Category Archives: Jazz

But I Do

Posted on April 22, 2024 by Greg Scheer

I’m a huge fan of Chet Baker, especially when he sings or performs with orchestra. One of my favorites is a mopey ballad called “Everything Happens to Me,” written by Tom Adair and Matt Dennis. It hilariously bemoans the unrequited … Continue reading →

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All for Love

Posted on April 17, 2024 by Greg Scheer

Forever ago, Outside Pocket played a show for which Olivia Vargas was the opener. The week of, she posted a video of a new song she had written for the concert. I had hoped to surprise her with a companion … Continue reading →

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Psalm 63: You Are My God

Posted on April 15, 2024 by Greg Scheer

I was surprised to discover I hadn’t set Psalm 63 to music yet. Perhaps I shied away because I thought the competition would be fierce for a Psalm like this; it is a Psalm full of beautiful sentiments that fairly … Continue reading →

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Brush Your Teeth

Posted on March 5, 2024 by Greg Scheer

On Thursday, I’ll lead an assembly called “Help Me Write a Jazz Song” at a local elementary school. I’ll tell them what a composer does and what it takes to write a song. Then I’ll tell them about my plan … Continue reading →

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Psalm 28: My God, the Rock (tune: SANDY)

Posted on February 23, 2024 by Greg Scheer

I asked Kate Bluett if she would be willing to write a new Psalm text on one of the Psalms I haven’t yet set to music. She came through with skill and style! Psalm 28 is a three-part prayer. It … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, Congregational Songs, Demos, Jazz, Psalms | 1 Comment

Judah’s Jam

Posted on January 22, 2024 by Greg Scheer

In honor of Judah Guerra’s inaugural Jazz Jam at the Rez, I wrote a little tune called “Judah’s Jam.” As you can hear from this video, he assembled a stellar group of musicians who slayed it all night long! I … Continue reading →

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Your Soul Lives On

Posted on December 28, 2023 by Greg Scheer

This is the last of the demos I recorded with Steve Talaga on an afternoon in September. While most of these tunes fall under the umbrella of jazz, this one…doesn’t. And that’s okay. I just want to write good music, … Continue reading →

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The Gospel Truth

Posted on December 28, 2023 by Greg Scheer

I have a certain ambivalence about this tune. It is So. Freaking. Happy. And happy can easily be trite. I will let you, dear listener, decide if this little bonbon of a tune is happy, trite, or both. (Or neither?) … Continue reading →

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Sehnsucht

Posted on December 28, 2023 by Greg Scheer

This tune has been reworked more times than it’s been played! It is named “Sehnsucht” (German: longing) for the yearning motif that begins the tune. I knew I had something good, but was never quite able to bring the tune … Continue reading →

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Mysterious Lee

Posted on December 28, 2023 by Greg Scheer

This one’s a keeper. I’ve used it on a number of gigs since I wrote it back in October and each time it casts a special spell. Indeed, that’s the magical thing about jazz: a perfectly good song may never … Continue reading →

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