June 15, 2019

Next Time: Sat. 6/22, 11am-3pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale, St. Louis Park)

Sam's Add-A-Tune: Peri's Scope (I-326)

Old faces and new at this week's workshop. Sam (trumpet and trombone), Raphael (bass), Steve H (soprano and drums), Steve M (alto), Roger (tenor), Jack K (trumpet and drums), Robert (piano), Annie (vocals), and Carl (trombone).

We got underway with Sam's Add-A-Tune, the easy swaying Ceora (I-72). Steve M called for a nice swing on Here's That Rainy Day (I-175). Jack K asked for a ballad, but not too slow, with Easy Living (I-127). Roger changed things up entirely by pulling out 500 Miles High (I-141). Raphael requested J.J. Johnson's lovely Lament (I-239). Your scribe changed tempos with a medium up version of Easy To Love (I-128). And somehow it was already 1:00.

Annie got the vocal segment off to a good start with Song For My Father (I-373), and followed up with the gospelly rocker, I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free (I-195). Sam called the instrumental break, going with Little Boat (I-245). Annie finally got us out of Book I with a ballad and a slow blues: It Never Entered My Mind (III-205) and Fine And Mellow (III-122). For the next instrumental, Carl opted for old favorite 2 Degrees East, 3 Degrees West (II-408). More vocals from Annie, this time Without A Song (II-428), and the tricky Rodgers and Hammerstein number, Love Look Away (II-252). Steve M dug out Dexter Gordon's Cheese Cake (II-82) for the instrumental. Annie took one more, finishing her afternoon with People Will Say We're In Love (II-310). We ended the session on Raphael's choice, the alternating Latin/swing I'll Remember April.

--SJH