Welcome to my music blog - The Soundtrack of My Life!

Many of you have asked me “What’s with all the music, Dr. Weiss?” Well, as I’ve told some of you:

I personally call every surgery patient on the evening of surgery just to make sure they are doing well and have no questions that need answering. Occasionally, I would be at the piano and play a song that we had listened to that day. I gradually realized that I wanted to go through all the music that I had played during my life and at least start making a list of the songs that I had recently played.

Well, there are now about 600 songs on the list and I realized that it in a way it represented the ‘soundtrack of my life’! And that’s how I got the idea to record these songs and share them with my patients, friends and family. After I record them they will reside here, for easy access.

Music is truth. It’s honest. It’s really the first social media, where in a way, people could share their souls directly. And isn’t that what the purpose of social media is and why it’s so popular - trying to share who you really are, as completely and directly as possible?

Finally, it has been (and will continue to be) a genuine pleasure sharing these different songs with you and I really appreciate all of your positive feedback!!

Musical Genres

Fats Waller

Ain’t Misbehavin!

July 9, 2019

On This Day (July 9) 90 years ago in 1929, "Fats" Waller’s classic “Ain't Misbehavin'"  was recorded in New York City at the height of the ‘Roaring twenties’ for a Broadway musical comedy. Waller said the song was written while "lodging" in prison (for an alimony violation), and that is why he was not "misbehaving". Interestingly, in the play, Louis Armstrong played "Ain't Misbehavin'" in a trumpet solo, and although this was initially slated only to be a reprise of the opening song, Armstrong's performance was so well-received that he was asked to climb out of the orchestra pit and play the piece on stage. Anyway, “Fats Waller” has always been one of my favorites. His innovations in the Harlem stride style laid the groundwork for modern jazz piano. His best-known compositions, "Ain't Misbehavin'" and "Honeysuckle Rose", have been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.   I’ve really gotten a lot of joy over the years playing this song and I hope you enjoy it also.  To qualify for a Weiss Music Minute it was necessary to speed it up a bit, but it still feels right, maybe a little on the fast side. But hey, it was at [...]
Chim Chim Cher ee

Chim Chim Cher-ee

December 13, 2024

Chim Chim Cher-ee (0:47) “Chim Chim Cher-ee” is a song from Mary Poppins, the timeless classic 1964 Walt Disney musical film starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke. The song won the 1964 Academy Award for Best Original Song and was written by Robert B. Sherman and Richard M. Sherman (the “Sherman Brothers”), who also won an Oscar and a Grammy Award for the Mary Poppins score! Bert was a chimneysweep played by Dick Van Dyke and this was his theme song. This song must have a sort of universal appeal, attested to by the covers from diverse artists including Burl Ives, John Coltrane, David Bowie, Wes Montgomery, Bing Crosby, Duke Ellington, Alvin and the Chipmunks, Louis Armstrong, Mannheim Steamroller, and Esperanza Spalding! Here is my very simple version in tribute to Dick Van Dyke on his 99th birthday, who also has universal appeal. Happy Birthday, Dick! Enjoy, Dr. Weiss Some info from Wikipedia PS This recording is also another example of my theory that many memorable and unforgettable complete musical ideas can be expressed in less than 60 seconds (in this case, 47 seconds)– thus, Weiss Musical Minutes.

I'll Be Seeing You

I’ll Be Seeing You

November 12, 2024

Image by Dr. Weiss and Dall-E I’ll Be Seeing You (1:42) “I’ll Be Seeing You” is a popular song published in 1938 which was written for an unsuccessful Broadway show (by Irving Kahal & Sammy Fain) that closed after 15 performances. Lucky for us, the 1944 recording by Bing Crosby became a nostalgic wartime hit (especially poignant and emotional as soldiers were away fighting and sweethearts were separated, perhaps forever). Frank Sinatra’s version further added to its popularity, and Billie Holiday’s 1944 recording of the song was even used as the final transmission sent by NASA to the Opportunity rover on Mars when its mission ended in February 2019! As I have been playing this for the last 2 weeks after listening to it with a patient during her eyelid surgery, I was struck by the thought that it was as beautiful as any classical music theme.  Then I read on Wikipedia that someone had already noticed the resemblance between the main tune’s first four lines and a passage within the theme of the last movement of Gustav Mahler’s Third Symphony (1896). Enjoy, Dr. Weiss Some information from Wikipedia Dedicated to TZ PS Clavinova sample is Yamaha CFX Grand Piano […]

Corcovado a serene night scene inspired by the bossa nova song Corcovado The image features a quiet, starry night sky over a calm moonlit landscape

Corcovado (Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars)

October 1, 2024

Corcovado (1:43) “Corcovado” (known in English as “Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars”) is a bossa nova song and jazz standard written by Antônio Carlos Jobim in 1960. English lyrics were later written by Gene Lees. The Portuguese title refers to the Corcovado mountain in Rio de Janeiro. Considered as one of the great exponents of Brazilian music, Jobim merged Samba with Cool jazz in the 1960s to create Bossa nova, with worldwide success. As a result, he is regarded as one of the fathers of bossa nova. In fact, “The Girl from Ipanema”, composed by Jobim, has become one of the most recorded songs of all time, Enjoy, Dr. Weiss Info from Wikipedia Bösendorfer piano sound: for this recording I’m playing a Yamaha Clavinova – which has the same keyboard action as a traditional acoustic piano, but there are no strings. Pressing a key activates (in this case) a sound which was sampled from a Bösendorfer Imperial Concert Grand piano. Try listening to it with a good set of headphones!

