June 14, 2025

Next Time: Sat., 6/21, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

Bring your own stand. We mostly play out of the Real Book (vols. I-IV), or you can bring handouts. 

The group kept growing as the session progressed: Raphael (bass), Bill (drums), Tom (piano), Craig (guitar), Jan (trumpet), Steve (soprano), Ari (trumpet, flugelhorn), Matt (vocals),  John L (trumpet), Serdar (guitar), John C (trombone). 

Bill started us out with a bit of Latin, How Insensitive (I-xxx). Tom had us do a bit of ear training by calling Ja-Da (IV-xxx), since most of us had forgotten vol. IV. Craig stayed there, opting for Puttin' On The Ritz (IV-xxx). Matt got us out of there, calling Fly Me To The Moon (II-xxx). Ari put us in a different era with Footprints (I-xxx). Matt took another, handing out Wave, in F, which is much better than the Real Book version. John thought it would be cool to toss in some Mingus, calling Jelly Roll (I-xxx). Raphael got creative with the lovely Ellington/Strayhorn ballad, Isfahan (III-xxx). Back to Matt, another handout made it possible for us to join him on Nice and Easy. Jan finally got a turn, choosing Pick Yourself Up (III-xxx). On your scribe's way out the door, Serdar was just counting off Road Song (I-xxx). 

A pretty decent couple of hours of playing.

--SJH

June 7, 2025

Next Time:

Bring your own stand!

Without a regular drummer again, but Steve and Ari managed to keep a steady beat going throughout on the workshop snare and hi-hat. Otherwise present were Raphael (bass), Tom (piano), Steve (sax, drums), Jan (trumpet), Matt (vocals), Craig (guitar), John (trombone), Ari (trumpet, drums), Jeffrey (vocal)

The record is imcomplete, but here at least is a list of the songs we played that afternoon.

All of Me (I-20) (Jeffrey)

Gypsy In My Soul (I-169) (Jan)

How About You (handout) (Matt)

Bunko (II-xxx) (Tom)

Gee, Baby, Ain't I Good To You (I-xxx) (Matt)

Falling In Love With Love (I-xxx) (Raphael)

Blue Skies (handout) (Matt)

How High The Moon (I-xxx)

Anything Goes (handout) (Matt)

Basin Street Blues (Ari)

Other songs were probably played upon your scribe's departure (whether in sadness, celebration, or indifference is hard to say).

--SJH

May 31, 2025

Next Time: Sat., 6/7, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

Bring your own stand. 

In some sort of silly oversight, no one took notes last session, though we had a good time. Jack played a short set of drums, Steve H played piano, Raphael was on bass, Serdar on guitar, Jan on trumpet, John on trombone, and Matt had a triumphant return on vocals.

Hope to see you next time.

--SJH

May 24, 2025

Next Time: Sat., 5/31, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

Bring your own stand!

Here's who was there:

Craig (guitar), Jan (trumpet), Raphael (bass), John (trombone, piano), Bill (drums), Steve (sax, piano), Carl (bass), Serdar (guitar), Ari (trumpet, flugelhorn)

Here are the tunes:

Craig: Fly Me To The Moon (II-xxx)

Jan: Black Coffee (I-45)

Carl: Dream A Little Dream Of Me (I-124)

Steve: Broadway (I-64)

Serdar: Blue Monk (I-xxx)

John: Chegua de Saudade (I-xxx)

Raphael: Lotus Blossom (II-250)

Craig: Mercy Mercy Mercy

Carl: Paper Doll (I-319)

Ari: Sugar (I-xxx)

Steve: Take the A Train (I-398)

--SJH

May 17, 2025

Coming soon!

May 10, 2025

Next Time: Sat. 5/17, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

Bring your own stand! We usually play out of the Real Book vols. I-IV.

Last week we had three bass players; this week, we had none. But Tom (piano) applied a strong left hand to his instrument, and kept us going. Also present were John C (trombone), John L (trumpet), Bill (drums), Jan (trumpet), Craig (guitar), Steve (soprano), Ari (trumpet), and Serdar (guitar).

