January 12, 2019

We had a usual-sized crowd: Terry (guitar), Jack K (trumpet), Steve H (alto and piano), Wes (tenor), Raphael (bass), Sam (trumpet and trombone), Victor (vocals), Annie (vocals) and Carl (trombone).

Jack kicked us off with his selection of Pennies from Heaven (II-309). Your scribe pulled out one of his favorites, Polka Dots and Moonbeams (III-318). Raphael challenged us with Recorda Me (I-337). Terry opted for a intriguing Stella By Starlight (I-382). Golson's Along Came Betty (III-22) was Wes' first choice. Sam surprised us with Parker's Au Privave (I-37). Back to Jack, we took a spin on Take The A Train (I-398).

Victor had arrived a little before this, so we got the vocals started with Basin Street Blues (II-37), followed by the immortal Stardust (II-367). Yours truly grabbed the instrumental opportunity by calling for Kalmar and Ruby's Three Little Words (III-406). Raphael worked us again with McCoy Tyner's Three Flowers (I-412). Annie and Carl had set up by this point, so Annie took two: Dearly Beloved (I-103) and Cherokee (I-77). Victor took two more: Bye Bye Blackbird (II-73) and Caravan (I-) which did not go nearly so well. Sam picked an instrumental, Lucky Southern (I-255). Annie took two more, this time One Note Samba (I-xxx) and My Foolish Heart (I-286). We took it out with an instrumental version of Four (I-149), though Annie got in a vocal chorus as well. Didn't know that one had any words.

Participant Picks

McCoy Tyner

Three Flowers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLwXn7cV_Y4

Anita O’Day

Four

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9gD2EOQBpQ

Enjoy!

--SJH

January 5, 2019

Next Time: Saturday, Jan. 12, 11am-3pm, TowerLight (3601 Woddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

FJF prep on tap

A pretty good turnout for the start of the new year! Sam (trumpet, trombone), Craig (guitar), Jack K (trumpet, drums), Steve C (piano), Raphael (bass), Steve H (soprano, rhythm), Wes (tenor), Jim D (vocals and guitar!), Annie (vocals), Carl (trombone), Victor (vocal).

Sam kicked things off with one we usually end with, St. Thomas (II-339). Jack K took us through a slightly downspeed version of Now's The Time (II-293). Craig found an oldy but goody in You Made Me Love You (III-459). Steve C's choice was equally old and good, 'Deed I Do (III-92). Raphael brought us closer to the present with Speak No Evil (I-378). Wes found one we could all handle by opting for Blue Trane (I-54). Yours truly found one that suited the soprano, Pennies From Heaven (II-309).

Time for vocals, with Annie starting out with How Deep Is The Ocean (III-150), then reaching for a bit of Sugar (III-367).  Jim D turned the instrumental into a vocal for himself with Satin Doll (III-349). Annie took another pair: My Man (III-294) and A Sleepin' Bee (III-357). Sam got the instrumental call, and we took a run at Pent Up House (I-324). Annie chose two off book pieces, passing out parts for How Little We Know and Give Me The Simple Life. Carl gave us an instrumental opportunity on Blues By Five (I-59). Annie took two more on the gentle side: Blame It On My Youth (II-xx) and Quiet Nights Of Quiet Stars (I-335). Jim D got in one more combined vocal/instrumental with The Lady Is A Tramp (III-227). Victor, who finally arrived with only ten minutes to go as we began the last number, took us out with Avalon (II-22).

--SJH

December 22, 2018

NO WORKSHOP this week (Dec. 29).Next time: Saturday, Jan. 5, 11am-3pm, TowerLight

More catch-up work this week, sans details. Back soon with the blog posts you have all (assuming there is more than one of us) come to know and love.

The Musicians:

Raphael (bass), Sam (trumpet, trombone), Jack K (trumpet), Steve M (alto), Carl (trombone), and Steve H (piano).

The Songs:

Work Song (I-4xx) Sam

My Romance (I-2xx) Jack K

Round Midnight (I-3xx) Steve M

I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm (III-188) Steve H

Deluge (I-106) Raphael

Softly As In A Morning Sunrise (II-355) Sam

Stella By Starlight (I-382) Steve M

Jelly Roll (I-226) Carl

West Coast Blues (I-436) Steve H

Night In Tunisia (I-302) Raphael

The Girl From Ipanema (I-158) Sam

You Brought Me A New Kind Of Love (I-458) Steve M

Blue Bossa (I-50) Carl

Baby It's Cold Outside (II-28) Steve H

Three Flowers (I-412) Raphael

Wave (I-431) Sam

On A Slow Boat To China (I-309) Steve M

--SJH

P.S. I have no idea why half of this report is showing up in red, nor how to stop it. 'Tis the season of surprises...

