February 23, 2019

Next Time: Sat. Mar. 2, 11am-3pm, TowerLight 3601 Wooddale, St. Louis Park

fjf prep: Pent Up House (I-324)

Some new faces among the old: Roger (tenor and some drums) and John (trombone),  joined Sam (trumpet, trombone), Raphael (bass), Jack (trumpet, drums), Steve H (alto), Jeff (piano), and Serdar (guitar) for an all-instrumental session.

We began with Sam's Add-A-Tune, Minor Swing (IV-284). Jack took the next call with Have You Met Miss Jones (I-172). While your scribe was off locating the drums, Jeff ordered up an easy-going version of How High The Moon (I-180). Yours truly changed the feel with John Lewis' Afternoon In Paris (I-12). Raphael really changed the feel with Dolphin Dance (I-119). Roger, perhaps merely wanting to speed up Jeff's order, asked for Ornithology (I-317), which we tried first a bit slower, then more to speed. John took his first shot with Nica's Dream (I-299). Late arriving Serdar polished off the first round, and got us out of Book I, with Billie's Bounce (II-44).

Sam got round two off to a weird start with Cantelope Island (II-76). Your scribe opted for the much more laid back Line For Lyons (III-240). Raphael came charging back with Pat Marino's Interchange (III-202). Serdar called the much more straightforward Four (I-149). Sam surprised with West Coast Blues (I-436). Yours truly slowed things down with the Ellington ballad Warm Valley (II-412). We wrapped things up with a rollicking St. Thomas (II-339).

--SJH

February 16, 2019

Next Time: Sat., Feb. 23, 11am-3pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

FJF Prep: Minor Swing (IV 284)

Only a small group present this past session. Along with reporter Raphael were Sam, Jeff, and Wes.

Songs

I 324 Pent Up House (Sam)

I 128 Easy To Love (Jeff)

I 119 Dolphin Dance (Raphael)

I 245 Little Boat (Sam)

I 166 Groovin' High (Wes)

II 288 No Moe (Jeff)

I 285 My Favorite Things (Raphael)

I 55 Blues For Alice (Wes)

II 355 Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise (Sam)

II 293 Now's The Time (Jeff)

II 433 Yardbird Suite (Raphael)

III 22 Along Came Betty (Jeff)

I 39 Autumn Leaves (Sam)

--SJH

February 9, 2019

Next Time: Saturday, February 16, 11am-3pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale, St. Louis Park)

Your scribe had to cut out early in the proceedings, so Raphael kept tabs on things.

II-67 Blues in the Closet, SteveII-112 The Drive, RII-102 Dexter Rides Again, AriI-311 Perdido SteveII-218 It's Too late, CraigI-267, Memories of Tomorrow, AriI-283 The Most Beautiful Girl in the World, CraigI-39 Autumn Leaves, AriI-338 Red Clay, RI-453 Yesterday, AriI-195 I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free, AnnieII-408 2o E, 3o W, CarlI-16, Alfie, AnniePrinted, How Little We Know, AnnieI-207 In A Sentimental Mood, CarlI-82, Come Sunday, AnnieI-62 But Beautiful, AnnieII-261 Makin' Whoopee, AnnieIII-313 The Party's Over, CarlIII-312 On the Sunny Side of the Street, Annie attendance - Steve, Ari, Craig, Annie, Carl, Raphael 

--SJH

January 26, 2019

Next Time: Saturday, February 2, 11am-3pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale, St. Louis Park)

The following is a report from Sam.

Present: Jeff, Craig, Serdar, Jack K, Sam, Terry. (What a lot of guitars.--SJH)

Tunes played:
Work Song (II-429)
On The Trail 
Four (I-149)
Lady Bird (I-235)
Feel Like Makin' Love (III-119)
So Nice (I-362)
All Of Me (I-20)
Blue Monk (I-52)
Stella By Starlight (I-382)
The Rainbow Connection (III-330)
I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart (I-188)
What's New (II-420)
How Insensitive (I-181)
Autumn Leaves (I-39)

--SJH

January 19, 2018

NEXT TIME: Saturday, January 26, 11am-3pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

No vocalists this week, so more time to work on the playing, and some of these tunes were tricky. Present were Sam (trumpet and trombone), Raphael (bass), Craig (guitar), Terry (guitar), Steve H (soprano, piano, rhythm), Jack K (trumpet, drums), Jeff (piano), and Wes (tenor).

Sam got us off to a good start with Out Of Nowhere (I-318). Jack K kept us in the groove with Have You Met Miss Jones (I-172). Craig extended our time in the mid-tempo swing tunes with In The Still Of The Night (II-198). Jeff shifted out focus with a ballad-y version of I Hear A Rhapsody (II-177). Raphael consulted his list, and threw us all on our heads with Coltrane's Moment's Notice (I-280), which resulted in quite a workout. Terry helped us relax with an easy swing take on Misty (I-277). Along came Wes with Along Came Betty (III-22). Your scribe took the opportunity to lift the mood with It's Delovely (III-273). 

