Thursday, December 27, 2018

December 22, 2018

NO WORKSHOP this week (Dec. 29).Next time: Saturday, Jan. 5, 11am-3pm, TowerLight

More catch-up work this week, sans details. Back soon with the blog posts you have all (assuming there is more than one of us) come to know and love.

The Musicians:
Raphael (bass), Sam (trumpet, trombone), Jack K (trumpet), Steve M (alto), Carl (trombone), and Steve H (piano).

The Songs:
Work Song (I-4xx) Sam
My Romance (I-2xx) Jack K
Round Midnight (I-3xx) Steve M
I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm (III-188) Steve H
Deluge (I-106) Raphael
Softly As In A Morning Sunrise (II-355) Sam
Stella By Starlight (I-382) Steve M
Jelly Roll (I-226) Carl
West Coast Blues (I-436) Steve H
Night In Tunisia (I-302) Raphael
The Girl From Ipanema (I-158) Sam
You Brought Me A New Kind Of Love (I-458) Steve M
Blue Bossa (I-50) Carl
Baby It's Cold Outside (II-28) Steve H
Three Flowers (I-412) Raphael
Wave (I-431) Sam
On A Slow Boat To China (I-309) Steve M

--SJH

P.S. I have no idea why half of this report is showing up in red, nor how to stop it. 'Tis the season of surprises...

Thursday, December 20, 2018

December 15, 2018

Next Time: Saturday, Dec. 22, 11am-3pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale, St. Louis Park)


Bring your holiday music along with the regular stuff. No telling what someone might request this close to Christmas!

Finally catching up on the blogs after getting through a lot of other Important Things like work, holidays, and family fun.

It's been awhile, and your scribe no longer remembers the details, though it is possible to list the players and the songs from this date.

The Players: Craig (guitar), Sam (trumpet, trombone), Jack K (trumpet), Waymond (drums, alto, vocals), Raphael (bass), Steve H (piano, alto), Ari (trumpet), Annie (vocals), Carl (vocals), and special guest Caitlin (vocals).

The Tunes:
All Of Me (I-20) Sam
Broadway (I-61) Steve H
Au Privave (I-37) Raphael
Alice In Wonderland (I-17) Waymond
I'm Old Fashioned (III-186) Jack K
High Hopes (III-145) Ari
Dear Old Stockholm (I-102) Sam
Merry Christmas Baby (Christmas Book) Annie-vocal
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (Christmas) Caitlin-vocal
The Nearness Of You (II-285) Waymond-vocal
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (Christmas) Annie-vocal
The Christmas Waltz (Christmas) Caitlin-vocal
So What (I-364) Carl-instrumental break
What Are You Doing New Years Eve (Christmas) Annie-vocal
Winter Wonderland (Christmas) Caitlin-vocal
Never Let Me Go (III-299) Annie-vocal
White Christmas (Christmas) Caitlin

--SJH


Wednesday, December 12, 2018

December 8, 2018

NEXT TIME: Saturday, Dec. 15, 11am-3pm, TowerLight, 3601 Wooddale, St. Louis Park


Bring your Christmas songs along (Real Book and Sam's collection)

TowerLight residents and personnel were kind enough to let us play for them in appreciation of their allowing us to play throughout the year in the theater space. We played Christmas tunes for an hour in the lobby. Annie and Victor did the singing. The band was composed of Sam (trombone and trumpet), Carl (trombone), Steve C (piano), Serdar (guitar), Raphael (bass), Waymond (drums), Steve M (alto), Steve W (alto), and Wes (tenor). Special mention to Jack K, who showed up, but did not play.

--SJH

Thursday, December 6, 2018

December 1, 2018

NEXT TIME: Dec. 8, 2018, CHRISTMAS SONGS FOR TOWERLIGHT FOLKS, noon-1pm.

We need to be ready for a downbeat at noon, so we hope you will arrive between 11:15 and 11:30 to help set up.

This week we had a suitable contingent: Sam (trombone and trumpet), Raphael (bass), Craig (guitar), Jack K (drums), Carl (trombone), Annie (vocals), Wes (tenor), and Steve H (piano). 

