April 13, 2019

Next Time: Sat., 4/20, 11am-3pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale, St. Louis Park)

FJF practice: Ornithology (I-317)

Sorry, getting behind again.

The Players
Sam (trumpet and trombone), Jeff (piano), Steve C (piano), Raphael (bass), Jack K (trumpet), Ari (trumpet), Carl (trombone), and Steve H (alto).

The Tunes
 I-324 Pent Up House (Sam)
I-12 Afternoon in Paris (Me)
I-402 There Will Never Be Another You (Jack K)
I-367 Someday My Prince Will Come (Jeff)
II-372 Struttin' With Some Barbecue (Steve C)
II-160 Head and Shoulders (Raphael)
I-57 Body and Soul (Ari)
I-337 Recorda Me (Sam)
II-293 Now's The Time (Jack K)
II-167 Honeysuckle Rose (Me)
I-226 Jelly Roll (Carl)
I-382 Stella By Starlight (Jeff)
II-436 You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To (Steve C)
II-386 Tangerine (Raphael)
I-17 Alice in Wonderland (Ari)
I-22 All The Things You Are (Sam)
I-196 I'll Never Smile Again (Me)
I-206 In A Mellow Tone (Carl)

--SJH

Bert Blyleven's Birthday, 2018

Next Time: Sat., 4/13, 11am-3pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale, St. Louis Park)

FJF prep: Pent Up House

Due to unforeseen events going on in our host building, the Workshop was cut short at 1:30. Still, we had a good crew of Sam (trumpet, trombone), Raphael (bass), Steve H (piano, alto), Arthur (drums), John (trombone), Ari (trumpet), and a surprise visit from Ray (bass) and his friend Rosa (good listener). Annie (vocals) and Carl (trombone) got there just before we shut down. Next time, we'll remember to call and warn you!

We began the day with Sam's FJF prep of Four Brothers, first from the book, then using three of the four parts from our arrangement. We went Wave (I-431) next, courtesy of John. Your scribe thought it would be cool to do a Desmondesque version of I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face (III-192), but it was a lot trickier than he makes it sound. We then took on Waltz for Debby (I-432) at the behest of Raphael, and at a good clip. Arthur got the next round, choosing Pent Up House (I-324). Ari stuck his finger down on a page and came up with Road Song (I-344), which I think we were all pleased with by the end.

We started the second round with Sam's call, Jeannine (II-212). For some reason, John thought Anthropology (I-xx) was a good idea, and he wasn't entirely wrong. Ray decided to sit in for a few, and picked I'm Confessin' (II-xxx), challenging us to play it in a different key than was in the book. The piano player borrowed a computer cheat, but the horns gamely worked through it.

Just as we got started with Annie's first tune, we got the word that we had to leave, and your scribe forgot to write it down. Something with Blue in the title.

--SJH

March 31, 2019

Next Time:

A very busy afternoon: 11 instrumentalists, no singers, a lot of rotation on instruments. We had Sam (trumpet, trombone), Roger (tenor, piano), Raphael (bass), Jack K (trumpet, drums), Jeff (piano), Craig (guitar), John (trombone), Ari (trumpet, drums), Wes (tenor), Carl (trombone) and Steve H (alto, piano, hi-hat).

Your scribe is still a bit short on time, so we're going with the short version.

Tunes Played more or less well
I-373 Song For My Father (Sam)
I-425 Up Jumped Spring (Jack K)
I-402 There Will Never Be Another You (Jeff)
Handout Pent Up House (Steve H)
I-51 Blue In Green (Raphael)
I-431 Wave (John)
I-152 Freedom Jazz Dance (Roger)
I-98 Dancing On The Ceiling (Ari)
I-22 Ceora (Wes)
I-311 Once I Loved (Sam)
I-306 Nostalgia In Times Square (Carl)
II-208 It's All Right With Me (Steve H)
I-119 Dolphin Dance (Raphael)
I-317 Ornithology (Roger)
I-3xx St. Thomas (Sam)

--SJH

March 23, 2019

Next Time: Sat., 3/30, 11am-3pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale, St. Louis Park)

FJF prep: You bet

Still bare bones, but hopefully soon back to normal.

