Wednesday, June 27, 2018

June 23, 2018

Next Time: Saturday, June 30, 1-5pm, Hook and Ladder, Lake and Minnehaha, MPLS

Add-A-Tune: Desafinado (I-108)

We had a drastically reduced session, due to the fact that yours truly, manning the piano, had to leave at 2:30. Rarely has your scribe felt so wanted.

Present were Sam (trumpet and trombone), Craig (guitar), Raphael (bass), followed by Victor (vocals) and Wes (tenor); Annie (vocals) and Carl stopped in a bit after 2:00.

We began with Sam's Add-A-Tune, Cold Duck Time (II-87). The piano player found Moonglow (II-275) gathering dust, so we blew out the spiders and tried it. Raphael went the be-bop route--though with caution--opting for Groovin' High (I-166). Craig surprised us by calling Don't Get Around Much Anymore (I-122). Given the time crunch, the vocalists each got one tune: Victor choosing Stardust, and Annie continuing Without A Song (II-428).

We hope things are more normal this coming week.

Participant Picks

Cold Duck Time
Eddie Harris/Les McCann


Moonglow
Artie Shaw
Benny Goodman
Billie Holliday

Enjoy!

--SJH

Monday, June 18, 2018

June 16, 2018

Next Session: Probably June 23, 1-5 at The Hook and Ladder (Minnehaha and Lake)

Add-A-Tune: Cold Duck Time (II-87)

We got started with Sam (trumpet and trombone), Steve M (alto), Raphael (bass) and yours truly (piano). Craig (guitar) and Victor (vocals) soon joined us, followed by Carl (trombone), Annie (vocals) and Dick (vocals).

Sam's Add-a-Tune this week was Dancing On The Ceiling (I-98). We tried it at increasing tempos. Your scribe called for Don't Get Around Much Anymore (I-122). Raphael changed directions entirely with Coltrane's Giant Steps (which we took a wee bit slower than those whose steps we were following). Craig reached into his grab bag of seventies hits with Lean On Me (IV-250). Steve M went more traditional, choosing Here's That Rainy Day (I-175). Victor joined the instrumentalists in a go-round of Bye Bye Blackbird (II-73). Back to Sam, we took on a full steam version of Dear Old Stockholm (I-102).  We went a little easier with a bouncy version of Thou Swell (I-411), compliments of your scribe. Raphael wrapped up the instrumental portion with a stretched-out Waltz For Debby (I-432).

On to the vocal portion of the day, Annie got us cooking with The Surrey With The Fringe On Top (I-393). Victor called the old reliable Avalon (II-25). Dick surprised us with the moving Body And Soul (I-57). Annie jollied things up with Ain't Misbehavin' (III-13). Dick took Doxy (II-111) for an easy swing. Victor reprised Dancing On The Ceiling (I-98). Carl broke things up with an instrumental version of Blue Monk (I-52), on which Annie took a turn. She then pulled out Without A Song (II-428). Dick opted for I'm Beginning To See The Light (I-200). Victor scatted his way through Blue Skies (II-58). We took another instrument break with Steve M asking for On A Clear Day (III-308). One more tune for Annie, Let There Be Love (II-236), and for Victor, Beyond The Sea (II-40). Craig got the choice of instrumental to finish the afternoon, going with Satin Doll (I-349).

Participant Picks
Giant Steps
John Coltrane
Joey Alexander (!)
Wynton Marsalis

Dancing on the Ceiling
Jo Stafford
Chet Baker
The Supremes

Waltz for Debby
Bill Evans
Cannonball Adderley and Bill Evans
Oscar Peterson


Enjoy!

--SJH

Tuesday, June 12, 2018

June 9, 2018

Next session: Saturday, June 16, 1-5pm, the Hook and Ladder (Minnehaha and Lake).

Your scribe stood alone for a few minutes after 1:00, but then Steve M (alto) and Raphael (bass) arrived, and with me on the piano, we got things rolling with Raphael's pick, Well You Needn't (I-4xx). Steve M went with Sentimental Journey (II-3xx). Wes (tenor) had arrived to join us, and called Robbin's Nest (II-3xx). In came Serdar (guitar), with yours truly choosing Autumn Leaves (I-xx). Craig (guitar) wandered in, while Serdar offered Tenor Madness (II-390). Jim D (alto, clarinet) came in during Craig's choice, Goin' Out Of My Head (IV-150). Raphael took another, calling Blue Bossa (I-50) as a quicker samba. Jim D opted for Slipped Disc (II-353), and when that turned out quite confusing (we had conflicting versions), he went with I Thought About You (II-180).

Annie (vocals) and Carl (trombone) had set up by now, with Sam (trumpet and trombone) coming in shortly after we began the vocal portion. Annie started with Let There Be Love (III-236), and followed that up with Take The A Train (I-398), with solos for everyone. Wes went with Red Top (III-322) as an instrumental. Never Let Me Go (III-299) was Annie's next song, followed by Quiet Nights Of Quiet Stars (I-335). Another instrumental was in order, and Sam pulled out Sister Sadie (III-355). Annie then sang I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free (I-195), and then Easy To Love (I-128). Again with the instrumentals, Carl got his way with Blue Monk (I-52). We finished up with Annie's last choice, Bye Bye Blackbird (II-73).

Participant Pick

Slipped Disc
Benny Goodman
--SJH