Sunny Saturday Jazz

On the Saturday before Easter there was a bit of a miscommunication and it took a while to get into the park building, so the workshop didn't get started until almost 12:30. Horrors! But get started we did and ten of us spent a pleasant few hours playing jazz.

Joining us today for the first time was Matt, a vocalist, who needed just a little cajoling to sing and sounded fine. There is a whole set of skills for jazz singers besides knowing the words and the melody- there is also an element of directing the band on the fly and communicating one's intentions. It's interesting, as an accompanist, to watch singers develop those abilities. Also at the workshop today were vocalists Annie, Toria and Dick and Gene (drums), Max (bass), Bob (guitar), Tim (guitar), Wes (tenor sax), Jack (trumpet and drums) and Bronco (tenor sax). Getting eleven people to come out for the afternoon on a beautiful Saturday in the spring is a compliment to the music.

The set list today included "Blue Bossa," "Quizas, Quizas, Quizas," ""Pretend," "Don't Blame Me," "L-O-V-E," "My Romance," "The Very Thought Of You," "I Don't Know Why," "Makin' Whoopee," "Ornithology," "Day By Day," "Honeysuckle Rose," "I'm Beginning To See The Light," "What Is This Thing Called Love," "If You Never Come To Me," "Don't Explain," "On The Street Where You Live," "Dream," "What More Can I Say" (an original written by Dick), "Freddie The Freeloader," "Down Home Blues," "Sentimental Journey," and "I Remember You."

The photos today were taken hurriedly towards the end during "Sentimental Journey." At the top is Bob on his Les Paul guitar. In the middle is Matt, the new vocalist. And at the bottom are Dick, Wes and Bronco from left to right.