Music
Music
My oldest brother Steve had a small combo while still a teenager, and gave me my first guitar when I was 17. I had piano lessons in elementary and middle school, and began improvising while in high school.
And of course, growing up in the 1960’s and after was an amazing period in music in general.
In Chico, California, I was fortunate to meet and become a student of Charlie Robinson, a wonderful man and musician, who began playing in bands at age 11. While he was a guitar teacher, and a guitarist extraordinaire, he was really a music teacher, who loved jazz most of all.
Charlie died in the Spring of 2024, putting an end to our evening phone calls discussing music and music theory.
Here is a link to a short film my brother Steve and I made about Charlie,
BASHFUL CHARLIE ROBINSON.
Chico had, and has, a thriving music scene. I had a jazz band there for a number of years, performing locally and producing two CD’s.
I continue making music, composing and playing with others. Here are some songs of mine, and some collaborations with my brother Steve.
Three songs in collaboration with my brother Steve Lerner:
I wrote the music for Sunflowers, my brother Steve Lerner wrote and sang the lyrics.
Sunflowers
Dreams and Time Travelers, two more songs in collaboration with Steve. They began with musical ideas of mine, and then lyric ideas of his, and we went from there.
Dreams
Time Travelers
You can hear more of Steve’s music, as well as see a number of documentary films he has made, at his website.
New Year Bossa
This is a tune of mine, with my friend and musical associate Russ Kalen of Chico, California, adding piano. Russ and I have played and worked on songs together since the 1990’s.
New Year Bossa
One Year to the Next
This song began as a piano piece of mine. Russ returned it to me as an orchestral piece, which we then worked on for awhile to arrive at its final form. He has become amazingly adept at orchestration, and has written charts for big bands and small groups.
One Year to the Next
My old friend and tai ji colleague, Jan Diepersloot is also a great photographer. He made the videos Sunrise and Storm Over Mt Diablo from his home in Walnut Creek, California, and I put music to them. He also created the video collage of his tree photos, Among the Trees, which I put music to as well.
Aeliz
Aeliz 3 & 4/Playing in New Haven are part of a four song cycle written for my granddaughter, Aeliz Raya Dunham.
Aeliz 3
Aeliz 4 Playing in New Haven
Too Much To Do
This song was written years ago, when I was working, raising kids, and squeezing in writing and playing music as well! Featured is my old jazz band mate from the Higgy Lerner Jazz Quartet, Robert Oates, on bass and guitar.
Too Much To Do
US IN PARIS
A song inspired by being in Paris, France, with my wife! Also featuring Robert Oates on guitar.
Us in Paris
Sweet Beech
A song inspired by the taking down of a very majestic neighborhood Beech Nut tree.