Monday, July 23, 2018

July 21, 2018

Next Time: Saturday, July 28, 11am-3pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave, St. Louis Park)

Sam's Add-A-Tune: Lucky Southern (I-255)

We began our Hook and Ladder session with Sam (trumpet and trombone), Steve H (piano and soprano), and Craig (guitar). Victor (vocals) came early, and after a bit Raphael (bass) arrived. Sam started us off with the Add-A-Tune, Gerry Mulligan's Five Brothers (II-132). While Raphael set up, we took on Craig's choice, Fly Me To The Moon (II-135). Victor asked to work on Stardust (II-367), which we were happy to oblige. Raphael called I Remember You (II-179). Yours truly went to Blue Skies (II-58). Carl (trombone), Annie (vocals), and Jim D (alto, clarinet, piano and vocals) were on hand at this point. Carl got the call with Blues By Five (II-59). Jim D wanted to play and take a vocal turn on his choice Pick Yourself Up (II-317). Sam went with the lovely Latin/swing Nica's Dream (I-299). 

Annie started up the official vocal portion with Sugar (I-387). Victor got us working the New Orleans beat with Basin Street Blues (II-37). Annie took us back to New York with Lullaby of Birdland (I-256). Dick (vocals) and Steve M (alto) had joined us by this time, and Dick called two: I'm Confessin' (II-185), and All Of Me (I-20). For an instrumental break, Carl called Coltrane's Bessie's Blues (II-xxx). Victor thought a bit before coming up with Look For The Silver Lining (II-249).  Jimmy D asked for a vocal turn, and a piano turn, on a blues tune the name of which your scribe forgot to scribe, but which he brought with him. Annie chose a ballad, Every Time We Say Goodbye (III-113). After some false starts on another tune, Victor and company settled in nicely to Pennies From Heaven (II-309). Annie returned to another slow number, I Wish You Love (III-172). Jim D called an instrumental, though he also took a vocal spin on Yardbird Suite (I-433). Victor finished up his afternoon with Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me (I-107). Annie finished everyone's afternoon with everyone taking a spin on Somebody Loves Me (I-369).

Participant Picks

Five Brothers
Gerry Mulligan and Chet Baker

Pick Yourself Up
Nat King Cole/George Shearing
Mel Torme
Fred and Ginger

Look for the Silver Lining
Marilyn Miller and Alexander Gray
Chet Baker
Leslie Odom, Jr.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9-4pUmx8Rw

Enjoy!

--SJH

Sunday, July 15, 2018

July 14, 2018

Next Up: July 21 at the Hook and Ladder (Lake and Minnehaha), 1-5 pm.

We got rolling at TowerLight this time with only four: Craig (guitar), Jack D (trumpet), Steve C (piano), and Steve H (alto). Joining us in the second half were Victor (vocals), Annie (vocals), and Carl (trombone). Before the afternoon was up, that piano guy whose name I keep forgetting, and Jim D swung by for a few tunes.

We began with Steve C's pick, In A Mellow Tone (I-206). Craig called the next, Killing Me Softly With His Song (IV-241). Jack D brought out a song most of us had not heard, I've Never Been In Love Before (III-184). Yours truly took us back to the earlier days of jazz with Limehouse Blues (I-244). Back to the piano player, we turned to Like Someone In Love (I-243). Craig opted for The Rainbow Connection (III-330). Jack called Out Of Nowhere (I-318). Your scribe went the simple route with C-Jam Blues (II-74). Back around to Steve C, we pulled out Robbins Nest (II-330). Craig went the most complicated route with In The Still Of The Night (II-198).

Victor was ready to sing, so we started off the vocal portion with Basin Street Blues (II-37), followed by Stardust (II-367). For an instrumental, the sax player called Too Young (II-403).  Annie having settled in by this time called Watermelon Man (II-429), complete with a little story to launch it. Victor took a turn with Dancing On The Ceiling (I-98). Annie choose the lovely The Nearness Of You (II-285). Victor came back with the bouncy All Of Me (I-20). For Annie's next one, we heard Don't Blame Me (I-121). Victor fell back on the old familiar Avalon (II-25). A quick instrumental break went to Carl, who finally went with Two Degrees East, Three Degrees West (II-408). We wrapped up the session with two more vocals. Victor turned to the classic, Blue Skies (II-58); Annie opted for Black Orpheus.

--SJH

Thursday, July 12, 2018

UP NEXT

Workshop for Saturday, July 14: 11am to 3pm at TowerLight, 3601 Wooddale Ave, St. Louis Park

Tuesday, July 3, 2018

July 7,2018

Attendies:  Steve C, Waymond, Jack D., Wesley, Craig, Sam, Victor, Annie, Carl, Steve M, Jim,
                   Dick.

Songs Played:  Desafinado (I-108), Grooovin ' High (I-166), Bernie's Tune (III-39},  The Rainbow                              Connection (III-330), I Wish You Love (III-172), Two Degrees East, Three Degrees                              West (II-408),  Oleo (I-309), Basin Street Blues (II-37), Summertime (IV-435),
                        St. James Infirmary (II-338), There Will Never Be Another You (I-407), Softly As A                            Morning Sunrise (II-355),  Surrey With The Fringe On The Top (I-393), 
                        My One And Only Love (I-288), I Remember You (II-179), Do Nothing Til You Hear                          From Me (II-107) Blue Skies (II-58), One Note Samba (I-314), Quiet Nights (I-335).