We played most of the songs in our Christmas folder. When we left, it was snowing very hard.

--SJH

Monday, November 26, 2018

November 24, 2018

Next Time: Saturday, December 1, 11am-3pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)


Bring Christmas Real Book if you have one; Sam is supplying another set in concert key as well.

We'll be playing Christmas songs for the listening pleasure of the TowerLight folks from noon to 1:00pm on Saturday, 12/8, in place of our regular Workshop.

Assembled for practicing Christmas songs and other Workshop delights were Craig (guitar), Sam (trumpet, trombone), Steve C (piano), Steve H (alto, drums), Raphael (bass), Jack K (drums), Serdar (guitar), Wes (tenor, drums), Carl (trombone), Ari (trumpet), and Ray (just visiting, thanks), and Victor (vocals).

Mostly Christmas songs today. We worked on Sleigh Ride, Silver Bells, Jingle Bells, Christmas Time Is Here, Let It Snow, Feliz Navidad, Santa Monk Is Coming To Town, The Christmas Song, Winter Wonderland, Happy Holidays, All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth, Frosty the Snowman, and White Christmas. We also played a few non-holiday tunes: Basin Street Blues, Stardust, and a couple of others that your scribe forgot to scribe.

Next week: more of the same.

--SJH


Wednesday, November 21, 2018

November 17, 2018

Next Time: Saturday, Nov. 24, 11am-3pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale, St. Louis Park)


Coming up: December 8, noon-1:00, Christmas performance for TowerLight folks.

Add-A-Tune: Christmas Songs!

The usual gang showed up again for the Workshop this time: Sam (trombone, trumpet), Raphael (bass), Craig (guitar), Steve H (piano), Ari (trumpet), Wes (tenor), Jack K (trumpet), Bob (guitar), Carl (trombone), Annie (vocals), Jim D (piano, percussion), and Victor (vocals).

Things got swinging (gently) with Sam's first pick, All The Things You Are (I-22). Jack K kept the mood with an easy-going Time After Time (III-408). Craig changed tempos by going to Pure Imagination (III-327). Your scribe, manning the piano today, called for Makin' Whoopee (III-261). Raphael changed speed with a lively version of The Lady Is A Tramp (III-227). Wes moved over to some Charlie Parker (at a reasonable tempo) by calling Donna Lee (I-123). Ari let the bass set the pace with All Blues (I-18). Back to Sam, we went to Horace Silver's Lucky Southern (I-255), which sounds like it should be a train song, but is actually a bossa. Craig went traditional with Satin Doll (I-349).

Vocal time, and Annie got in the Blue flow with two very different tunes: The Blue Room (I-53), and Little Girl Blue (III-243), which by all reports went a bit better than last week. Yours truly, just before departing for the afternoon, asked for Skylark (III-356), which turned out a bit swifter than planned, but still held its own. Jim D arrived just in time to take over piano duties as Annie sang about the Old Man From The Old Country (I-300), then lightened things up on Without A Song (II-428). Bob had missed a chance on the instrumental rounds, so he got to call Georgia On My Mind (II-145). Annie next reprised Time After Time (III-408), a little lighter than before, and followed with What a Diff'rence A Day Made (III-430). Victor got a shot and went to old reliable Avalon (II-25). Sam wrapped up the afternoon with St. Thomas (II-338).

--SJH

Wednesday, November 14, 2018

November 10, 2018

Next Time: Sat., Nov. 17, 11am-3pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale, St. Louis Park) 


Your regular scribe was feeling irregular, and was not present for this edition of the Workshop. He is taking the report from the trusty Raphael and passing it on to you. 