Craig called Scotch and Soda (I-xxx) to get our sessions started. John C went next to Blue Bossa (I-xx). Tom picked something here, but your scribe failed to write it down. Bill actually took a turn to request Topsy (I-415). John L almost didn't take a turn, but ended up opting for Satin Doll (I-349). Jan turned to another Latin tune, this time How Insensitive (I-181). Ari quickly chose Four (I-149). 

Back to Craig, he went to another one he had been lobbying for, Night Train (I-304). Tom's next choice was It Could Happen To You (II-204). Yours truly opted for the lesser-known but lovely A Portrait Of Jennie (II-319), at around 100 rather than the standard ballad tempo, which worked to keep things moving. John C called Dizzy Gillespie's Manteca (II-259). Serdar finally got a chance, picking Out Of Nowhere (I-318).

There were more tunes played after your scribe had to depart, and more fun was had.

Hope to see you next time!

--SJH

May 3, 2025

Next Time: Sat. 5/10, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

Bring your own stand.

A fun group arrived, though in fits and starts: Bill (drums), Carl (bass), Raphael (bass), Paul (bass), Steve (alto), Jack (trumpet), Tom (piano), Serdar (guitar), and Ari (trumpet).

We began the session with drums, three basses, and an alto sax. Yours truly moved over to piano when another horn player, Jack, arrived, then went back to the alto with great relief during the second tune when Tom got there. After that, things settled in. 

Somehow, Paul got the first call, so we got rolling with All Of Me (I-20). Raphael opted for Miles' Four (I-149). Tom asked that we play If I Were A Bell (II-194), and we obliged. Jack chose, and sang on, Isn't It Romantic (I-219). Your scribe was feeling both Latin-y and upbeat, so we went with a quicker version of The Girl From Ipanema (I-158). Serdar decided to go with a favorite, Billie's Bounce (II-44). 

Back to Paul again, we had a good run on There Will Never Be Another You (I-407). Carl finally took the opportunity to call Misty (I-277), which we took in half-choruses given that we played it as a slow ballad. The next tune, Tom's choice of Little Sunflower (II-244), oddly took almost as long to play through. Raphael had been thinking all week about Topsy (I-415), so we had a swinging time with that. Ari pulled out a second Charlie Parker tune, Au Privave (I-97).

Your scribe had to make for the doors at this juncture, but there were still plenty of players left.

Hope to see you next time!

--SJH

April 25, 2025

Next Time: Sat., 5/3, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

We're in the basement theater. Bring your own stand.

The joint was jumpin' at our most recent gathering. Present were John (trumpet), Bob (trombone), Tom (piano), Bill (drums), Craig (guitar), Raphael (bass), Steve (alto), Serdar (guitar), and Ari (trumpet.

Here's what we played.

John: Down For Double (II-110)

Craig: Fly Me To The Moon (II-135)

Steve: It Could Happen To You (II-204)

Raphael: Airegin (I-13)

Serdar: There Will Never Be Another You (I-407)

Ari: Pent Up House (I-324)

Bob: Somebody Loves Me (I-369)

John: Perdido (II-311)

Steve: Elora (II-117)

Tom: Agua De Beber (I-14)

That was all your scribe was present for, but he is guessing one or two more tunes were attempted before the fun ended.

Hope to see you soon!

--SJH

April 19, 2025

Next Time: Sat., 4/25

Who was there?

Bob (trombone), Jan (trumpet), Craig (guitar), Matt (vocals), Bill (drums), Ari (trumpet), Steve (alto), Doug (piano), Jack (trumpet), Carl (bass)

What did we play?

