Sam thought he'd really workshop us by bringing in several off-book (i.e., off-Real Book) songs, all in concert key so that we would have to transpose. We started with Hoagy Carmichael's New Orleans. After struggling our way through that--it really is a decent tune--Jack D requested Beautiful Love (I-40). Yours truly always wanted to play the lovely Johnny Hodges vehicle, Ellington's Warm Valley (II-412); it was worth the effort. Jack K wanted to play some trumpet after time on the skins, so he chose My Foolish Heart (I-286), and I tapped out a beat on the hi hat. Sam had another tune, another 1920's bit called Melancholy, which we gave a solid try. At this point, Sam and the Jacks had to pull up stakes. Wes and I played through Donna Lee a few times. Annie and Carl arrived just in time to find the rhythm section on the way out the door, so we did not continue.
Participant Picks
New Orleans (Hoagy
Carmichael)
Two very different versions. That’s Art Pepper playing alto
on the first one, but Hoagy himself on the vocal.
The second more as you expect it—and yet not—from Al Hirt.
Hornheads Five Heads
Are Better Than One
Warm Valley (Johnny Hodges)
Enjoy!
--SJH
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