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Oren Levine

@ohljazz.com

I write songs and play jazz piano. 2023 ASCAP Foundation Bergman Lyric Awardee. Based in St Croix USVI

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09.02.2024
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Latest posts by Oren Levine @ohljazz.com

Love this headline from @404media.co "AI is African Intelligence"

13.03.2026 03:07 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Tunes on Tuesday: Island in the Sea Why this tune? I’m delighted to welcome my friend and long-time musical collaborator Aaron Myers to St. Croix this week for a concert at the Caribbean Museum Center for the Arts in Frederikst…

For #TunesOnTuesday this week I'm revisiting my 2021 release "Island in the Sea" in honor of Aaron Myers' visit to St. Croix this week for a concert at CMCArts. Find the complete video at lnkd.in/eS4f2hJm
ohljazz.com/2026/03/10/t...

10.03.2026 19:23 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Tunes on Tuesday: Reflections Why this tune? I’m taking a break from the original songs this week to share Thelonious Monk’s lovely ballad β€œReflections.” Monk recorded it at least twice, with a band in 1…

#TunesOnTuesday takes a break from the original songs this week to share Thelonious Monk's beautiful "Reflections" ohljazz.com/2026/03/03/t... #JazzSky #jazzpiano #solopiano

03.03.2026 22:01 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

My ongoing thesis is that a ton of people have no memory, personal or cultural, of how bad things can be in a country, because we've had such a good run post-WW2 and the Greatest Generation has mostly passed away.

28.02.2026 10:06 πŸ‘ 45 πŸ” 8 πŸ’¬ 4 πŸ“Œ 0
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β€œOur nation is back β€” bigger, better, richer and stronger than ever before,” President Trump said to start his #SOTU address.

πŸ“ŠπŸ‘€ But what does the data say? See it all here: bit.ly/3OxrLC6

25.02.2026 02:16 πŸ‘ 119 πŸ” 36 πŸ’¬ 13 πŸ“Œ 4
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Tunes on Tuesday: Breathing In Time Why this tune? This week’s song is the third iteration of β€œBreathing In Time,” which I wrote first on January 19 this year during my song-a-day challenge. I added a bridge for thi…

#TunesOnTuesday shares the third iteration of "Breathing In Time," which started during my January song-a-day challenge this year. #songwriting #songwriter #JazzSky #rewriting ohljazz.com/2026/02/24/t...

24.02.2026 18:33 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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How to stop a dictator I spent months studying how authoritarians like Trump lose. The answer is shockingly simple.

I spent months studying how authoritarians like Trump lose. The answer is shockingly simple. www.vox.com/politics/479...

23.02.2026 11:28 πŸ‘ 24 πŸ” 10 πŸ’¬ 3 πŸ“Œ 0
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Hello! You've Been Referred Here Because You're Wrong About Section 230 Of The Communications Decency Act Hello! Someone has referred you to this post because you’ve said something quite wrong about Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. I apologize if it feels a bit cold and rude to resp…

I just read Bob Hoffman's latest Ad Contrarian newsletter promoting the repeal of the famous Section 230 typeagroupllc.cmail19.com/t/d-e-gdhuuu...
It's as a good a reason as any to share this essential explanation from @techdirt.com about why that's a very bad idea www.techdirt.com/2020/06/23/h...

22.02.2026 20:49 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Thursday, February 19, 2026 - Part 2 Part 2 - Neville James is joined by Oren Levine and Melinda DeRocker as they discuss the upcoming performance of Oren Levine and friends at the Galleon.

It was a thrill to join Melinda De Rocker for a chat with Neville James on the radio at WTJX on St Croix, sharing our stories and music before our show at the Galleon on island on Feb. 21 www.podbean.com/ew/pb-hyr4g-... #JazzSky

20.02.2026 16:07 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Thanks for sharing this!