Bob: Exactly Like You (III-117)

Jan: Guilty (I-168)

Matt: You Brought A New Kind Of Love To Me (handout)

Craig: Lean On Me (IV-250)

Ari: Basin Street Blues (II-xx)

Matt: All I Do Is Dream Of You (handout)

Steve: I'm Putting All My Eggs In One Basket (II-187)

Matt: Anything Goes (handout)

Carl: Dream A Little Dream Of Me (I-124)

Doug: Footprints (I-144)

Matt: Let's Get Lost (handout)

Jan: Gypsy In My Soul (I-169)

There may have been one or two more that your scribe missed by departing early.

Hope to see you soon!

--SJH

April 12, 2025

Next Time: Sat., 4/19, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

Bring your own stand. We usually work from the Real Book vols. I-IV.

Present: Bill (drums), Jan (trumpet), Raphael (bass), Steve (piano, soprano), Charlie (trumpet), Matt (vocals), Serdar (guitar), Craig (guitar), Carl (bass), John (trumpet), Tom (piano)

Tunes:

Jan: You Don't Know What Love Is (I-459)

Matt: Call Me Irresponsible (I-67)

Charlie: Rhythm-a-ning (II-328)

Matt: Quizas Quizas Quizas (III-329)

Serdar: Blue Monk (I-52)

Tom: The Way You Look Tonight (II-415)

Raphael: Dream Dancing (III-99)

Matt: All I Do Is Dream Of You (handout)

Craig: Satin Doll (I-349)

Matt: Whatever Lola Wants (handout)

Steve: Somebody Loves Me (I-369)

Hope to see you soon!

--SJH

April 5, 2025

Next Time: Sat., Apr. 12, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

Bring your own stand. We usually work from the Real Book vols. I-IV.

People just kept on showing up! It was quite fun. Present were George (trombone), Bob (trombone), Jack (trumpet), John (trumpet), Matt (vocals), Tim (vocals), Craig (guitar), Bill (drums), Raphael (bass), Serdar (guitar), Steve H (piano, soprano), and Ari (trumpet). 

Here's what those people called: 

Bob: Close Your Eyes (II-86)

Jack: Up Jumped Spring (I-425)

Matt: All I Do Is Dream Of You (handout)

George: Mercy Mercy Mercy (II-xxx)

Matt: Let's Get Lost (handout)

Serdar: Oleo (I-309)

Craig: Wendy (II-4xx)

Matt: It Had To Be You (handout)

John and Tim: All Of Me (I-20)

Ari: Alice In Wonderland (I-18)

Matt: I'm Beginning To See The Light (I-200)

Bob: Somebody Loves Me (I-369)

People were still playing when your scribe left, but have delivered no report. We assume the fun continued.

Hope to see you next time!

--SJH

March 29, 2025

Next Time: Sat., 4/5, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

Bring your own stand. We typically work from the Real Books.

A fine crowd of good players swung by for a visit this week. On hand were Jan (trumpet), Bill (drums), Bob W (trombone), Steve H (soprano), Raphael (bass), John L (trumpet), Tom H (guitar), Tom A (piano), and Ari (trumpet). 

We began with a cool version of My Funny Valentine (I-287) set up by Jan, which was a bit faster than ballad speed and was just on the edge of dropping into a swing. Next Bob called for a slightly up version of There'll Be Some Changes Made (I-408). Tom H brought a handout of Love For Sale, which we cruised on at a nice mid-tempo swing. Tom A having arrived to relieve your scribe of piano duties, we launched into a straight-up swing number from the Basie book, Freddie Green's Down For Double (II-110). Tom A got the next pick, going with All Of Me (I-20). Raphael pulled out a tune we did a while back but which doesn't get out very often, A Weaver Of Dreams (I-416).

A few people passed a turn over to Jan, who went with Alright, OK, You Win (I-24). We moved backwards then to John, who called Satin Doll (I-349), and Ari, who proposed So What (I-364). Somehow Jan got another pick, and we did our first Latin of the day, Jobim's Dindi (I-xxx). Bob pulled out the classic Pennies From Heaven (II-286), while Tom H opted for Blue Bossa (I-50). 

