January 11, 2020

Sat, 1/18 CANCELLED. Weather looks pretty ugly. See you next time (we hope).

Next Time: Sat., 1/25, 11am-3pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale, St. Louis Park)

Sam's Add-A-Tune: Bossa Antigua (III-58)

Residents who wanted to watch the Vikings-49ers playoff game had dibs on the theater, so our time together was cut short. In the meantime, though, we had an solid group with a full rhythm section: Sam (trombone, trumpet), John (trombone), Jack K (drums, trumpet), Steve C (piano), Raphael (bass), Steve H (soprano, rhythm), and Carl (trombone).

After scrambling around for the drums and overcoming other setup concerns, we got underway around 11:30 with Sam's Add-A-Tune, Blues For Wood (II-60). John saved us all the trouble of turning the page by choosing Blues In The Closet (II-61). Jack kept us on the blues track with Birk's Works (II-48). Steve C finally moved us off the blues, and back before the modern era, opting for Struttin' With Some Barbecue. Raphael found a ballad none of us were familiar with, the lovely A Portrait Of Jenny (II-319). Your scribe picked up the tempo a bit, calling It Could Happen To You (II-204).

Sam started round two with a change of pace, Cantetolpe Island (II-76). Again, John protected our arms from overexertion by picking the next page tune, Caravan (II-77). Jack finally got us out of Vol. II with the choice of When Sunny Gets Blue (I-440). Carl turned to old favorite Jelly Roll (I-276). Steve C picked something fun, but yours truly was manning the brushes at the time and forgot to write it down. We closed out the afternoon with Raphael's choice of Little Boat (I-245).

--SJH

January 4, 2020

Next Time: Sat., 1/11, 11am-3pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale, St. Louis Park)

Sam's Add-A-Tune: Blues for Wood (II-60)

Quite a crew showed up for our first Workshop of the new decade. Present were Sam (trumpet, trombone), John (trombone), Steve H (piano, soprano), Waymond (drums), Jack K (trumpet), Steve D (cornet), Raphael (bass), Wes (tenor), Ari (trumpet), and Carl (trombone).

Things got underway with Sam's Add-A Tune, Freddie Freeloader (I-151). John went a little more up with Groovin' High (I-xxx). Jack K had purchased Vol IV, so we spent some time with Sunny (IV-xxx). Your scribe watched a lot of Irving Berlin-based Fred and Ginger movies on New Year's Eve, and opted for Let's Face The Music And Dance (III-238). Raphael found a lesser known tune, I Wish I Were In Love Again (III-171). Wes brought us to the more familiar Along Came Betty (III-22). Waymond was of a mind to revisit some Charlie Parker with a rousing version of Anthropology (I-29). Ari settled for his second choice, Afro Blue (I-11).

Second time around, Sam began with what turned into a very long version of The Gift (Recado Bossa Nova) (III-150). Your scribe had to pull out, but Raphael kept track of the remaining tunes. Carl called Blue Monk (I-52). Raphael stayed in blue mode with It's Blue World (II-207). Wes went with another blues, Red Top (III-332). Waymond called the bluesy Sugar (I-387). Sam finished the afternoon with St. Thomas (II-334).

--SJH

December 28, 2019

Next Time: Sat., 1/4, 11am-3pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale, St. Louis Park)

Sam's Add-A-Tune: Freddie Freeloader (I-151)

Sorry we had to cancel at the last minute, and we sincerely hope that no one struggled to get there only to find no one to play with. But our first Workshop of the new year should be a go.

--SJH

December 21, 2019

Next Time: Sat., 12/28. CANCELLED due to ice

Sam's Add-A-Tune: Bitches Brew (III-49)

Your scribe does not feel like writing much this week, because it's been very hectic, and now he is sitting in front of a fire with his feet up. So here are the bare bones.

Present:
John (trombone), Steve H (piano, soprano), Sam (trumpet, trombone), Raphael (bass), and Carl (trombone).

Played:
Blue Seven (Sam's Add-A-Tune)
Blue Bossa (John)
I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm (Steve H)
Unforgettable (Raphael)
Dear Old Stockholm (Sam)
Wave (John)
Santa Monk Is Coming To Town (Steve H)
Copenhagen (Raphael)
West Coast Blues (Sam)
In A Sentimental Mood (Carl)
In A Mellow Tone (Steve H)
Lover Come Back (Raphael)
Stablemates (Sam)
Two Degrees East, Three Degrees West (Carl)
Are You Havin' Any Fun (Steve H)

Merry Christmas from the Workshop!