16.02.2026 01:32 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Ellis was over the top, but maybe less so in the context of the 1970s. I'm old enough to have seen Maynard Ferguson live in about 1978. Nowhere near as adventurous musically but Maynard was also a larger than life character to say the least

16.02.2026 01:29 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

As a songwriter I love it when other artists play my songs. Always interesting to see another interpretation and learn how the song speaks to them.

16.02.2026 01:05 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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A White Historian Claimed That Black People 'Had No History.' This Trailblazing Scholar Dedicated His Life to Proving Otherwise Carter G. Woodson, the "father of Black history," founded the celebration now known as Black History Month in 1926. A prolific writer and activist, he viewed his efforts to educate the public as a "li...

A White Historian Claimed That Black People β€˜Had No History.’ This Trailblazing Scholar Dedicated His Life to Proving Otherwise

Carter G. Woodson, the β€œfather of Black history,” founded the celebration now known as #BlackHistoryMonth in 1926.
www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-...

11.02.2026 21:23 πŸ‘ 60 πŸ” 28 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 1

As @brunojnavarro.bsky.social asks, Why, given the reality of the role, should ICE officers be armed at all?

11.02.2026 00:26 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Tunes on Tuesday: The Muse Knows Why this tune? This week’s song is another example of revisiting and rewriting. I wrote the first version of β€œThe Muse Knows” in 2021. I wasn’t very happy with it after I wr…

#TunesOnTuesday shares another adventure in rewriting. I wrote the first version of "The Muse Knows" in 2021 and wasn't very happy with it. After several attempts over the years I found a better song for that title last month. #songwriting #songwriter ohljazz.com/2026/02/10/t...

10.02.2026 21:52 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Great summary, especially that detail about the PR flag. We just moved to the US Virgin Islands, so feeling a neighborhood connection to Bad Bunny's show

10.02.2026 13:50 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Reminds me of the time I had the privilege to meet the late Alan Bergman, who told us how much he respected "Johnny Williams'" talent for writing great melodies. Thanks for the book recommendation!

08.02.2026 14:38 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

for more about the "Biblical case for border security"

and about the political philosophy motivating religious zealots like Mike Johnson and what makes them see the world this way and seek power in it

i spent 3 years writing a book about the movement he's part of

bookshop.org/p/books/wild...

04.02.2026 14:51 πŸ‘ 177 πŸ” 58 πŸ’¬ 9 πŸ“Œ 1
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Tunes on Tuesday: The Smile In Your Eyes Why this tune? I had a very successful January song-a-day challenge, completing 28 songs in the 31 days (I took a few days off because of ill health). Now I’m starting the longer process of r…

#TunesOnTuesday shares version 2 of "The Smile In Your Eyes" from last month's challenge. After the writing comes the rewriting... #songwriter #songwriting #rewriting ohljazz.com/2026/02/03/t...

03.02.2026 20:41 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Ethnic Cleansing in Ohio? Nazi Lies in Vance's America

In Springfield, Ohio, people are preparing in advance of a β€œlarge deportation” promised by the president. To all appearances, the city is 2 or 3 days from a federal ethnic cleansing, grounded in a hate campaign organized by the vice-president and American Nazis.
snyder.substack.com/p/ethnic-cle...

02.02.2026 01:09 πŸ‘ 1662 πŸ” 803 πŸ’¬ 50 πŸ“Œ 53
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Accountability for ICE and CBP However bad you think the corruption and misconduct at ICE and CBP is β€” the reality is far far worse.

I testified Friday before Gov. Pritzker's commission studying abuses of ICE and CBP and tried to explain how the agencies went so far off track. It's actually way worse than I ever realized. Please read and share my testimony as Congress considers reform: www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/accountabi...

01.02.2026 17:02 πŸ‘ 2832 πŸ” 1230 πŸ’¬ 60 πŸ“Œ 141
Broken Screen (January 2026 song-a-day challenge Day 31)
Broken Screen (January 2026 song-a-day challenge Day 31) YouTube video by Oren Levine

The last day (!) of my January song-a-day challenge organized by Songwriting for Music Educators. "Broken Screen" started as a writing exercise. This is the second version of the lyrics #songwriter #songwriting youtube.com/shorts/za486...