Present were, of course, Raphael (bass), along with Sam (trumpet and trombone), Wes (tenor), Jack K (trumpet), Bob (guitar), Carl (trombone) and Annie (vocals). The songs played are as follows:

In A Mellow Tone (I-206), Sam
Now's The Time (II-293), Jack
Salt Peanuts (II-340), Raphael
Blue Trane (I-54), Wes
Out Of Nowhere (I-318), Sam
The Nearness Of You (II-285), Jack
It Could Happen To You (II-204), Raphael
Along Came Betty (III-22), Wes
'Deed I Do (III-92), Annie
Little Girl Blue (III-243), Annie (Really struggled to get 3/4 to 4/4/ transition.)
2 Degrees E, 3 Degrees W (II-408), Carl
You're Nobody Till Somebody Loves You (II-438), Annie
The Way You Look Tonight (II-415), Annie
Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise (II-355), Bob
Old Man From The Old Country (I-308), Annie
Jersey Bounce (III-223), Raphael
On The Sunny Side Of The Street (III-312), Annie

Reference recording of Little Girl Blue (Ella Fitzgerald)


--SJH

Friday, November 9, 2018

November 3, 2018

Next Time: Saturday, November 10, 11am-3pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Avenue, Saint Louis Park)


On hand at one point or another were Jack K (trumpet), Sam (trumpet and trombone), Wes (tenor), Raphael (bass), Steve M (alto), Steve C (piano), Steve H (alto, piano), Victor (vocals), and Jim D (clarinet and vocals). We had to keep sending people upstairs for a while with the front desk unattended, so people were in and out.

Playing got started with Sam's handout, a harmonized version of Lullaby of Birdland. Jack took the next number, I Could Write A Book (I-186). Steve M gave the call to How High The Moon (I-180). Steve C went Latin with Blue Bossa (I-50). Yours truly switched over to piano for one tune while Raphael gave us the challenge on Waltz For Debby (I-432). We almost knew it was the call before Wes opted for Donna Lee (I-123). Your scribe dug into his bag for a four-part version of Four Brothers. Sam worked us hard on Dear Old Stockholm (I-102).

We started some vocalizing with Victor's first choice, Basin Street Blues (II-37), followed by Stardust (II-367). Steve M took another turn, this time Indiana (II-201). Victor was ready to go on Bye Bye Blackbird (II-73). Jim D thought it would be fun to do the vocalese version of Robbin's Nest (II-330), which has a different name which your scribe forgot to scribe. Victor went back to his standard, Avalon (II-25). There is apparently also a vocalese version of Red Top (III-332), with which Jim D also regaled us. Steve C changed things up a bit with Oleo (I-309). Victor got in one last vocal call, Blue Skies (II-58). Raphael decided on the old standard Out Of Nowhere (I-318). Sam took us out on My Little Suede Shoes (II-282).

--SJH

Tuesday, October 30, 2018

October 27, 2018

Next Time: Saturday, November 3, 11am-3pm. We will be at TowerLight (3601 Wooddale, St. Louis Park) at least through the new year as The Hook and Ladder plays out a busy calendar, then undergoes renovations.


We began with a short list of Steve C (piano), Raphael (bass) and Steve H (alto). Newcomer Doug (alto) was there to begin, but then had to leave before we got out of the first tune; we hope he'll return. Raphael took the first call, Cedar Walton's Holy Land (II-166). Steve C opted for the very classic The Blue Room (I-53). Yours truly stayed on the blue theme with Bluesette (I-56). Raphael, just looking for something new, found Bolivia (III-56), which took us quite a while to sort out, but proved fun in the end. Steve C pulled out another oldie, Flamingo (IV-134). Right next to that was A Foggy Day (IV-135), the choice of your scribe.

By this point, our guitarists, Bob and Serdar, and Wes on tenor, had made their entrance. Bob took his chance to call You're Nobody Till Somebody Loves You (II-438). Serdar followed with Tenor Madness (II-390). Wes surprised no one by making us work hard on Anthropology (I-29). Bob eased up on the madness and the studies with So Nice (I-362).

Vocal time came around; Annie (vocals) and Carl (trombone) had arrived in the midst of the instrumentals. Annie's first choice was Dearly Beloved (I-103), which we took at a lazy swing until Annie slowed down even more for something almost sultry. She followed this with the pretty 'Tis Autumn (handout). Carl was allowed the instrumental call, and we played So What (I-364). Annie went into Full Fall mode, with the melancholy Autumn In New York (I-38), followed by the bouncier Autumn Leaves (I-39). Wes chose old favorite Donna Lee (I-123) for the instrumental break. Back to vocals, we were treated to My Man (III-294), followed by Exactly Like You (III-116). Your scribe took it upon himself to put us in 3/4 time with Alice In Wonderland (I-17). Annie's final two for the day were Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye (III-113), and I'm Old Fashioned (III-66). We topped things off with  everybody getting a chorus on Wes' suggetion, Ain't Misbehavin' (III-13).