--SJH

December 14, 2019

Next Time: Sat., 12/21, 11am-3pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale, St. Louis Park)

Sam's Add-A-Tune: Blue Seven (II-56)

Never more than four of us at a time this week, but plenty of fun for all. Attending were Sam (trumpet, trombone), Raphael (bass), Steve H (piano, soprano), Jack K (trumpet), and Wes (trumpet).

Chitlins Con Carne (I-81) was Sam's Add-A-Tune and got things underway. Jack slowed us down immediately with In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning (I-210). Your scribe was feeling both Sidney Bechet and Latin, calling Petite Fleur (II-312). Raphael found one we didn't know, It's A Blue World (II-207). 

Sam began the second round with Mr. Magic (II-268). Jack shook that one off with a mid-tempo version of For All We Know (I-145). Yours truly went with another classic, Broadway (I-61). Raphael acquiesced to a suggestion, Creole Love Call (III-88). Wes now present called for old favorite Blues For Alice (I-50). 

Continuing a run of lesser known tunes, Sam called Lucky Southern (I-255). Continuing a pattern of Gerry Mulligan tunes, your scribe went to Line For Lyons (III-240). Raphael picked another tune written by Mulligan, Song For Strayhorn (III-368). Wes surprised us with The Song Is Ended (III-369). 

Sam got one more choice, going to Book IV and A Foggy Day (IV-xxx). Having to leave early, yours truly got the last one, All Of Me (I-20). 

--SJH

December 7, 2019

Next Time: Sat., 12/14, 11am-3pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale, St. Louis Park)

Sam's Add-A-Tune: Chitlins Con Carne (I-81)

A decent crowd coming and going as the afternoon progressed. Your scribe was late arriving, but did not miss too much of the fun. Present at one time or another were Sam (trumpet, trombone), Raphael (bass), Jack K (trumpet), Jack D (trumpet), Ari (trumpet), Steve H (piano, soprano), Steve M (alto), Carl (trombone), and Wes (tenor).

Sam's Add-A-Tune was, as usual, our kickoff number: Baia (III-435). Jack K got the next call, Till There Was You (II-400). Yours truly was listening to Gerry Mulligan and Chet Baker in the car, and pulled out These Foolish Things (II-392). Raphael chose to challenge us, but not too much, with a lowered speed on Airegin (I-13). Ari was feeling a 3/4 thing and turned to Alice In Wonderland (I-17). Wes opted for old stand-by Groovin' High (I-166).

The second round began with Sam's choice, Little Boat (I-245). We went at a medium tempo on the classic ballad, The Nearness Of You (II-285), Jack K's pick. Steve M was ready for a solid groove on Mean To Me (III-274). Carl mixed things up with a personal favorite, So What (I-364). Your scribe acquiesced to Steve M's suggestion of Jitterbug Waltz (II-214), which said scribe also really enjoys playing. Raphael got us back to modern times with Jeannine (II-212). Wes stayed in his bop-era mode, choosing Blues For Alice (I-55). We finished off with Sam's call, Minor Swing (IV-284).

--SJH

November 30, 2019

Next Time: Sat., 12/7, 11am-3pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale, St. Louis Park)

Sam's Add-A-Tune: Baia (III-47)

Bad road conditions kept us from getting started on time, but by noon, Sam (trumpet, trombone), Steve H (piano, alto), and Raphael (bass) were on hand. Carl (trombone) arrived a bit later, and long-absent Matt arrived to do vocals at 1:00.

We worked long and hard trying to make Air Mail Special (II-13), Sam's Add-A-Tune, viable. Hard to say why we struggled with it so much. The solos weren't the problem, just the song itself. We don't give those long-ago jazz musicians enough credit for virtuosity. Your scribe took the next one, calling Smoke Gets In Your Eyes (II-354), which he had long thought of airing out at the Workshop. Raphael turned to the Cedar Walton classic, Holy Land (II-166). Carl went with the next page, Honeysuckle Rose (II-167).

Vocal time, and Matt kicked us off with Fly Me To The Moon (II-135), and followed up with Angel Eyes (I-28). Sam called the instrumental interlude, All The Things You Are (I-22) with a Latin rhythm. XXXX went next to the ballad, What'll I Do (II-419) and finished the afternoon with

The Minnesota-Wisconsin border battle for the Axe being close to underway, and the residents wishing to watch on the big screen, we abandoned the theater at 2:10.

--SJH