Jazz Workshop In The Park

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

April 18, 2014

As I write, it is a dreary and chilly Monday evening (though the Wild have just scored their second goal in game 3), but Saturday was anything but--a beautiful warm spring day. Some of our number were discussing the various opportunities to hear and play jazz outdoors in the summer, and members of the workshop certainly hope to be able to partake of these opportunities.

Sam (bass), Gene (drums), Wes (tenor), Steve M (alto), Jack D (trumpet), and yours truly were there to open the session, with Jack calling Thou Swell (I, 44). Gene, back and bolstered by the wonders of modern medicine, suggested Groovin' High (I, 166). Wes followed with Blues for Alice (I, 55). I had been waiting to give an airing to It's All Right With Me (II, 208), which, as with many Cole Porter tunes, is much longer than it appears on the page, even played up-tempo. Jack took another turn and went with When I Fall In Love (I, 437). Next up was Steve M's pick, one most of us were not familiar with, I Wished On The Moon (III, 173). Greg and his guitar had arrived at some point, and chose I Wish You Love (III, 172). Sam changed the mood considerably with Watermelon Man (III, 429). Gene responded to someone's suggestion by calling Walkin' My Baby Back Home (III, 428). Then Wes called for another of his favorites, Blues For Alice (III, 22).

I had to leave, but before heading out, we played some C-Jam Blues, during which Annie and Dick arrived to open up the vocal portion of the afternoon. The report I received from Sam is as follows. Annie wanted to sing Hello Young Lovers. Dick followed this with a request for From Here To Eternity. Back to Annie for a go at Don't Blame Me. There was a break then for an instrumental, How Insensitive. The singers prevailed once more, Annie calling Dearly Beloved, and Dick singing Again. Another instrumental, Triste, and the final three vocals: I Get Along Without You Very Well (Annie), There Will Never Be Another You (Dick), and Time After Time (Annie).

Participant Picks
I wasn't around long enough to check what tunes the others might want on this weeks Participant Picks. Sam sent one along beforehand, though, and Greg two last week, thus saving the day.

Sam's isn't a particular song choice. Here is a whole live televised set by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yE1-MFXmjJY

Greg sent two last week, so here's one: Peggy Lee singing Goody Goody.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMRcCJRe1A4&list=RDaMRcCJRe1A4

I think some day I would like to put together a compilation album entitled "The Exquisitely Lonely June Christy," or perhaps "June Christy: Painfully Yours." Here are my top two candidates for that release:
Something Cool
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jn8EtaxGJP0
Lonely Woman
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XAtln1Rmlo

Enjoy, if you can.

--SJH

Sunday, April 12, 2015

April 11, 2015

Plenty of people showed up, but due to the great weather, quite a few had to head out early for various tasks. We missed Gene on drums again, but Jack K. filled in admirably for a few hours, and played a couple on trumpet. Todd saved his chops for an evening gig by playing guitar, joining Greg. Both Steves were there on alto, Wes on tenor, Jim on bari sax and Jack D. on trumpet. Finally came Carl on trombone, Annie and Dick to sing.

Sam got us rolling on the old standard, Bye Bye Blackbird (I, 73). Steve M. got us to deliver on How High the Moon (I, 180). Jack D. surprised us with Stanley Turrentine's Sugar (I, 387). Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most (III, 374) was Jim's choice. Yours truly decided to see if we could do an alternating Latin/Swing groove with Caravan (II, 77). Wes stayed with one of his favorites, Groovin' High (I, 166). Jack K. moved over to trumpet and asked for one he was clearly fond of, My Ideal (III, 292). We went back to a nice groove with Todd's pick, All the Things You Are (I, 22).