Attendees at one point or another
Sam (trumpet, trombone), Roger (tenor), Jeff (piano), Raphael (bass), Steve H (alto), Wes (tenor), Ari (trumpet), Craig (guitar)

Tunes Attempted
III-429 Watermelon Man (Sam)
I-77 Cherokee (Steve)
I-20 All Of Me (Jeff)
III-26 A Pretty Girl Is Like A Melody (Raphael)
I-302 A Night In Tunisia (Roger)
I-378 Speak No Evil (Ari)
II-282 My Little Suede Shoes (Sam)
IV-150 Goin' Out Of My Head (Craig)
Handout Pent Up House (Steve H)
I-122 Don't Get Around Much Anymore (Ari)
I-431 Wave (Raphael)
I-166 Groovin' High (Wes)
I-256 Lullaby Of Birdland (Roger)

--SJH

March 16, 2019

Next Time: Sat. 3/23, 1am-3pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale, St. Louis Park)

FJF prep: We hope so.

In a bit of a hurry; your scribe needs to post two weeks worth of material and the notice for the next time, so bare bones reporting.

Present and one point or another
Steve C (piano), Steve H (alto), Roger (tenor), Jack K (trumpet), Raphael (bass), Ari (trumpet), Carl (trombone)

Tunes played
I-219 Isn't It Romantic (Jack)
I-187 I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good (Steve H)
I-227 Jordu (Steve C)
I-413 Time Remembered (Raphael)
I-317 Ornithology (Roger)
I-32   April in Paris (Ari)
II-422 Whisper Not (Steve C)
II-324 Pent Up House [FJF arrangement] (Steve H)
II-34  Perdido (Raphael)
I-391 Take The A Train (Roger)
I-340 Reflections (Ari)
II-324 Pent Up House [again] (Steve)
I-364 So What? (Carl)
II-436 You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To (Steve C)
II-344 September Song (Raphael)
II-172 I Believe In You (Ari)
II-167 Honeysuckle Rose (Steve H)

--SJH

March 9, 2019

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

Not a huge group showed (the weather forecast being so foreboding--not to mention incorrect), but all ready for action: Raphael (bass), Sam (trumpet and trombone), Jack K (trumpet), Roger (tenor and piano), Ari (trumpet), and Steve H (alto and piano).

Sam got things rolling with Four Brothers (II-138), which went surprisingly smoothly. Jack K opted for Footprints (I-144), which actually gave us more trouble, but we started to get the hang of it. Yours truly called the ballad For All We Know (I-145), but not too slow. Raphael reached into his bag of surprises for A Taste Of Honey (III-386), with its occasionally unusual phrasing. Roger found one very suitable for his sound, Seven Steps to Heaven (I-356), which proved difficult to get started, but eventually we found a groove.

On the second round, Sam gave us Dear Old Stockholm (I-102), another tricky tune to take at speed, but we held our own. Jack turned to a fun tune, Teach Me Tonight (III-387). Ari opted for something simpler, Freddie Freeloader (I-151). Before heading out early, your scribe asked for Don't Get Around Much Anymore (I-122). Raphael decided on the lesser-known Rodgers and Hart tune, Mimi (III-278). Before it was even his turn, Roger was suggesting Parker's Au Privave (I-34), and got his wish.

For the final spin, Sam turned to Mr. Magic (II-268). Ari got the nod to pick Straight No Chaser (I-386). The fun closed out with Roger's choice of Blue Bossa (I-50).

--SJH

March 2, 3019

Next Time: Saturday, March 9, 11am-3pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale, St. Louis Park)

FJF prep: Four Brothers (II-138)

Another voiceless session as only the instrumentalists made an appearance. Raphael (bass) was our notetaker, and he was joined by Jack (trumpet), John (trombone), Roger (tenor), Jeff (piano), Carl (trombone), Ari (trumpet) and the indomitable Sam (trumpet, trombone).

Things got underway with Jack putting in the request for The Nearness Of You (II-285). Jeff got the next call, A Fine Romance (I-190). Raphael was next up, and chose Black Nile (I-48). John wasn't sure what to choose, calling Yes And No (I-452). Roger put a twist into the fabric by calling Giant Steps (I-157) as a samba. Sam went to this week's Add-A-Tune and possible FJF number, Sonny Rollins' Pent Up House (I-324). 

The second round began with Jack's call, Tune Up (I-418). Somehow, Sam got another swing right away, requesting Summer Samba (I-362). Ari was in the rotation now, and stayed with that summer feel with Wave (I-431). Carl, also now on hand, went to old standby In A Mellow Tone (I-206). Jeff up next turned to the classic ballad, Body and Soul (I-57). Raphael opted for a little Parker and Au Privave (I-37). 

Apparently missing some people by this point, the rotation returned to Sam, who finally broke the spell of Volume I by calling Killer Joe (II-229). Ari went with something less familiar, Barbara (II-36). Carl brought things home with 2 Degrees East, 3 Degrees West (II-408).

--SJH