At this point, yours truly had to pack up and head home, though it did not look as though the rest of the group, still having fun, were prepared to leave yet.

Hope to see you next time!

--SJH

March 22, 2025

Next Time: Sat., 3/29, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

George Linkert, the activities director at TowerLight and, as such, our lord and master, as well as a member of our group, arranged for us to play upstairs in the Club Room for the March 22 Workshop. Things went pretty well. Present were George (trombone and vocals), Jack (trumpet), Steve H (soprano), Ari (trumpet), Serdar (guitar), Tom A (piano), Raphael (bass), and Bill (drums). There were also a number of people who stopped, most for several tunes, which was a treat for us.

Here's what we played: All of Me, Autumn Leaves, Lady Bird, Satin Doll, Solar, Stella By Starlight, Take The A Train, Bye Bye Blackbird, On The Sunny Side Of The Street, St. Thomas, and Tenor Madness.

We hope to be back in the Club Room some Saturday in May or June.

--SJH

March 15, 2025

Next Time: Sat., 3/22, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

We'll start upstairs in the Club Room this week! If we still have significant time left, we can finish back downstairs in the theater.

Your scribe missed the March 8 gathering, but no one else took notes, so nothing to report about it.

However, he was present at the March 15 funfest, so here is what happened.

People
Jan (trumpet), Matt (vocals), Serdar (guitar), Raphael (bass), Steve (piano, soprano), John (trumpet), Ari (trumpet).

Tunes played

Jan: Black Orpheus (I-49)

Matt: Quizas, Quizas, Quizas (III-329)

Serdar: Tenor Madness (II-390)

Steve: Up Jumped Spring (I-425)

Matt: You and the Night and the Music (handout)

Raphael: Joy Spring (I-229)

Ari: St. Thomas (II-339)

Matt: Moonglow (II-275)

Jan: Doxy (II-111)

Matt: Come Fly With Me (III-80)

Serdar: Moon River (II-274)

A few people lingered to play some more after yours truly had to retire. They're no quitters!

--SJH

March 1, 2025

Next Time: Sat., 3/8, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

We meet in the basement theater. Bring your own stand.

Not our biggest crowd this week, but a solid group that made things happen: Jan (trumpet), Matt (vocals), Craig (guitar), Steve H (piano), Raphael (bass), Serdar (guitar), Don (conga)

Here's who called what, right up to the time your scribe departed:

Craig: Ornithology (I-317)

Jan: Whisper Not (II-422)

Matt: Gee, Baby, Ain't I Good To You (I-153)

Steve: Some Day My Prince Will Come (I-367)

Matt: When You Wish Upon A Star (handout)

Raphael: Here's That Rainy Day (I-175)

Matt: Whatever Lola Wants (handout)

Craig: Killing Me Softly (IV-241)

Jan: Saint James Infirmary (II-338)

Matt: Let's Get Lost (handout)

Serdar: Tenor Madness (II-390)

Matt: Smile (IV-401)

Steve: Pennies From Heaven (II-309)

Hope to see you next time!

--SJH

February 22, 2025

Next Time:

Who was there?

Matt (vocals), Jan (trumpet), Bill (drums), Craig (guitar), Carl (bass), Steve H (piano), Raphael (bass), Serdar (guitar)

What did we call?

Jan: Meditation (I-266)

Craig: Satin Doll (I-349)

Matt: How Little We Know (handout)

Steve: Indiana (II-201)

Matt: Blue Skies (handout)

Raphael: That Old Black Magic (III-394)

Bill: Autumn Leaves (I-77)

Carl: Dream A Little Dream (I-124)

Matt: Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart (handout)

Serdar: Billie's Bounce (II-44)

Jan: Witchcraft (III-452)

--SJH

February 15, 2025

Next Time: Sat., 2/22, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park).

Bring your own stand. We work mostly from the Real Book, vols. I-IV.