By this time, Jack D and Jack K and Wes had pulled out, and Carl, Annie and Dick had arrived. While they got set up, Sam called for Four Brothers (II, 138). Our singers found that, once again, they had to operate without microphones, so we needed to make adjustments. Annie picked the lovely But Beautiful (I, 62), and followed it with a medium-tempo version of For All We Know (I, 145). Dick called for the intriguing Dancing on the Ceiling (I, 98), then changed the mood with Black Orpheus (I, 49). Carl, at the urging of others, requested Stella By Starlight (I, 382). Annie strove not to copy Dinah Washington in a rendition of What A Diff'rence A Day Made (III, 430), then chose the up-tempo From This Moment On (III, 126). We finished the afternoon with Dick's call, Skylark (III, 356).

Participant Picks

Sam: Conception, Harlequin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEHlLo1ExIs

Carl: Chrissie, Chico Hamilton Quintet

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtDkPbeshKY&index=13&list=PLoodzr0MYST66UUuZhtoafSN5Ras0dxGB

Steve M.: Skyliner, Charlie Barnet

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsDXnYKkdqw

Annie: From This Moment On (I chose an Ella version)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7M5NBC2y8U

Everyone: What a Diff’rence a Day Made, Dinah Washington

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxWPk41uBpU

Dick: Nature Boy, Nat King Cole

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQerH4nRTUA

ME: Chattanooga Choo Choo, Glenn Miller Orchestra

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2aj0zhXlLA

I recently saw the movie Sun Valley Serenade, from which this version is taken, and included it not only because it has all the band choreography, but also because it has a completely gratuitous and fantastic follow-up featuring the dancing of the absolutely incredible Nicholas Brothers. (Bonus points to anyone who can explain, without looking on the internet, how they created the strange ice effect in the final scene with skater Sonja Henie.)

Enjoy.

--SJH

Monday, April 6, 2015

April 4, 2015

As I write this, a beautiful Easter has dawned, it is now a cool and wet Monday—which, given the lack of moisture this winter, is much needed—and baseball begins. All is right with the world.

A good turnout on Saturday: Sam (bass and trumpet), Gene (drums), Wes (tenor), Steve M (alto), Greg, (guitar), Jim D (bari sax), Jack D (trumpet), Carl (trombone), Annie (vocals), and your scribe (alto).

As I arrived, Sam, Greg, Steve M, Wes and Jack were on the first tune, My Romance. By the time I got my horn out, Sam had brought out West Coast Blues (I 436). Jack D called for the lovely You Are Too Beautiful (I 455). Jim had arrived, and got his bari set up in time to play Wes’ pick, Cousin Mary (II-93). I pulled up one that brought to mind the ocean for a lot of people present, Avalon (II-25). Jim came with one in mind, Gerry Mulligan’s Out Back of the Barn (II-304). Steve M decided on an alternating Latin/Swing version of I’ll Remember April (I-197).

We’ve been working on Four Brothers recently, and tried out a new arrangement, which seemed to show promise. While figuring this out, Carl and Annie arrived. Annie asked for On A Slow Boat To China (III 306), followed by My Foolish Heart (I-286). We forced Carl to take a turn, and he chose Blue Monk ((I 52). Back to Annie, we covered two more: Can’t Help Loving” Dat Man (I 68) and We’ll Be Together Again (I 434). Greg, following his habit of calling whatever is on the opposite page, got us to try Well You Needn’t (I 435). Annie wanted Hoagy Carmishael’s Skylark (III 356), then followed Greg’s lead, went to the next page and A Sleepin’ Bee (III 357). After an instrumental, Birk’s Works (II 48), we returned to romance as we began, this time I’ll Take Romance (III 180).

Participant Picks

A lot of people had interesting ideas this time out for your listening pleasure.

Sam: JJ Johnson and Kai Winding, Blue Monk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ie9-5LjGv3s

Annie: Aretha Franklin, Skylark

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tWxz5dzPaU

Jim: Gerry Mulligan, Out Back of the Barn

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vh4FSFnOfvo

Wes: Charlie Parker, Au Privave

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNrWu-linSs

Greg: Doris Day w/ Les Brown, We’ll Be Together Again

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSj2l5CKrcA