We started out without the last three until we got a guitar some time after noon. Wes got us kicked off with I Can't Get Started (I- ). Sam changed tempo with All The Things You Are (I-22). Gene, as usual, called several tunes that are not in our books until we landed on Softly As In A Morning Sunrise (II-355). At Tom's behest, we took a swing at Baby It's Cold Outside (in the Christmas Real Book) including the call and response. Jack has always been fond of the romantic tunes, including Isn't It Romantic? (I-219). Serdar, all set up by now, got his pick (no pun intended), and chose Song For My Father (I-373). Steve M then put in the call for I Hear A Rhapsody (II-177), with Jack switching to drums. Wes got another turn with Cousin Mary (II-93). Steve H based on a challenge from Carl last year, had put together a mash-up of Blue Monk and Santa Claus Is Coming To Town, which seemed to work out satisfactorily.
The vocal part of the program began with Annie calling first A Child Is Born (I-79) and I Thought About You (II-180); for the latter, she graciously shared the microphone with Jack. Carl brought out his manuscript of Mingus' Jelly Roll, which is slowly coming into shape. Back to Annie's vocals, we took up Polka Dots and Moonbeams (II-318) and a straight up blues tune, Merry Christmas Baby. Steve H asked to do a swingy version of I'll Be Home For Christmas (Christmas Real Book). Annie went back to a nice easy glide on What Are You Doing New Year's Eve? (Christmas Real Book). As I was on my way out the door (had some Christmas errands to run), the group was playing Poinciana (III-322).
We will not be meeting on December 26, but we will be back in session on January 2, 2016.
Christmas Listening
Dave Brubeck “Homecoming”
Jingle Bells
Dave Brubeck “Farewell”
Jingle Bells
Joe Pass Let It Snow
Joe Pass White
Christmas
Joe Williams Kissing
By The Mistletoe
Joe Williams What Are
You Doing New Year’s Eve
Oscar Peterson God
Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Tony Bennett and the Count Basie Orchestra I’ll Be Home For Christmas
Tony Bennett and the Count Basie Orchestra Silver Bells
Pearl Bailey Jingle
Bells Cha Cha Cha
Andy Williams (not
a jazz guy, but I’ve always appreciated the swinginess of this arrangement) Sleigh Ride
Herb Alpert and The Tijuana Brass (and I’m pretty sure an
uncredited Paul Desmond, who was recording for A&M at the time) Let It Snow
The Heath Brothers Our
Little Town (based on O Little Town
of Bethlehem)
Charlie Parker White
Christmas
Dexter Gordon Quartet The
Christmas Song
Gerry Mulligan and Dave Brubeck Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
Manhattan Transfer Santa
Claus Is Coming To Town
Manhattan Transfer Snowfall
Not available on You Tube, but here are four by Debbie
Duncan on her Christmas album that you should hear before you die: Santa Baby, O Come O Come Emmanuel, Little
Drummer Boy, Make Me A Present of You.
Enjoy!
Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year to all!
--SJH
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