July 13, 2019

Next Time:

Sam's Add-A-Tune:

Things got under way with Sam (trumpet, trombone), Jack K (trumpet) and Steve H (piano, soprano). Soon enough, Tony (bass), Wes (tenor), Ari (trumpet), and Roger (tenor) joined in. By 1:20, Annie (vocals) and Carl (trombone) rounded out the congregation.

Sam's Add-A-Tune this week was Bud Powell's Parisian Thoroughfare (II-307). Jack liked the changes on the Ellington/Tizol classic, Perdido (II-311). Your scribe likes playing Pennies From Heaven (II-309, especially on soprano. Tony asked if it would be OK to work on the funky/floaty Cantelope Island (II-76). Sam took an easy pace on Four Brothers (II-138). Jack went to another classic set of chord changes, Bye Bye Blackbird (II-73). Yours truly had often wanted to pull out Oscar Pettiford's Blues In The Closet (II-61), and finally did. Tony's second call was Four (I-149). Wes got his first chance, wanting the Latin Ceora (I-72). We found Days Of Wine And Roses (IV-99) for Ari, loping along with a medium swing; Annie present, tossed in a vocal chorus.

Following protocol, the vocal portion gives the singers several tunes with only two choruses maximum of instrumental. But things began to drift, with everyone taking choruses, so we only took one pure instrumental break. Annie's first two calls were Without A Song (II-428), and It Never Entered My Mind (III-205). Roger got to name the instrumental, Some Day My Prince Will Come (I-367). From there on, Annie decided the rest of the tunes, but a lot of solos got involved: I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free (I-195); People Will Say We're In Love (II-310); Fine And Mellow (III-122); Quiet Nights Of Quiet Stars (I-335); and Take The A-Train (I-298). We finished with our traditional St. Thomas, though this time at slower, but surprisingly effective, pace.

--SJH

July 6, 2019

Next Time: Sat., July 13, 11am-3pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale, St. Louis Park)

Sam's Add-A-Tune: Parisian Thoroughfare (II-307)

We began with the unlikely combination of Sam (bass, trumpet, trombone), Raphael (guitar), and Steve H (piano, soprano), who were eventually joined by Wes (tenor), Carl (trombone), and Ari (trumpet). 

While it was just the three of us, we apparently played every instrument we brought on each song. Sam's Add-A-Tune, Summertime (IV-4xx), got us off to a good start. Yours truly opted for It Could Happen To You (II-204). Raphael went to the classic ballad, The Nearness Of You (II-285). Sam got us hopping on the next call, Jeannine (II-212). Wes changed the mood with Blue Trane (I-54). Ari tried one he'd never heard before, Big Nick (I-44). Carl was feeling Ellingtonian, and drew Mood Indigo (I-279). Picking up the pace, your scribe called Thou Swell (I-411). Raphael decided on a bit of Latin, One Note Samba (I-314).  This time around, Ari looked for a tune we all knew well, and went to Misty (I-277). Sam dropped us into a medium groove on Broadway (I-61). Carl surprised us with My Little Suede Shoes (II-282). Wes further surprised with Cousin Mary (II-93). Together, Wes and your scribe asked for Along Came Betty (III-22). Carl took another bow with After You've Gone (III-12). Sam got the last regular choice, All The Things You Are (I-22), and we finished off with a spirited version of St. Thomas (II-339).

--SJH

June 29, 2019

Next Time: Sat, 7/6, 11am-3pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale, St. Louis Park)

Sam's Add-A-Tune: Summertime (IV-435)

Your scribe missed the fun, but these people did not: Sam (trumpet and trombone), Jack K (trumpet), Tony (bass), Raphael (guitar!), Roger (tenor), and Ari (trumpet). Raphael faithfully provided all our information.

Tunes encountered:
Pick Yourself Up (II-317) Sam's Add-A-Tune
Satin Doll (I-349) Jack
Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars (I-335) Tony
There Will Never Be Another You (I-407) Raphael
Cantelope Island (II-xxx) Sam
All Of Me (I-29) Roger
Wave (I-431) Tony
Recorda Me (I-337) Raphael
Footprints (I-xxx) Ari
It Don't Mean A Thing (I-224) Sam
In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning (I-210) Roger
I Love You (I-190) Raphael
Lazy River (I-242) Ari
Little Boat (I-245) Sam
Maiden Voyage (I-261) Roger

--SJH

June 22, 2019

Next Time: Sat. 6/29, 11am-3pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale, St. Louis Park)

Sam's Add-A-Tune: Pick Yourself Up (II-317)

Present:
Sam (trumpet, trombone), Roger (tenor, keyboard)), Steve M (alto), Raphael (bass), Tony (bass), Steve H (soprano, keyboard).

