It's 2011 and a new year for the Jazz Workshop. The Workshop will resume its usual schedule beginning Saturday January 8 from noon to 1:00 (instrumentals) and from 1:00-3:45 (full band with vocalists).
Hope to see you there!
Friday, January 7, 2011
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Coda: Dr. Billy Taylor
JJazz pianist, composer, educator and broadcaster Dr. Billy Taylor passed away on December 28, 2010 at the age of 89. He died from heart failure after several months of heart problems. Dr. Taylor's recording career covered more than six decades; he composed more than 350 songs and for theatre, dance and symphony orchestras. He began his professional career with Ben Webster's Quartet on 52nd Street ad was the house pianist at Birdland, the legendary jazz club where he performed with such celebrated masters as Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis. Dr. Taylor earned his Masters and Doctorate in Music Education from the University of Massachusetts and held a Duke Ellington Fellowship at Yale University. He was granted 23 honorary doctoral degrees and was the recipient of two Peabody Awards, an Emmy, a Grammy, the National Medal of Arts, the Tiffany Award, a Lifetime Achievement Award from Downbeat Magazine and was elected to the Hall of Fame for the International Association for Jazz Education. Dr. Taylor was one of only three jazz musicians appointed to the National Council of the Arts. He was the Artistic Advisor for Jazz at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. He is survived by his wife Theodora and by his daughter Kim Taylor-Thompson; his son Duane predeceased him.
2010 was a year in which many icons of jazz passed away. We are diminished by their loss and enriched by the legacy of jazz music they have bequeathed to us. Each jazz musician and listener carries that legacy with them.
2010 was a year in which many icons of jazz passed away. We are diminished by their loss and enriched by the legacy of jazz music they have bequeathed to us. Each jazz musician and listener carries that legacy with them.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
The Last Jazz Workshop of 2010
Due to the holidays, 12/18/10 was the last jazz workshop of 2010. I wasn't there but roving reporter Peter kept the notes and did us up proud for the last jam. Thanks, Peter!
In attendance: Gene (drums), Wes (tenor sax), Russ (trombone), Peter (bari sax), Bill (ukulele), Adam (guitar- 1st timer), Jeff (guitar- another 1st timer), and Vicki, Matt, Annie (vocals).
The set list included Body & Soul, Have You Met Miss Jones, Stella by Starlight, Blue Bossa, Invitation, The Christmas Song, I Should Care, Merry Christmas, Baby, What Is This Thing Called Love?, All the Things You Are (twice - once instrumental, once vocal), Tennessee Waltz, I Thought About You
The Night Before Christmas (recited with Up On The Housetop played in the background), Moonlight Serenade, The Very Thought of You, The Folks Who Live on the Hill, Spanish Eyes, Take the "A" Train, Dream, How About You?, Touch of Your Lips, Blue Christmas, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.
There it is, the last Jazz Workshop of 2010 which brings to a close 34 years of Workshop history. The 35th year is 2011 and the first Workshop session will be on 1/8/10! May everyone have a happy holiday, whichever holiday you celebrate. Be safe, be warm, be with your loved ones if you can.
In attendance: Gene (drums), Wes (tenor sax), Russ (trombone), Peter (bari sax), Bill (ukulele), Adam (guitar- 1st timer), Jeff (guitar- another 1st timer), and Vicki, Matt, Annie (vocals).
The set list included Body & Soul, Have You Met Miss Jones, Stella by Starlight, Blue Bossa, Invitation, The Christmas Song, I Should Care, Merry Christmas, Baby, What Is This Thing Called Love?, All the Things You Are (twice - once instrumental, once vocal), Tennessee Waltz, I Thought About You
The Night Before Christmas (recited with Up On The Housetop played in the background), Moonlight Serenade, The Very Thought of You, The Folks Who Live on the Hill, Spanish Eyes, Take the "A" Train, Dream, How About You?, Touch of Your Lips, Blue Christmas, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.
There it is, the last Jazz Workshop of 2010 which brings to a close 34 years of Workshop history. The 35th year is 2011 and the first Workshop session will be on 1/8/10! May everyone have a happy holiday, whichever holiday you celebrate. Be safe, be warm, be with your loved ones if you can.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Catch Me (Up)
I've missed posting the past few Jazz Workshop reports; life has been very busy at our house between the holidays and other things. So here's the catch up note.
The Saturday after Thanksgiving (if the day after Thanksgiving is Black Friday then the day after that must be Blue Saturday) saw eleven folks come out to the park to play jazz. This included Russ (trombone), Rich (trumpet), Sam (trumpet- actually a Morrison trumpet synth controller), Wes (tenor sax), Max (bass), Gene (drums), Bill (tenor ukulele), Tim (guitar) and vocalists Annie, Cheryl and Matt.