Your scribe was looking after his sick wife (and consequently got the bug himself), but Jerry was kind enough to take the minutes of the meeting.

Present were Jerry (guitar), Serdar (guitar), Owen (bass), Bill (drums), Jan (trumpet), Jack (trumpet), Carl (bass), Raphael (bass), Tom (piano), and Matt (vocals). Also Pat, a resident, visited.

Here's what they played:

Watch What Happens (II-413)

Four (I-149)

Baubles, Bangles, and Beads (handout)

My Funny Valentine (I-287)

Oleo (I-309)

Wave (I-431)

La Vie. En Rose (handout)

From This Moment On (III-126)

All Of Me (I-20)

Angel Eyes (I-28)

Coming Home Baby (II-89)

Just The Two Of Us III-228)

St. Thomas (II-339)

See you next time?

--SJH

February 8, 2025

Next Time: Sat. 2/15, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

Bring your own stand. We usually work from the Real Book Vols. I-IV.

Last week's weather, among other things, kept the meeting to only a few people for about an hour. Since your scribe was not present (for several reasons), he cannot report firsthand on the goings-on, but did get at least this brief report from a participant.

Matt (vocals and recording secretary), George (trombone), Serdar (guitar), Craig (guitar), and Jan (trumpet) made it in. They played My Funny Valentine, Black Orpheus, How About You, Georgia On My Mind, Blue Monk, Black Coffee, L-O-V-E, Alice In Wonderland, and Come Dance With Me.

--SJH

February 1, 2025

Next Time:

Personnel: Bill (drums), Raphael (bass), Matt (vocals), Jerry (guitar), Carl (bass), Steve (alto), Pat (piano), Serdar (guitar), Jan (trumpet), Tom A (piano), Don (congas).

Songs:

Jerry: Night Train (I-302)

Matt: Gee, Baby, Ain't I Good To You (I-153)

Steve: Beautiful Love (I-40)

Matt: How About You (handout)

Serdar: Oleo (I-309)

Matt: The Girl From Ipanema (I-158)

Tom: Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars (Corcovado) (I-335)

Raphael: Speak No Evil (I-374)

Matt: I'm Beginning To See The Light (I-200)

Bill: Autumn Leaves (I-39)

Matt: Fly Me To The Moon (II-135)

Don: Cherokee (I-77)

Carl: Dream A Little Dream (I-124)

January 25, 2025

Next Time: Sat., 1/25, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

Bring your own stand. We usually work from the Real Book, vols. I-IV.

A good crowd showed up for our last meeting: Jan (trumpet), Bill (drums), Steve (piano, soprano), Matt (vocals), Raphael (bass), Craig (guitar), Jerry (guitar), George (trombone), Tom (guitar), and Carl (bass).

We spent a lot of time in vol. II of the Real Book this time. Jan go the first call, choosing Let's Fall In Love (II-237). Matt picked up the pace a little with a chugging Route 66 (II-334). Jerry turned to a rather different sound on Mercy Mercy Mercy (II-262). Matt went all easy-going, opting for Moonglow (II-275). George didn't want anyone falling asleep, so he went to a medium up version of Sentimental Journey (II-343). Tom called for an easy swing Let's Get Lost (II-238). We had another vocal from Matt, this time Old Devil Moon (II-297). Serdar wanted to work on the peculiar turnaround of the otherwise regular blues Turnaround (II-405). Your scribe had a new tune he wanted to test out, Reveille from a Reverie (handout). It seemed to work. Raphael went more traditional, calling Yardbird Suite (II-433). Matt broke the string of book II tunes, taking on I'm Beginning to See the Light (I-200).

As yours truly was packing up, the remaining troupe was working through Jan's choice of Black Coffee. There were likely a couple more songs played before time expired.

Hope to see you next time!

--SJH

January 18, 2025

Next Time: Sat., 1/25, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

Bring your own stand. We generally play from the Real Book vols. I-III.