Heard:
Peri's Scope (I-326) Sam's Add-A-Tune
All Of Me (I-22) Roger
When Sunny Gets Blue (I-440) Steve M
Round Midnight (I-345) Raphael
Pennies From Heaven (II-309) Steve H
Dear Old Stockholm (I-102) Tony
My Little Suede Shoes (II-282) Sam
Why Do I Love You (II-425) Steve M
Ornithology (I-317) Roger
Honeysuckle Rose (II-167) Steve H
Reincarnation Of A Love Bird (I-362) Raphael
Have You Met Miss Jones (I-172) Sam
It Might As Well Be Spring (II-205) Steve M
Blue Monk (I-52) Tony
In A Sentimental Mood (I-xxx) Steve H
Watermelon Man (III-429) Sam
This I Dig Of You (II-395) Raphael

--SJH

June 15, 2019

Next Time: Sat. 6/22, 11am-3pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale, St. Louis Park)

Sam's Add-A-Tune: Peri's Scope (I-326)

Old faces and new at this week's workshop. Sam (trumpet and trombone), Raphael (bass), Steve H (soprano and drums), Steve M (alto), Roger (tenor), Jack K (trumpet and drums), Robert (piano), Annie (vocals), and Carl (trombone).

We got underway with Sam's Add-A-Tune, the easy swaying Ceora (I-72). Steve M called for a nice swing on Here's That Rainy Day (I-175). Jack K asked for a ballad, but not too slow, with Easy Living (I-127). Roger changed things up entirely by pulling out 500 Miles High (I-141). Raphael requested J.J. Johnson's lovely Lament (I-239). Your scribe changed tempos with a medium up version of Easy To Love (I-128). And somehow it was already 1:00.

Annie got the vocal segment off to a good start with Song For My Father (I-373), and followed up with the gospelly rocker, I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free (I-195). Sam called the instrumental break, going with Little Boat (I-245). Annie finally got us out of Book I with a ballad and a slow blues: It Never Entered My Mind (III-205) and Fine And Mellow (III-122). For the next instrumental, Carl opted for old favorite 2 Degrees East, 3 Degrees West (II-408). More vocals from Annie, this time Without A Song (II-428), and the tricky Rodgers and Hammerstein number, Love Look Away (II-252). Steve M dug out Dexter Gordon's Cheese Cake (II-82) for the instrumental. Annie took one more, finishing her afternoon with People Will Say We're In Love (II-310). We ended the session on Raphael's choice, the alternating Latin/swing I'll Remember April.

--SJH

June 8, 2019

Next Time: Sat. 6/15, 11am-3pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale, St. Louis Park)

Sam's Add-A-Tune: Ceora (I-72)

Your scribe finally has a little more time, so a return to narrative. If that bothers you, please re-read last week's entry.

Present at some time or other were Sam (trombone, trumpet), Raphael (bass), Steve H (piano, soprano), Jack K (trumpet, drums), Roger (tenor, drums)), Craig (guitar), Wes (tenor), Ari (trumpet, drums), and Carl (trombone).

Sam's Add-A-Tune this week was Doxy (II-111), which got us off to a smooth start. Roger grabbed the next call with Au Privave (I-37), which Raphael continues to insist doesn't mean anything in actual French. Your scribe was up next and opted for All Of You (I-21). We had skipped Jack's turn, and now he got his chance with When Sunny Gets Blue (I-440). Raphael pulled out his list and challenged us with Minority (I-273). Craig opted for Cole Porter's peculiarly segmented In The Still Of The Night (II-198). Ari went for the simply difficult Speak No Evil (I-xxx), which somehow was not a complete disaster. An easy-speed version of Groovin' High (I-166) was Wes' pick, and it's not often when that is considered a rest song. Carl decided on So What (I-364), and we all said, Whatever.

Round 2 had us on Sam's choice, Killer Joe (II-229), which we found oddly difficult to keep from speeding up. On the other hand, Roger wanted to play Blue Bossa (I-50) up tempo, which was quite the trick. Ari's choice, My Favorite Things (II-285) was nobody's favorite by the time we finished; not one person got through a chorus without having to stop and get everyone back together. (I suspect we'll do it again next time.) Wes opted for an old favorite, Robbin's Nest (II-xxx), which got everyone back in the groove. Next up, Carl took us on a Sentimental Journey (II-343), complete with trombone phrases and some harmonies. Yours truly went with the Ellington swinger, Perdido (II-311). We finished off with Raphael's final choice, the ballad You Don't Know What Love Is (I-459).

--SJH

June 1, 2018

Next Time: Sat 6/8/19, 11am-3pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale, St. Louis Park)

Who Was There
Sam (trumpet, for one song), Raphael (bass), Jack K (trumpet), Steve H (piano), Ari (trumpet)

What Was Played
Nuages (I-307) Sam
When I Fall In Love (I-439) Jack
I Love You (I-190) Steve
With Every Breath I Take (III-453) Raphael
Old Cape Cod (III-307) Jack
Hello Young Lovers (I-176) Steve
Song For Strayhorn (III-368) Raphael
Blue Monk (I-52) Jack
Body And Soul (I-57) Ari
Come Rain Or Come Shine (II-88) Steve
Early Morning Mood (III-103) Raphael
I've Got You Under My Skin (III-190) Ari
Lover Man (II-255) Steve
This I Dig Of You (II-395) Raphael
Giant Steps (I-157) Ari
Easy To Love (I-128) Steve
Speak Like A Child (II-363) Raphael
Soultrane (II-362) Steve

--SJH