December 15, 2018

Next Time: Saturday, Dec. 22, 11am-3pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale, St. Louis Park)

Bring your holiday music along with the regular stuff. No telling what someone might request this close to Christmas!

Finally catching up on the blogs after getting through a lot of other Important Things like work, holidays, and family fun.

It's been awhile, and your scribe no longer remembers the details, though it is possible to list the players and the songs from this date.

The Players: Craig (guitar), Sam (trumpet, trombone), Jack K (trumpet), Waymond (drums, alto, vocals), Raphael (bass), Steve H (piano, alto), Ari (trumpet), Annie (vocals), Carl (vocals), and special guest Caitlin (vocals).

The Tunes:
All Of Me (I-20) Sam
Broadway (I-61) Steve H
Au Privave (I-37) Raphael
Alice In Wonderland (I-17) Waymond
I'm Old Fashioned (III-186) Jack K
High Hopes (III-145) Ari
Dear Old Stockholm (I-102) Sam
Merry Christmas Baby (Christmas Book) Annie-vocal
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (Christmas) Caitlin-vocal
The Nearness Of You (II-285) Waymond-vocal
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (Christmas) Annie-vocal
The Christmas Waltz (Christmas) Caitlin-vocal
So What (I-364) Carl-instrumental break
What Are You Doing New Years Eve (Christmas) Annie-vocal
Winter Wonderland (Christmas) Caitlin-vocal
Never Let Me Go (III-299) Annie-vocal
White Christmas (Christmas) Caitlin

--SJH

December 8, 2018

NEXT TIME: Saturday, Dec. 15, 11am-3pm, TowerLight, 3601 Wooddale, St. Louis Park

Bring your Christmas songs along (Real Book and Sam's collection)

TowerLight residents and personnel were kind enough to let us play for them in appreciation of their allowing us to play throughout the year in the theater space. We played Christmas tunes for an hour in the lobby. Annie and Victor did the singing. The band was composed of Sam (trombone and trumpet), Carl (trombone), Steve C (piano), Serdar (guitar), Raphael (bass), Waymond (drums), Steve M (alto), Steve W (alto), and Wes (tenor). Special mention to Jack K, who showed up, but did not play.

--SJH

December 1, 2018

NEXT TIME: Dec. 8, 2018, CHRISTMAS SONGS FOR TOWERLIGHT FOLKS, noon-1pm.

We need to be ready for a downbeat at noon, so we hope you will arrive between 11:15 and 11:30 to help set up.

This week we had a suitable contingent: Sam (trombone and trumpet), Raphael (bass), Craig (guitar), Jack K (drums), Carl (trombone), Annie (vocals), Wes (tenor), and Steve H (piano). 

We played most of the songs in our Christmas folder. When we left, it was snowing very hard.

--SJH

November 24, 2018

Next Time: Saturday, December 1, 11am-3pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

Bring Christmas Real Book if you have one; Sam is supplying another set in concert key as well.

We'll be playing Christmas songs for the listening pleasure of the TowerLight folks from noon to 1:00pm on Saturday, 12/8, in place of our regular Workshop.

Assembled for practicing Christmas songs and other Workshop delights were Craig (guitar), Sam (trumpet, trombone), Steve C (piano), Steve H (alto, drums), Raphael (bass), Jack K (drums), Serdar (guitar), Wes (tenor, drums), Carl (trombone), Ari (trumpet), and Ray (just visiting, thanks), and Victor (vocals).

Mostly Christmas songs today. We worked on Sleigh Ride, Silver Bells, Jingle Bells, Christmas Time Is Here, Let It Snow, Feliz Navidad, Santa Monk Is Coming To Town, The Christmas Song, Winter Wonderland, Happy Holidays, All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth, Frosty the Snowman, and White Christmas. We also played a few non-holiday tunes: Basin Street Blues, Stardust, and a couple of others that your scribe forgot to scribe.

Next week: more of the same.

--SJH