Around the circle once more, Sam opted for Denzil Best's semi-bop Move (II-280). Jeff went all-bop with Boplicity (I-58). We played neither of these tunes to speed. Raphael took us right over the top with another one-word title, Equipoise (I-134). Terry changed directions entirely by calling Moon River (II-279). Wes brought us back to slow bop with a speed-governed version of Donna Lee (I-120). Yours truly, by now on piano, asked for Lady Bird (I-235). Sam decided Four Brothers (II-138) would be fun, and it worked out fine. Back to your scribe (people were heading out), we played a swingy version of I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face (III-xxx). We finished off with Raphael's choice, Wave (I-431). 

Participant Picks

George Shearing Quintet

Move

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpGpa_oRMxs&list=PLAzHladAmkCRhiJnTudDEeJGd4NRib24N

John Coltrane

Moment’s Notice

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gocGlRuW1bw

Max Roach

Equipoise

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAy3ctBgdck

Paul Desmond

I’ve Grown Accustomed To Her Face

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZ4AfH0qBko

Enjoy!

--SJH

January 12, 2019

We had a usual-sized crowd: Terry (guitar), Jack K (trumpet), Steve H (alto and piano), Wes (tenor), Raphael (bass), Sam (trumpet and trombone), Victor (vocals), Annie (vocals) and Carl (trombone).

Jack kicked us off with his selection of Pennies from Heaven (II-309). Your scribe pulled out one of his favorites, Polka Dots and Moonbeams (III-318). Raphael challenged us with Recorda Me (I-337). Terry opted for a intriguing Stella By Starlight (I-382). Golson's Along Came Betty (III-22) was Wes' first choice. Sam surprised us with Parker's Au Privave (I-37). Back to Jack, we took a spin on Take The A Train (I-398).

Victor had arrived a little before this, so we got the vocals started with Basin Street Blues (II-37), followed by the immortal Stardust (II-367). Yours truly grabbed the instrumental opportunity by calling for Kalmar and Ruby's Three Little Words (III-406). Raphael worked us again with McCoy Tyner's Three Flowers (I-412). Annie and Carl had set up by this point, so Annie took two: Dearly Beloved (I-103) and Cherokee (I-77). Victor took two more: Bye Bye Blackbird (II-73) and Caravan (I-) which did not go nearly so well. Sam picked an instrumental, Lucky Southern (I-255). Annie took two more, this time One Note Samba (I-xxx) and My Foolish Heart (I-286). We took it out with an instrumental version of Four (I-149), though Annie got in a vocal chorus as well. Didn't know that one had any words.

Participant Picks

McCoy Tyner

Three Flowers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLwXn7cV_Y4

Anita O’Day

Four

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9gD2EOQBpQ

Enjoy!

--SJH

January 5, 2019

Next Time: Saturday, Jan. 12, 11am-3pm, TowerLight (3601 Woddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

FJF prep on tap

A pretty good turnout for the start of the new year! Sam (trumpet, trombone), Craig (guitar), Jack K (trumpet, drums), Steve C (piano), Raphael (bass), Steve H (soprano, rhythm), Wes (tenor), Jim D (vocals and guitar!), Annie (vocals), Carl (trombone), Victor (vocal).

Sam kicked things off with one we usually end with, St. Thomas (II-339). Jack K took us through a slightly downspeed version of Now's The Time (II-293). Craig found an oldy but goody in You Made Me Love You (III-459). Steve C's choice was equally old and good, 'Deed I Do (III-92). Raphael brought us closer to the present with Speak No Evil (I-378). Wes found one we could all handle by opting for Blue Trane (I-54). Yours truly found one that suited the soprano, Pennies From Heaven (II-309).

Time for vocals, with Annie starting out with How Deep Is The Ocean (III-150), then reaching for a bit of Sugar (III-367).  Jim D turned the instrumental into a vocal for himself with Satin Doll (III-349). Annie took another pair: My Man (III-294) and A Sleepin' Bee (III-357). Sam got the instrumental call, and we took a run at Pent Up House (I-324). Annie chose two off book pieces, passing out parts for How Little We Know and Give Me The Simple Life. Carl gave us an instrumental opportunity on Blues By Five (I-59). Annie took two more on the gentle side: Blame It On My Youth (II-xx) and Quiet Nights Of Quiet Stars (I-335). Jim D got in one more combined vocal/instrumental with The Lady Is A Tramp (III-227). Victor, who finally arrived with only ten minutes to go as we began the last number, took us out with Avalon (II-22).

--SJH