--SJH

Thursday, October 25, 2018

October 20, 2018

Next Time: Saturday, October 27, 1-5pm, Hook and Ladder, Lake and Minnehaha, Mpls.  UNConfirmed!

New Plan: Saturday, October 27, 11am-3pm, TowerLight, 3601 Wooddale Ave, St. Louis Park


Your scribe is behind in grading, so this one will have to be quick.

Present were Raphael (bass), Steve C (piano), Serdar (guitar), Craig (guitar), Jack D (trumpet), Jack K (trumpet), Carl (trombone), Annie (vocals), and Steve H (soprano). Yours truly was late to the proceedings for various reasons, arriving halfway through, and Raphael was once again kind enough to keep tabs on things. Tunes and musician who called it are listed here.

My Romance (I-289) Jack K
Killing Me Softly With His Song (IV-241) Craig
Exactly Like You (III-116) Steve C
Masquerade (III-269) Raphael
Blue Monk (I-52) Serdar
If I Should Lose You (II-193) Jack D
Nancy With The Laughing Face (III-298) Jack K
'Tis Autumn (handout) Annie
Never Let Me Go (III-299) Annie
Bean's Blues (handout) Steve H
How Little We Know (hadnout) Annie
Let The Good Times Roll (handout) Annie
Give Me The Simple Life (handout) Annie
So What (I-364) Carl
Quiet Nights Of Quiet Stars (I-335) Annie
Without A Song (II-427) Annie
Billie's Bounce (II-44) Serdar
Witchcraft (III-452) Steve H
St. Thomas (II-337) Serdar

--SJH


Thursday, October 18, 2018

October 13, 2018

Next Time: Saturday, October 20, 1-5pm. TowerLight, 3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park

FJF practice: Bean's Blues

A good crowd was on hand as we returned after several weeks to the Hook. Jack D (trumpet), Jack K (trumpet), Sam (bass), Wes (tenor) Steve H (piano), Steve M (alto), Craig (guitar), Victor (vocals), Carl (trombone), Annie (vocals) and Dick (vocals).

We are preparing for the possibility of doing some sort of gig as a group, so we are beginning to run through some tunes for which we have multi-part charts. We started this week with Bean's Blues, an original. After hacking through that for a while, then moved on to the regular things we do. Jack D called Gypsy In My Soul. Jack K changed the tempo with Tune Up. Wes took us back to the roots with Ain't Misbehavin'. Steve M called the classic East Of The Sun, West Of The Moon. Sam couldn't wait until the end of our session, turning to favorite St. Thomas. Carl wrapped up the instrumental portion with Doxy.

Victor got the vocals going with Bye Bye Blackbird. Annie introduced us to the great 'Tis Autumn. Dick opted for Cole Porter's All Of You. Victor answered with All Of Me. Annie brought music for Give Me The Simple Life. Dick decided on Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me (II-107). Yours truly got the call on the instrumental break, turning to I Got Rhythm (IV-182). Victor took a vocal turn on Blue Skies (II-58). Annie slowed things down on Who Can I Turn To (II-423). Dick chose old favorite I Could Write A Book. Victor gave another go at In The Still Of The Night (II-198). Annie continued to work on Without A Song (II-428).  Craig, in Dick's absence, called the instrumental Work Song (II-429). We finished off with everyone chiming in on Basin Street Blues (II-37).

--SJH

Thursday, October 11, 2018

October 6, 2018

Next Time: Saturday, October 13, 1-5pm, Hook and Ladder (Lake and Minnehaha, MPLS)


Sam's FJF practice: Bean's Blues (I'll provide the chart.)

We got started this rainy morning with Sam (trombone, trumpet), Steve H (piano), Wes (tenor), newcomer Ari (trumpet), Raphael (bass), Craig (guitar) and Steve M (alto). Apparently some listeners stopped in at some point, and one even joined in!

