Every Song Is An Experiment

The thing about jazz, for the musicians and audience alike, is that you never know in advance how the song is going to turn out. There's always improvisation going on from the soloists and the accompanists. It is a fluid art form that is created in the moment. The most rewarding jazz is created right at the intersection of "I know this" and "what the heck is going on?" For about 32 years the jazz workshop has been providing an opportunity for musicians to experience that intersection every week.

Despite the dip in the mercury (hmm, like many of our metaphors that one is outdated- like "taping" music or TV shows- because hardly anyone uses a mercury based thermometer any more) we had 14 lucky folks come out to McRae Park to engage in the experimentation that is jazz.

There were a couple o' newbies today in Paul (vocals) and Lachel (trumpet); a few relatively new folks in Ann (vocals), Todd (trumpet); returning old hands in Sam (trumpet and trumpet-synth), Annie (vocals and workshop coordinator), Steve (trumpet and flugelhorn); and the regulars including Ira (alto sax), Wes (tenor sax), Gene (drums), Kevin (guitar), Margo (bass), Ken (drums) and Tim (guitar). We crowded all these folks and their equipment into the classroom at McRae Park, which is actually an easier room in which to hear than the gym-sized room we're usually in.

Songs for the day included "Gentle Rain," "Don't Get Around Much Any More," "Beautiful Love," "How Insensitive," "Tough Talk" and "Blue Monk" during the instrumental hour. Paul was the first vocalist to arrive and started off with "Fly Me To The Moon," not bothering to use the mike and the PA. From there we played through "Jordu," "All of Me," "Bye Bye Blackbird," "I Should Care," "Wave," "Pick Yourself Up," "Georgia On My Mind," "But Beautiful," "Desafinado," "Dolphin Dance," "Sophisticated Lady," "Don't Go To Strangers," "It Might As Well Be Spring" (wishful thinking there!), "Ain't Misbehavin'," "Satin Doll" and then Sam called "St. Thomas" for the closer. This song has often been the closer although since Sam has been on hiatus with the workshop we don't play it often.

So there you have it, another fun afternoon with the jazz workshop!

In the photos: at the top we have Margo, Ann, Ira and Sam from left to right. Next are Kevin (left) and Steve (right). The third photo is Margo laying down the groove- the relationship between bass and drums is one of the defining things about jazz. And the fourth photo is Sam with his trumpet synth controller.