Friday, January 29, 2016

January 23, 2016

No vocalists could make it for this session, so it was all instrumental. (Actually, Dick had a bad cold, but he stopped by for a little bit. When you're not singing, you have to listen to us, so he didn't last long.) Sam (bass), Gene (drums), Steve M (alto) and Jack D (trumpet) had already played Ornithology by the time Wes (tenor) and I (alto) arrived. Soon after, Jack (trumpet and drums) stopped in, and eventually Birk (drums) and his friend Marcus (acoustic guitar). Last but not least was Bronco (bari sax). Jack D requested When I Fall In Love. We moved then to Steve M, who asked for All of You (I-21). Yours truly called Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered (I-43). Gene took a pass, and Sam brought out dear old Dear Old Stockholm. Back to one of the Jacks., we played Long Ago and Far Away. Steve M started us on Darn That Dream, and I found Blue Room (I-53). Gene gave a shout out for Birk's Works, followed by Sam and Tangerine. Wes wanted a favorite, Along Came Betty. People were moving around a lot, and I may have missed some tunes in here. I've got Steve M asking next for Robbin's Nest (II-330). Somebody (I can't read my own handwriting) called All Or Nothing At All. Sam got the next choice, and we played East Of The Sun. Somehow, it got back to me, and I decided on After You've Gone, which is a lot trickier to play than it looks on the page, what with the double-time feel. Again, my legibility fails me, but I think Bronco chose the next song, Call Me. The last tune was at Steve M's behest, Blues For Alice.

Someone else will be taking over the writing as of next week. It's been fun.

Participant Picks (well, my picks):

Charlie Barnet, Skyliner

Artie Shaw, Begin the Beguine

Debbie Duncan, Secret Love

Sunday, January 17, 2016

January 16th 2016

Attendees:  Lachel (Trumpet), Wes (Tenor), Serdar (Guitar), Steve (Alto), Jack (Trumpet),
Jack K. (Trumpet), Todd (Trumpet), Gene (Drums), Sam (Bass), Joe (Trumpet), Elmer (Tenor),
Tom (Drums).

Tunes Played: Saint Thomas, Angel Eyes, My Romance, Satin Doll, There Will Never Be Another You, Beautiful Love, Broadway, Georgia On My Mind, Suede Shoes (My Little).

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

January 9, 2016

Attendees:  Wes (Tenor), Jack (Trumpet), Steve (Alto), 
Tom (Drums), Gene (Drums), Sam (Bass), Carl (Trombone), 
Serdar (Guitar), Annie (Vocal), Jim (Piano). 

Tunes Played:  Well, You Needn't, In A Mellow Tone, Blues For Alice, Satin Doll, You've Changed, The Saga Of Harrison Crabfeathers, All The Things You Are, Song For My Father, There Will Never Be Another You, On A Clear Day, Sophisticated Lady, I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire, The Glory Of Love, Black Orpheus, I Get A Kick Out Of You, All My Tomorrows, Rockin' Chair, My Heart Stood Still, Most Gentlemen Don't Like Love, Lullaby Of Birdland.

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

January 2, 2016

Happy New Year!

The stalwarts braved our first good cold Saturday of the winter to play some jazz: Sam on bass, Gene and Tom on drums, Steve M and Steve H on altos, Wes on tenor, Jim (after a long hiatus) on piano, Serdar on guitar, Carl on trombone, and Annie bringing the vocals.

Steve M started the new year right with That Old Feeling (III-393). Sam followed up with My Ideal (III-282). Steve H thought a touch of the old sod would be lucky, and called for Jersey Bounce (III-223). We turned next to Wes for a pick, and he was ready with Lullaby of Birdland (I-256). Tom was looking just to swing a bit, and called for C-Jam Blues (II-74). We went to a middling lope with Sam's next pick, Java Jive (III-222). Jack sent up a few trial balloons before finally settling on Pennies From Heaven (II-309), throwing in a vocal for good measure. Gene actually landed on one we had in the books on the first try: Whisper Not (II-422). Serdar was all set up by this point, and when we turned to him for a choice, he confessed he had a soft spot for Besame Mucho (III-42). Steve M went next, and went mid-tempo to keep us from crying on Who Can I Turn To? (III-423). By the time we got back to yours truly, Annie's mic was plugged in and ready for a version of On The Sunny Side Of The Street (II-298).

With the vocal portion beginning, Annie chose a swingy version of Make Someone Happy (II-258), followed by a sweet ballad, The Folks Who Live On The Hill (II-137). For an instrumental break, Wes picked Flying Home (II-136)--not quite at Benny Goodman speed, but we kept it moving. Annie next pulled out an amusing Cole Porter tune not in the books, Most Gentlemen Don't Like Love. Next we took on On A Clear Day You Can See Forever (III-308).

It was only 2:00 when I had to check out, but I suspect some good tunes were played over the course of the next hour.

Auld Lang Syne
Here’s a weird mix of people performing the staple New Year’s Tune.

Kenny G

Royal Scots Dragoon Guards

Rod Stewart

James Taylor

Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians

A random bluegrass version

Bing Crosby

Enjoy!
--SJH