Things got started with Sam's choice, Lullaby of Birdland (I-256). Ari, by virtue of sitting next to Sam, got the next choice, going with All Blues (I-18). Craig was up next, and opted for Satin Doll (I-349). Before heading out, yours truly called seasonally appropriate Autumn Leaves (I-39).

Sam and your scribe both had to leave early, but Raphael took notes on the remainder. In fact, it was Raphael's turn, and he chose Soul Eyes (II-261). Ari pulled out a favorite of several Workshoppers, St. Thomas (II-339). Steve M. turned to an excellent alto number, Misty (I-277). Ari had to run at 1:00, and Wes was out early as well, but those left behind continued gamely on.

Craig called You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Loves You (II-438). Someone requested I've Never Been In Love Before (III-194). Raphael found the little-remarked Telephone Song (III-390). Craig got another shot and went with Moonlight In Vermont (III-282). Peggy, who had stopped in to listen, got a turn with Summertime (IV-xxx). Steve M chose I Love Paris (I-189). Raphael came back with Night In Tunisia (I-302). Craig really dug back with the old boogie Caledonia (III-70). Someone called I"ve Grown Accustomed To Her Face (III-192). Raphael returned to a number we had done the previous week, Kalmar and Ruby's Three Little Words (III-406). Steve M. decided on On The Sunny Side Of The Street (III-312). Craig wrapped things up with Crazy (III-86).

--SJH

Wednesday, October 3, 2018

September 29, 2018

Next Time: Saturday, October 6, 11am-3pm, TowerLight, 3601 Wooddale Ave. St. Louis Park


Sam (trumpet and trombone), Steve (piano and soprano), and Raphael (bass) set up while having a conversation about the possibility of a dedicated group of Workshoppers playing in the Freedom Jazz Festival next year. Then we got started on some tunes, starting with Sam's Add-A-Tune, Billie's Bounce (II-44). Your scribe, having been taken over by an Ellingtonian spirit, had a few of the Duke's old songs in mind; first up, Black and Tan Fantasy (II-50). We worked on it for a while, just trying to make sure of the best way to proceed through the chart, and whether to solo on a major blues or a minor blues. Raphael was happy to move on to Early Autumn (II-114). Sam took us through an easy-swingy version of Softly As In A Morning Sunrise (II-355). Wanting to play a little more upbeat soprano, yours truly called Tangerine (II-386). Raphael worked us out on Yardbird Suite (II-433). By this time, Annie (vocals) and Carl (trombone) had settled in, so Carl got the last instrumental choice, surprising us with Watermelon Man (III-429). It remains this writer's contention that old men and funk do not mix.

Annie began the vocal segment at 1:00 with a reprise of Early Autumn (II-114), and followed it with Give Me The Simple Life (handout). Sam, trying to match Carl's cheek, opted for Sister Sadie (III-355); this writer's opinion on the matter (see above) was only reinforced. Back to vocals, fortunately, Annie chose September Song (II-344), followed by How Little We Know (handout). The Ellingtonian spirit once again seizing the piano player, he called Creole Love Call (III-88) for the instrumental. Another pair for the vocalist, this time Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans (II-108), and Without A Song (II-428). Somewhere in here we had gathered a handful of listeners, who settled into the chairs in the TowerLight theater where we play and were a most appreciative group. Raphael decided to pick up the pace a bit, and came up with a lively rendition of Get Me To The Church On Time (II-146). We finished with three featuring Annie: Exactly Like You (III-116), Fine and Mellow (II-122), and Quiet Nights Of Quiet Stars, otherwise known as Corcovado (I-335).

Participant Picks
Black and Tan Fantasy
Duke Ellington
Theolonius Monk

Creole Love Call
Duke Ellington

Get Me To The Church On Time
Shelley Manne/ Andre Previn
Oscar Peterson Trio

Exactly Like You
Aretha Franlkin
Diana Krall
Nina Simone

How Little We Know
Nat King Cole
Hoagy Carmichael and Lauren Bacall

Wednesday, September 26, 2018

September 22, 2018

Next Time: Saturday, September 29, 11am-3pm, TowerLight, 3601 Wooddale Avenue, St. Louis Park.

