Jazz Workshop In The Park

Thursday, October 18, 2018

October 13, 2018

Next Time: Saturday, October 20, 1-5pm. TowerLight, 3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park

FJF practice: Bean's Blues

A good crowd was on hand as we returned after several weeks to the Hook. Jack D (trumpet), Jack K (trumpet), Sam (bass), Wes (tenor) Steve H (piano), Steve M (alto), Craig (guitar), Victor (vocals), Carl (trombone), Annie (vocals) and Dick (vocals).

We are preparing for the possibility of doing some sort of gig as a group, so we are beginning to run through some tunes for which we have multi-part charts. We started this week with Bean's Blues, an original. After hacking through that for a while, then moved on to the regular things we do. Jack D called Gypsy In My Soul. Jack K changed the tempo with Tune Up. Wes took us back to the roots with Ain't Misbehavin'. Steve M called the classic East Of The Sun, West Of The Moon. Sam couldn't wait until the end of our session, turning to favorite St. Thomas. Carl wrapped up the instrumental portion with Doxy.

Victor got the vocals going with Bye Bye Blackbird. Annie introduced us to the great 'Tis Autumn. Dick opted for Cole Porter's All Of You. Victor answered with All Of Me. Annie brought music for Give Me The Simple Life. Dick decided on Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me (II-107). Yours truly got the call on the instrumental break, turning to I Got Rhythm (IV-182). Victor took a vocal turn on Blue Skies (II-58). Annie slowed things down on Who Can I Turn To (II-423). Dick chose old favorite I Could Write A Book. Victor gave another go at In The Still Of The Night (II-198). Annie continued to work on Without A Song (II-428). Craig, in Dick's absence, called the instrumental Work Song (II-429). We finished off with everyone chiming in on Basin Street Blues (II-37).

--SJH

Thursday, October 11, 2018

October 6, 2018

Next Time: Saturday, October 13, 1-5pm, Hook and Ladder (Lake and Minnehaha, MPLS)

Sam's FJF practice: Bean's Blues (I'll provide the chart.)

We got started this rainy morning with Sam (trombone, trumpet), Steve H (piano), Wes (tenor), newcomer Ari (trumpet), Raphael (bass), Craig (guitar) and Steve M (alto). Apparently some listeners stopped in at some point, and one even joined in!

Things got started with Sam's choice, Lullaby of Birdland (I-256). Ari, by virtue of sitting next to Sam, got the next choice, going with All Blues (I-18). Craig was up next, and opted for Satin Doll (I-349). Before heading out, yours truly called seasonally appropriate Autumn Leaves (I-39).

Sam and your scribe both had to leave early, but Raphael took notes on the remainder. In fact, it was Raphael's turn, and he chose Soul Eyes (II-261). Ari pulled out a favorite of several Workshoppers, St. Thomas (II-339). Steve M. turned to an excellent alto number, Misty (I-277). Ari had to run at 1:00, and Wes was out early as well, but those left behind continued gamely on.

Craig called You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Loves You (II-438). Someone requested I've Never Been In Love Before (III-194). Raphael found the little-remarked Telephone Song (III-390). Craig got another shot and went with Moonlight In Vermont (III-282). Peggy, who had stopped in to listen, got a turn with Summertime (IV-xxx). Steve M chose I Love Paris (I-189). Raphael came back with Night In Tunisia (I-302). Craig really dug back with the old boogie Caledonia (III-70). Someone called I"ve Grown Accustomed To Her Face (III-192). Raphael returned to a number we had done the previous week, Kalmar and Ruby's Three Little Words (III-406). Steve M. decided on On The Sunny Side Of The Street (III-312). Craig wrapped things up with Crazy (III-86).

--SJH

Wednesday, October 3, 2018

September 29, 2018

Next Time: Saturday, October 6, 11am-3pm, TowerLight, 3601 Wooddale Ave. St. Louis Park

Sam (trumpet and trombone), Steve (piano and soprano), and Raphael (bass) set up while having a conversation about the possibility of a dedicated group of Workshoppers playing in the Freedom Jazz Festival next year. Then we got started on some tunes, starting with Sam's Add-A-Tune, Billie's Bounce (II-44). Your scribe, having been taken over by an Ellingtonian spirit, had a few of the Duke's old songs in mind; first up, Black and Tan Fantasy (II-50). We worked on it for a while, just trying to make sure of the best way to proceed through the chart, and whether to solo on a major blues or a minor blues. Raphael was happy to move on to Early Autumn (II-114). Sam took us through an easy-swingy version of Softly As In A Morning Sunrise (II-355). Wanting to play a little more upbeat soprano, yours truly called Tangerine (II-386). Raphael worked us out on Yardbird Suite (II-433). By this time, Annie (vocals) and Carl (trombone) had settled in, so Carl got the last instrumental choice, surprising us with Watermelon Man (III-429). It remains this writer's contention that old men and funk do not mix.

Annie began the vocal segment at 1:00 with a reprise of Early Autumn (II-114), and followed it with Give Me The Simple Life (handout). Sam, trying to match Carl's cheek, opted for Sister Sadie (III-355); this writer's opinion on the matter (see above) was only reinforced. Back to vocals, fortunately, Annie chose September Song (II-344), followed by How Little We Know (handout). The Ellingtonian spirit once again seizing the piano player, he called Creole Love Call (III-88) for the instrumental. Another pair for the vocalist, this time Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans (II-108), and Without A Song (II-428). Somewhere in here we had gathered a handful of listeners, who settled into the chairs in the TowerLight theater where we play and were a most appreciative group. Raphael decided to pick up the pace a bit, and came up with a lively rendition of Get Me To The Church On Time (II-146). We finished with three featuring Annie: Exactly Like You (III-116), Fine and Mellow (II-122), and Quiet Nights Of Quiet Stars, otherwise known as Corcovado (I-335).

Participant Picks

Black and Tan Fantasy

Duke Ellington

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GN3_c1OnA3s

Theolonius Monk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huYMLX8S8d4

Creole Love Call

Duke Ellington

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPO5VDoDGLM

Get Me To The Church On Time

Shelley Manne/ Andre Previn

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

Oscar Peterson Trio

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

Exactly Like You

Aretha Franlkin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kOJdpmiXvM

Diana Krall

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-x3S3Q9tq4I

Nina Simone

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KXHJ7ooFNU

How Little We Know

Nat King Cole

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruRPQnA8Adg

Hoagy Carmichael and Lauren Bacall

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFfuUu5xmMA

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

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

not to be confused with

Witch Hunt

Wayne Shorter

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hi6nOr9MIqI

Heat Wave

Ethel Waters

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5PpCCfhBhY

Not to be confused with Martha and the Vandellas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XE2fnYpwrng

How Little We Know

Nat King Cole

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruRPQnA8Adg

Three Little Words

Duke Ellington

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYzlutM_il0

Fred Astaire

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSkyj37y1G0

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lv4EarQxGMo

Ray Bryant

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuQuYaLphZ4

Isotope

Joe Henderson

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bfw2sgGj02g

Invitation

Bronislaw Kaper

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PydrsjLX2aM

Stan Getz