the start of something real. It’s a…
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Sunday Serenade: Songs and Compositions I Enjoy
Midday/Early Afternoon, Sunday, January 5, 2025, Miami, Florida Hi, everyone. Well, while I am feeling a bit better today, I’m still under the weather. So, instead of the usual narrative blog post or occasional review, here’s a selection of music from YouTube for this first Sunday of 2025! Enjoy!
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Saturday Serenade: Some of My Favorite Piano Pieces*
Midday/Early Afternoon, Saturday, January 4, 2025, Miami, Florida * Including piano transcriptions of orchestral compositions. Hi, everyone. I’m feeling a bit better today, but still dealing with a persistent cold. I’m exhausted from the symptoms and medication. Instead of my usual long blog post, here are some of my favorite piano performances. Enjoy!
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Music Album Review: Dame Kiri Te Kanawa Shines in Kiri Sings Kern
Kiri Sings Kern (1993) Label: Angel/EMI Records Genre: Crossover/Standards Artists: Kiri Te Kanawa (Soprano), London Sinfonietta (Orchestra), Jonathan Tunick (Conductor/Arranger) Release Date: March 16, 1993 Jerome Kern (1885-1945) remains one of the most influential composers in American popular music. Alongside legends like Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, Cole Porter, and Richard Rodgers, the New York-born Kern…
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A Late Week Musicfest (Inspired by a Facebook Exchange with Frank)
On a Thursday afternoon, my friend Frank and I discussed Taylor Swift’s music on Facebook. I respect her talents and support for Kamala Harris, but her music isn’t my thing. I prefer older pop/rock, jazz, Broadway, classical, folk and country, and even international tracks like “La vie en rose” by Edith Piaf.
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Weekend Musical Interlude, Sunday, September 3, 2023
Early Afternoon, Sunday, September 3, 2023, Lithia, Florida Hi, everyone. Well, here we are on the second day of the long Labor Day weekend, and it’s a hot third day of both the new month and the new (meteorological) autumn season. Here in the Tampa Bay area, the weather is still summer-like, although if my…
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On Music & Melodies: A Loving Look at ‘All the Things You Are’
If you’re a regular visitor to this space (Thank you for that, by the way.), you may have noticed that I have developed an affinity for the song “All the Things You Are.” Originally written in 1939 by composer Jerome Kern and lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II for the Broadway musical Very Warm for May, “All…
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On Music: Melodies to Chase Away the Dreaded Mid-July Blues
Late Morning, Wednesday, July 12, 2023, Lithia, Florida Hi, there. I’m off to a later-than-usual start on this hot (88°F/31°C) summer day in the Tampa Bay area. I slept OK, I guess, but I haven’t felt like writing anything (not for the blog, not for the manuscript) till just now. I’m still tired, stressed, and,…
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On Music – Songs, Instrumental Pieces, and Themes For a Hot June Sunday in Florida
I still (as of this writing) have not chosen a “fun activity” to enjoy on this hot, humid, and unexciting Sunday afternoon, so I figured I’d use the time to be somewhat creative and do one of those “YouTube Music Video” blog posts I sometimes share on this space. There’s no rhyme or reason to…
A Certain Point of View, Too 