Sam's Add-A-Tune: Billie's Bounce (II-44)

Special guest blogger: Raphael
(Thanks for handling the Workshop and the notes!--SJH)

After guitar (Craig) and bass (Raphael-writer) took time to tune their instrument, they worked through the chord changes of East of the Sun (West of the Moon) III-104. Then, Craig selected Feel Like Making Love III-119. At that point, Bob (guitar) joined in and proposed I Left My Heart in San Francisco (III-168). We continued with Indian Summer III-201. Carl was here in time for the last tune during the instrumental hour - 2 Degrees East, 3 Degrees West (II-408). Annie did not mind a smaller group and kicked off the vocal session with The Very THought of You III-421 and The Best Is Yet to Come IV-41. Black Orpheus I-49, Bob's selection was mixed instrumental and vocal (Annie). We continued with 4 vocal selections from Annie, How Little We Know and Give Me the Simple Life (not in the RB's), This Can't Be Love (III-402), and That Old Feeling (III-393). Went back shortly to instrumental with Carl's Mood Indigo I-279. Next 2 vocal selections from Annie were For Sentimental Reasons (I-147) and Girl from Ipanema (I-158). Raphael selected the last instrumental with Moonlight in Vermont (III-282). By that time, we barely had enought time to wrap up with Annie's I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to be Free (I-195).

Tuesday, September 18, 2018

September 15, 2018

Next Time: Saturday, September 22, 11am-3pm, TowerLight, 3601 Wooddale Avenue, Saint Louis Park

We're spending the month of September at TowerLight, and this being a September weekend...well, you know. Steve C (piano), Sam (trumpet, trombone), Craig (guitar), Steve H (soprano), Bob (guitar), Raphael (bass), Carl (trombone), and Annie (vocals) were this week's participants.

Off to the races with Cousin Mary (II-93), this session's Add-A-Tune from Sam. Yours truly took the next one, going with On A Slow Boat To China (III-309). Bob took a pass, but Craig was ready with Pure Imagination (III-327). Steve C stayed in the movies with On A Clear Day (III-308). Raphael was looking for Wayne Shorter's Witch Hunt, but settled for the classic Witchcraft (III-452). Back to your scribe, we traveled back to the Kalmar and Ruby tune, Three Little Words (III-400). Sam opted for the VERY long Latin song, Desafinado (I-108).

Annie got the vocal portion going with two tunes she brought sheet music for: How Little We Know, and Give Me The Simple Life. Steve C got the instrumental call, turning to Groovin' High (I-166). Next, Annie chose two slow sad Billie Holiday numbers, You Don't Know What Love Is (I-459), and Detour Ahead (I-105). Heat Wave (III-143) was Raphael's exploratory instrumental. Two more for Annie: My Foolish Heart (I-22), and Don't Blame Me (I-121). Carl chose So What (I-364) for an instrumental break. Annie took one more turn, calling Let There Be Love (III-236). The soprano player got one more shot, asking for Don't Get Around Much Anymore (I-122). We wrapped up with the semi-traditional closer, St. Thomas (II-339).

Participant Picks
Witchcraft
Frank Sinatra
not to be confused with
Witch Hunt
Wayne Shorter


Heat Wave
Ethel Waters
Not to be confused with Martha and the Vandellas

How Little We Know
Nat King Cole

Three Little Words
Duke Ellington
Fred Astaire


Enjoy!

--SJH

Sunday, September 9, 2018

September 8, 2018

Next Time: Saturday, September 15, 11am-3pm, TowerLight, 3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park

Sam's Add-A-Tune: Cousin Mary (II-93)

A three-man start at TowerLight this week: Steve C (piano), Raphael (bass) and Steve H (soprano) got things underway until Annie (vocals), Carl (trombone) and Victor (vocals) arrived.

