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