31.01.2026 22:40 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
A New Song (January 2026 song-a-day challenge Day 30)
A New Song (January 2026 song-a-day challenge Day 30) YouTube video by Oren Levine

Day 30 of my January song-a-day challenge. It's my first day in my new music space on St. Croix, which of course inspired a song. Thanks to Cole Porter's "It's All Right With Me" for giving me the starting point. #songwriter #songwriting #JazzSky youtube.com/shorts/9qFDw...

30.01.2026 22:29 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Mama Don't Cuss (January song-a-day challenge Day 29)
Mama Don't Cuss (January song-a-day challenge Day 29) YouTube video by Oren Levine

Day 29 of my January song-a-day challenge (lots of writing yesterday but no recording). "Mama Don't Cuss" started with a Bluesky post reading "Auntie don't cuss at the AI." I liked the concept but thought "mama" scanned better as a lyric #songwriter #songwriting youtube.com/shorts/6iL8f...

30.01.2026 00:36 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Leave a Fresh Footprint (January 2026 song-a-day challenge Day 27)
Leave a Fresh Footprint (January 2026 song-a-day challenge Day 27) YouTube video by Oren Levine

Day 27 of my January song-a-day challenge. "Leave a Fresh Footprint" was inspired by a remark from a friend while shoveling snow: "When your snow reminds you of your childhood and your muscles remind you of your age" #songwriter #songwriting youtube.com/shorts/AL7sp...

27.01.2026 22:48 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
The Power of a Rainbow (January 2026 song-a-day challenge Day 26)
The Power of a Rainbow (January 2026 song-a-day challenge Day 26) YouTube video by Oren Levine

Day 26 of my January song-a-day challenge. I saw a rainbow this morning, which led to "The Power of a Rainbow" (following today's song form prompt from Kat and Sarah at Songwriting for Music Educators!) #songwriting #songwriter youtube.com/shorts/PZxzs...

27.01.2026 00:00 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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"ICE 101" β€” How Trump changed ICE and CBP into a fascist secret police ICE and CBP are fatally flawed products of the post-9/11 War on Terror β€” now Trump has weaponized those very flaws to occupy America.

Curious why ICE and CBP agents are so brutal? Here's a useful explainer I wrote last week, before Saturday's outrageous murder, about how uniquely unsuited ICE and CBP are for this momentβ€”and why they were so corruptible into Trump's own fascist secret police: www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/ice-101-ho...

25.01.2026 15:24 πŸ‘ 1236 πŸ” 508 πŸ’¬ 56 πŸ“Œ 76
Leave a Little Mystery (January 2026 song-a-day challenge Day 25)
Leave a Little Mystery (January 2026 song-a-day challenge Day 25) YouTube video by Oren Levine

Day 25 of my January song-a-day challenge. The feel for "Leave a Little Mystery" was inspired by a tasty Billy Higgins drum loop from drumgenius. #songwriter #songwriting youtube.com/shorts/zTWyt...

25.01.2026 20:53 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
We Hate the Same Way (January 2026 song-a-day challenge Day 24)
We Hate the Same Way (January 2026 song-a-day challenge Day 24) YouTube video by Oren Levine

Day 24 of my January song-a-day challenge. Thanks to #MissManners for this one. She responded "May you two have a long and happy life together focusing on your various grudges." I found a love song there. Here's "We Hate the Same Way" #songwriting #songwriter youtube.com/shorts/pITPK...

24.01.2026 18:58 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Breathing in Time (January 2026 song-a-day challenge Day 23)
Breathing in Time (January 2026 song-a-day challenge Day 23) YouTube video by Oren Levine

For Day 23 of my January song-a-day challenge, I reworked "Breathing in Time" from the 19th, adding a verse and setting the words to a brighter blues feel. Sending island breezes to my friends and family in the path of this weekend's winter blast. #songwriter #songwriting youtube.com/shorts/ciQb3...

23.01.2026 20:30 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0