We began with Steve C's pick, Blue Bossa (I-50). We began our delving into the unfamiliar with Raphael's option, Masquerade (III-269). Next up was your scribe's choice, Daahoud (I-96), though considerably below full speed. Steve C went back briefly to the more standard How High The Moon (I-180). Raphael turned us back to the sight reading with Isotope (I-222). We played Invitation (I-217) as a ballad.

Annie got us rolling on the vocals with My Melancholy Baby (III-295). Carl had us take another shot at So What (I-364). Annie took another two: Let There Be Love (III-236) and Look To The Rainbow (III-249). Yours truly decided to pull out Irving Berlin's oddly divided Let's Face The Music And Dance (III-238). Back to Annie for a pair, this time Poor Butterfly (III-324) and Fine And Mellow (III-122). Steve C got the instrumental break, choosing Lullaby Of The Leaves (III-260).

Victor was on hand by now, and took a spin on Stardust (II-367). Annie took another two before departing: I See Your Face Before Me (IV-192), and Goin' Out Of My Head (IV-150). Victor opted for Basin Street Blues (II-37), before Raphael called the instrumental Miles Ahead (II-264). Victor took us out with two classics: All Of Me (I-20), and Blue Skies (II-58).

Participant Picks

Daahoud
Clifford Brown and Max Roach
Ray Bryant

Isotope
Joe Henderson

Invitation
Bronislaw Kaper
Stan Getz
Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers

I See Your Face Before Me
Tony Bennett
Mildred Bailey
Kevin Mahogany and Roy Hargrove


Enjoy!

--SJH

Wednesday, September 5, 2018

Next Time


Saturday, Sept. 8, 11am-3pm, TowerLight, 3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park

Hope to see you there!--SJH

Sunday, August 26, 2018

August 25, 2018

Next Time: Saturday, September 1, 1-5 pm, Hook and Ladder (Lake and Minnehaha)
Add-A-Tune: Cousin Mary (II-93)

CANCEL! CANCEL! NO JAZZ WORKSHOP THIS WEEK!Hook and Ladder is closed for the weekend; no arrangement with TowerLight has been made.


Present this week were Sam (trumpet and trombone), Wes (tenor), Raphael (bass), Steve H (piano and soprano), Craig (guitar), Victor (vocals), Annie (vocals), Carl (trombone), and Dick (vocals).

We got underway with Little Boat (I-245), Sam's Add-A-Tune. Raphael got the next call, choosing the tricky Black Diamond (I-46). Yours truly went way more traditional with For All We Know (I-145). Victor took a spin as an instrumentalist with Basin Street Blues (II-37). Craig, having solved his mechanical difficulties, opted for Pure Imagination (III-327). Annie, also in instrumentalists mode, called I'm Beginning To See The Light (I-200). Carl got us to do all the parts on So What (I-364). Wes decided on an old favorite, Doxy (II-111). Sam brought the instrumental segment to a close with Cantaloupe Island (II-76).

Victor kicked off the vocalist portion with Stardust (II-367). Annie opted for something a bit bouncier, I'm Old-Fashioned (III-186). Dick's first choice was In A Mellow Tone (I-206). Victor got us looking through our books until we came up with Deep Purple (IV-103). Annie gave us a good workout with the shifting 3/4-4/4 signatures of Little Girl Blue (III-243). Dick went to I Should Care (I-194). Your scribe got to call the instrumental break, and we did an alternating Latin/swing version of Softly As In A Morning Sunrise (II-355); it sounded better in his head.

The vocalists took another round, Victor kicking things off with Ain't Misbehavin' (III-13). Annie tackled the ballad If I Loved You (II-192) with a light swing. Dick's third was a favorite, Out Of Nowhere (I-318). Victor took one last spin on Blue Skies (II-58). Annie went full ballad on I Don't Stand A Ghost Of A Chance (II-173). Dick turned to Have You Met Miss Jones (I-172). For one last combined vocal/instrumental, Dick suggested Just Friends (IV-237), with everyone taking a a chorus.

Participant Picks

Little Girl Blue
Nina Simone
Peter Nero
Chet Baker
Dave Brubeck


Just Friends
Sarah Vaughan
Dexter Gordon
Charlie Parker
John Coltrane and Friends


Enjoy!

--SJH