The set list included "Four," "A Foggy Day," "Along Came Betty," "Turnaround," "The Jody Grind," "The Night Has A Thousand Eyes," ""Have a Holly Jolly Christmas," "Christmastime Is Here," "Sleigh Ride," "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town," "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus," "Blue Christmas," "Here Comes Santa Claus," "Midnight Sun," "C'est Si Bon," "I Get Along Without You Very Well," "Don't Explain," and "The Grinch." Most of these were in preparation for the Santa Breakfast on 12/11/10.
OK, the next Saturday was 12/4/10, at which the usual suspects included Gene (drums), Russ ('bone), Peter (bari sax), Wes (tenor sax), Ira (alto sax), Bill (uke), Tim (guitar), Paul (piano) and vocalists Matt, Vicki, Cheryl and Annie. The intensive focus was on preparing for the Santa Breakfast including working out the arrangements. The song list was much shorter as a result; the instrumental portion of the workshop got through "Beautiful Love," "Milano," "Minority" and "Peri's Scope." With the vocalists we played "Sleigh Ride," "Christmastime Is Here," "The Night Before Christmas," "Jingle Bells," "Frosty The Snowman," "The Grinch," "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To," "I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm," "Linus and Lucy," "The Christmas Song," "Mele Kalimaka," "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town," and maybe one or two others.
The Santa Breakfast is a non-denominational holiday celebration at McRae Park held a couple of weeks before Christmas. This year the weather threw a monkey wrench into things by having a blizzard on that day and the park proactively cancelled the event.
The next scheduled jazz workshop is on Saturday 12/18/10; there will be no workshops on 12/25/10 and 1/1/11.
The Saturday after Thanksgiving (if the day after Thanksgiving is Black Friday then the day after that must be Blue Saturday) saw eleven folks come out to the park to play jazz. This included Russ (trombone), Rich (trumpet), Sam (trumpet- actually a Morrison trumpet synth controller), Wes (tenor sax), Max (bass), Gene (drums), Bill (tenor ukulele), Tim (guitar) and vocalists Annie, Cheryl and Matt.
The set list included "Four," "A Foggy Day," "Along Came Betty," "Turnaround," "The Jody Grind," "The Night Has A Thousand Eyes," ""Have a Holly Jolly Christmas," "Christmastime Is Here," "Sleigh Ride," "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town," "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus," "Blue Christmas," "Here Comes Santa Claus," "Midnight Sun," "C'est Si Bon," "I Get Along Without You Very Well," "Don't Explain," and "The Grinch." Most of these were in preparation for the Santa Breakfast on 12/11/10.
OK, the next Saturday was 12/4/10, at which the usual suspects included Gene (drums), Russ ('bone), Peter (bari sax), Wes (tenor sax), Ira (alto sax), Bill (uke), Tim (guitar), Paul (piano) and vocalists Matt, Vicki, Cheryl and Annie. The intensive focus was on preparing for the Santa Breakfast including working out the arrangements. The song list was much shorter as a result; the instrumental portion of the workshop got through "Beautiful Love," "Milano," "Minority" and "Peri's Scope." With the vocalists we played "Sleigh Ride," "Christmastime Is Here," "The Night Before Christmas," "Jingle Bells," "Frosty The Snowman," "The Grinch," "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To," "I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm," "Linus and Lucy," "The Christmas Song," "Mele Kalimaka," "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town," and maybe one or two others.
The Santa Breakfast is a non-denominational holiday celebration at McRae Park held a couple of weeks before Christmas. This year the weather threw a monkey wrench into things by having a blizzard on that day and the park proactively cancelled the event.
The next scheduled jazz workshop is on Saturday 12/18/10; there will be no workshops on 12/25/10 and 1/1/11.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Oh, the weather outside is frightful
but jazz is so delightful. However, only four of us braved the snow (and what one usual participant described as "bumper cars") to come to the workshop. This was about the smallest turnout in the past two years, but easily the worst weather conditions as well. And to think that one week ago it was sparklingly beautiful. So, today, Bill (tenor ukulele), Tim (guitar) and Annie and Matt (vocals) turned up. The focus was on holiday music in preparation for the annual "Santa Breakfast" at McRae Park.