Andrea Miller photo

Summer’s Almost Gone – (Andrea Miller vocal)

September 21, 2024

Andrea Miller Summer’s Almost Gone Well, today you are in for a very special treat!  First, we have a guest jazz vocalist, my friend Andrea Miller (www.andreamillersings.com). I imagined an arrangement of Jim Morrison’s ‘Summer’s Almost Gone’ with a haunting, lyrical female vocalist and Andrea came up with a version that far exceeded my imagination!  She has such a lovely voice – I hope you like this delicate, beautiful audio recording as much as I do! Enjoy, Dr. Weiss Dedicated to my friend Leonardo

Summer's almost gone sunset

Summertime

September 21, 2024

 Summertime (Summer officially ends Sunday, September 22, 5:44 AM PST) Here is a special Weiss Music Minute (1:07) – Summertime, written by George Gershwin 90 years ago for the opera ‘Porgy & Bess’ – a song that needs no special introduction! Enjoy, Dr. Weiss Dedicated to my friend Leonardo

Tea for Two Bugs and Daffy

Tea For Two

June 10, 2024

Tea For Two! Published 100 years ago today!!  “Tea for Two” is a 1924 song composed by Vincent Youmans (More Than You Know), with lyrics by Irving Caesar (Swanee, Just a Gigolo). It was published exactly 100 years ago today (June 10, 1924!) When I started this music blog, I was trying to show that many complete musical ideas can be expressed in one minute or less. This is a perfect example. It is instantly recognizable and is one of the most recorded songs in popular music. I’ve linked to two versions: Bugs and Daffy doing a soft shoe routine, and an amazing version by Art Tatum – one of the most talented jazz pianists who ever lived! Enjoy, Dr. Weiss Bugs and Daffy version Art Tatum version

Jim Morrison The Doors 1 1

The Crystal Ship

March 2, 2024

Jim Morrison The Crystal Ship (3:53) Yesterday we listened to some classical Chopin waltzes.  Today let’s listen to some classic rock. I sent out this video last year, but I enjoyed playing around with the special effects and watching it so much – here it is again for all you Doors fans! We were BIG Doors fans in my Philadelphia neighborhood when I was in high school! In fact, I went to the Philadelphia Doors concert that was recorded live instead of going to the senior prom! ‘The Crystal Ship’  is a good example of “classic” psychedelic rock, a rock music genre (consisting of a variety of different styles) that is inspired, influenced, or representative of psychedelic culture, the peak years of which were between 1967 and 1969. ’The Crystal Ship’ was released in April 1967 – 57 years ago! The music incorporated new electronic sound effects and recording effects, extended solos, improvisation and the incorporation of jazz. In fact, it’s the first time that I’ve ever started a jazz arpeggio improvisation on the very  highest key of the piano (1:29), actually twice! Psychedelic video effects start a little earlier (0:21). Enjoy, Dr. Weiss Some information from Wikipedia The Crystal Ship dedication: Larry S., with whom […]

Chopin 1

Chopin Waltz in G# Minor Op 64 No 2

March 1, 2024

Frederic Chopin Waltz in G# Minor, OP. 64, No 2 (3:31) On this day, March 1, 1810, Frederic Chopin was born in Poland. He was a Polish-French composer and pianist of the classical Romantic period. He moved to Paris at age 21 where he lived until his death at age 39 in 1849. In my opinion, this is one of his most beautiful waltzes (although that’s a difficult choice!) Enjoy, Dr. Weiss Dedicated to David G. and Charlie B. Some information from Wikipedia Related Posts: Chopin Waltz in Gb Major Op 70 No 1 Chopin Waltz in F Minor Op 70 No 2  (Haunting) Chopin Waltz in Db Major Op 64 No 1 (“MInute Waltz”)

Im In The Mood For Love

I’m In The Mood For Love

February 14, 2024

I’m In The Mood For Love (1:55) Recorded 2/13/24 George Shearing   George Shearing passed away ON THIS DAY, February 14, in 2011. One of the jazz greats, Sir George Shearing was known for his incomparable and complex reharmonizations. Usually, in classical, pop, or jazz, a piano player may use (hopefully sparingly) the damper pedal (the one on the right) to blend adjacent similar chords, usually one or two measures (4-8 beats). However, for this arrangement, I’m changing the pedal literally with each beat!! Listen carefully and you will hear how Shearing makes the song his own. Thanks, George, for showing us a new way of playing and listening. Happy Valentine’s Day! Enjoy, Dr. Weiss