An instrumental-only group assembled to play at the Workshop this week: Jan (trumpet), Jerry (guitar), Jack (trumpet), Serdar (guitar), Steve (piano, soprano), Raphael (bass), Bill (drums). Strangely, there was still some singing...

Jan got things off to a Latin start with How Insensitive (I-xxx). Jerry was feeling more funky, calling Cantaloupe Island (II-76). Jack took us down a wistful path, opting for, and singing on, Long Ago and Far Away (I-251). Serdar changed directions with the Parker blues, Billie's Bounce (II-44). Your scribe returned to a bit of melancholy with Hoagy Carmichael's Skylark (III-355). Raphael turned the Workshop into a workout with an uptempo version of Lover, Come Back To Me (III-238). Bill returned us to the Latin mood, calling Desafinado (I-108). 

Round 2 began with Jan's choice of Black Coffee (I-45). Yours truly had to leave at this point, but he has it on good authority that the jam continued with Jerry's vocal stylings on Gee, Baby, Ain't I Good To You (I-153). Serdar next chose the classic Autumn Leaves (I-39). Raphael turned to a great tune in 3/4, Bluesette (I-56). The session finished up by playing Jan's call, Black Orpheus (I-49).

Hope to see you next time!

--SJH

January 11, 2025

Next Time: Sat., 1/18, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

Bring your own stand. We usually play out of the Real Book vols. I-III.

We had a roomful again, and bass players to spare (though another horn player or two would not be frowned upon). Present were Jan (trumpet), Matt (vocals), Charlie (trumpet, piano), Jerry (guitar), Raphael (bass), Owen (bass), Carl (bass), Serdar (guitar), Bill (drums), and Steve H (piano, soprano). 

Jan was first up to the plate, swinging at, or on, Alright, Okay, You Win (I-27). Matt got the vocal selection, opting for Fly Me To The Moon (II-135). Jerry went Latin, choosing Black Orpheus (I-49). Charlie brought us back to a nice swing with Lullaby of Birdland (I-236).

Yours truly was up next, and went to a little-played Ellington ballad, Warm Valley (II-412). Matt backed this up with another ballad, When Sunny Gets Blue (I-440). Owen had had enough of the slow stuff, and picked things up a bit with the easy swing of Satin Doll (I-349). Bill changed pace entirely with So Nice (Summer Samba) (I-362). 

Back to Matt, we did a rollicking version of All Of Me (I-40). Raphael turned us on our heads with the curious Off Minor (II-295)--after all, it is a workshop. Jerry called a much more familiar tune, Ain't Misbehavin' (III-13). Matt made us do a bit of (pleasant) work again, while he sang Beyond the Sea (II-40).

As your scribe and a couple of others had to leave, Charlie took over at the piano, and there were still plenty of participants to run things out to 2:00pm. 

Hope to see you next time!

--SJH

January 3, 2025

Happy New Year!

We opened up 2025 with Jan (trumpet), Matt (vocals), Carl (bass), Steve H (piano, soprano), Owen (bass), Raphael (bass), Craig (guitar), Jerry (guitar) and Jack (trumpet).

We kicked things off with Jan's call, Dancing on the Ceiling (I-98). Matt got his first vocal (and first ballad) on For All We Know (I-145). Carl got his first turn ever at the Workshop, going with Paper Doll (I-319). Matt pulled out a handout for us to work on, Nice and Easy. 

Your scribe opted for a popular classic, All the Things You Are (I-22). Next up was Owen, who turned to Ellington's It Don't Mean A Thing (I-224). Matt was ready to sing again, calling Young At Heart (I-461). Craig returned to Ellington, this time Satin Doll (I-349). 

Raphael made the unusual move of picking a tune with straightforward melody and changes, i.e., Beautiful Love (I-40). Jerry surprised us by turning to a show tune, I Could Have Danced All Night (III-156), although with a Jerry-type swing to it, and Matt on vocals. Matt had his own vocal to wrap up the afternoon, Come Fly With Me (III-80).

--SJH