Hopefully the weather will be more cooperative next Saturday (11/20/10). The odds are good the park building will be closed the Saturday after Thanksgiving (11/27/10) but if you want to hear some jazz that evening, you can. Several workshop regulars and "occasionals" have formed Optimum Trajectory and will be playing at the Gingko Coffee House in St. Paul (Snelling and Minnehaha) from 8:30-10:00 PM.
Hopefully the weather will be more cooperative next Saturday (11/20/10). The odds are good the park building will be closed the Saturday after Thanksgiving (11/27/10) but if you want to hear some jazz that evening, you can. Several workshop regulars and "occasionals" have formed Optimum Trajectory and will be playing at the Gingko Coffee House in St. Paul (Snelling and Minnehaha) from 8:30-10:00 PM.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
The Night Has a Thousand Eyes
Or at least it seems like that during deer season if you're driving on rural roads.
It was another week of spectacular, unseasonable weather- underscored by the afternoons being relatively long due to Daylight Savings Time. But that ended hours after the end of the Jazz Workshop of 11/6/10. To celebrate the end of DST and a return to early sunsets, a baker's dozen musicians got together to play jazz in the afternoon: Josh and Tim on guitars, Bill on ukulele, Max on bass, Gene on drums, Peter on bari sax, Wes on tenor sax, Ahmed on trumpet, Paul on piano and vocalists Annie, Toria, Matt and Cheryl.
The music of the day included "Footprints," "Along Came Betty," "Dindi," "Birdland," "East of the Sun," "When Sunny Gets Blue," "Anything Goes," "I've Got It Bad," "My Favorite Things," "Witchcraft," "C'est Si Bon," "Out of Nowhere," "How High The Moon," "The Night Has A Thousand Eyes," "Change Partners," "Bewitched." And that was a wrap!
Photos to come, I did manage to remember my camera this time.
It was another week of spectacular, unseasonable weather- underscored by the afternoons being relatively long due to Daylight Savings Time. But that ended hours after the end of the Jazz Workshop of 11/6/10. To celebrate the end of DST and a return to early sunsets, a baker's dozen musicians got together to play jazz in the afternoon: Josh and Tim on guitars, Bill on ukulele, Max on bass, Gene on drums, Peter on bari sax, Wes on tenor sax, Ahmed on trumpet, Paul on piano and vocalists Annie, Toria, Matt and Cheryl.
The music of the day included "Footprints," "Along Came Betty," "Dindi," "Birdland," "East of the Sun," "When Sunny Gets Blue," "Anything Goes," "I've Got It Bad," "My Favorite Things," "Witchcraft," "C'est Si Bon," "Out of Nowhere," "How High The Moon," "The Night Has A Thousand Eyes," "Change Partners," "Bewitched." And that was a wrap!
Photos to come, I did manage to remember my camera this time.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Sunny
The beautiful fall weather continued nto the last weekend of October, perhaps creating some competition for the Jazz Workshop. Despite that, a dozen folks came out to McRae Park to sing and play jazz. We had trumpeters Todd, Steve and Sam; bari sax player Peter and tenor sax player Wes; drummer Gene; ukelelist Bill; vocalists Toria, Matt and Annie; and guitarists Craig, Bob and Tim. I couldn't find my camera before leaving to get to the park, so no photos from today.
The set list included "Nostalgia in Times Square," "Dear Old Stockholm," "In the Wee Small Hours," "Girl From Ipanema," "Close Your Eyes," "Till There Was You," ""Every Time We Say Goodbye," "Put Your Dreams Away," "Satin Doll," "Canteloupe Island," "No Moon At All," "Somewhere My Love," "Easy Living," "Embreaceable You," "Moon River," "Watch What Happens," "Along Came Betty," "Day By Day," "I'll Be Around" and "We'll Be Together Again." In that order.
Next week: the last Jazz Workshop in Daylight Savings Time for the year. We are heading into the cooler and darker part of the Endless Summer but fear not, the days will start getting longer in only 7 1/2 weeks!
The set list included "Nostalgia in Times Square," "Dear Old Stockholm," "In the Wee Small Hours," "Girl From Ipanema," "Close Your Eyes," "Till There Was You," ""Every Time We Say Goodbye," "Put Your Dreams Away," "Satin Doll," "Canteloupe Island," "No Moon At All," "Somewhere My Love," "Easy Living," "Embreaceable You," "Moon River," "Watch What Happens," "Along Came Betty," "Day By Day," "I'll Be Around" and "We'll Be Together Again." In that order.
Next week: the last Jazz Workshop in Daylight Savings Time for the year. We are heading into the cooler and darker part of the Endless Summer but fear not, the days will start getting longer in only 7 1/2 weeks!
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