May 15, 2021

 NEXT TIME: Sat. 5/22, 11am-3pm, outside behind McRae Rec. Center (906 E. 47th St., MPLS), weather permitting.

People Present

Sam (trumpet, trombone), Steve H (soprano), Raphael (bass), Todd (trumpet), Carl (trombone), Serdar (guitar)

Songs Selected

Sam        Brazil    III-60

Serdar    Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans    II-108

Raphael    Cheesecake    II-82

Carl        Two Degrees East, Three Degrees West    II-408

Steve H    Tangerine    II-386

Todd        There Will Never Be Another You    I-407

Sam        Dear Old Stockholm    I-

Serdar    Tenor Madness    II-390

Raphael    Jeannine    II-

Steve H    Perdido    II-311

Sam        Speak Low    II-364

Serdar    St. Thomas    II-339

--SJH

May 8, 2021

 Next Time: Sat. May 15, 11am-3pm, behind McRae Recreation Center, 906 E. 47th St., MPLS,  weather permitting

It was a little cool to host a Workshop on May 8, but this coming weekend looks more promising.

If anyone did show up this past week, please contact me directly, or by leaving a reply to this blog post.

--SJH

May 1, 2021

NO WORKSHOP 5/8/21 due to chilly weather

We're back! Sort of. The bad news is that at our Grand Reopening, there was no electricity. The good news is that this has been rectified by the Park People. The bad news is that it is only supposed to get up to 60F this weekend--not warm enough for us older folks to sit outside awaiting our turn to play. 

The Workshop had its first fully vaccinated session on Saturday, May 1, 2021, behind the rec center at McRae Park, where we had played (indoors) for a number of years. It was a gorgeous 80 degree afternoon. Present were Sam (trombone and trumpet), your scribe (alto), Raphael (bass), Serdar (guitar), Glen (guitar), Jack K. (trumpet), John (trombone), and Carl (trombone). Without electricity, though, Raphael couldn't play in any useful way. The guitarists strummed and struggled to be heard, but helped keep us on track.

We started going around the group with Sam's pick, Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise (II-355). Serdar had us in a different place and time with Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans (II-108). Yours truly opted for a mid-tempo version of My Romance (I-289). Glen took the next call with Just Friends (IV-237).  John went all Parker on us by choosing Anthropology (I-29). Jack K. brought us back to Ellington with Satin Doll (I-349). Blue Monk (I-52) was Carl's opening call. 

Serdar had left by this point, and people were moving around to avoid the strong sun, so the circle got a bit reconfigured. Sam figured it was warm enough to bring out St. Thomas (II-339). As long as we were feeling a bit Latin, Wave (I-431) was John's call. Jack and Glen together had us play Jersey Bounce (II-223) before departing, as did Carl. With only three people remaining, your scribe called Somebody Loves Me (I-469). John opted for Groovin' High (I-166). Sam closed things out with Out Of Nowhere (I-318). 

Stay tuned for when--and where--our next Workshop session will be. 

--SJH

LET'S PLAY!

Let the Workshop commence!

When: Saturday, May 1, 11am-3pm

Where: Outside, behind McRae Rec Center, 906 E. 47th Street, MPLS (weather permitting)

Bring your own chair.

Even if nobody else shows, Sam and your scribe are dedicated to playing some duets.

Changes in COVID-19 restrictions, not to mention the weather, make it possible for us to gather outside, unmasked (if you are fully vaccinated).  We old-timers are dosed up and ready for action. If you aren't yet vaccinated, there is plenty of space outside, and we'll arrange ourselves accordingly. There is a power outlet, but we might need some extensions or power strips.

For newcomers, this Workshop is an opportunity to work on improvisation and varying styles of jazz. Here's how our Workshop runs. We play from the Real Books, generally vols. 1, 2, and 3, sometimes 4. (If you want to play something not in the Real Books, bring the sheet music for C, Eb and Bb instruments.) We go around the circle taking turns calling the tune. The person who calls the tune calls style and tempo, and gets the first solo. We play it down, then we solo in turn around the circle (you may pass if you wish). The second half is typically dedicated to vocalists (with instrumentals in between), should any be present.

REALLY looking forward to seeing all of you again!

--SJH

March 13, 2021

Don't know if anyone even remembers this website now, after a year in hiatus for the Workshop. Let's hope someone tunes in from time to time.

Your scribe has received his first coronavirus (still sounds like something you could get from a beer handed to you by Tony Romo) vaccine. Second dose on Good Friday, in three weeks. Here's hoping we can consider reopening the Workshop in another month or so. Where that will be is an interesting question.

The jazz world is saddened again this week by the death from leukemia of Yolande Bruce, singer and actress. Your scribe has not seen her perform in person for many years now, but he remembers it was a lot of fun. Here's hoping you and Debbie can show the angelic choir how it's done.

--SJH

December 26, 2020

Writing today on the Feast of Stephen, the first martyr (as Good King Wenceslas reminds us, "He was stoned, dude"), and thus a day dear to your scribe. It's Boxing Day in what remains of the British Empire. For many, it's simply the day after Christmas, and here's hoping it finds you all well.

It's been far too long since there has been an installment of the Workshop Blog, and it would be surprising if anyone checks it now. It would be surprising if anyone checked it while we were up and running. Still, yours truly misses our Saturday play-along, in terms of both the music and camaraderie. With the coming vaccines, there is light at the end of the tunnel, and not just the light shining on a sign that says, "You've reached the end of the tunnel. Please proceed quietly back the way you came." So maybe in six months we can be back to our gatherings.

It's been a year since the passing of Irv Williams, and now, almost exactly a year later, the Twin Cities jazz world mourns the loss of the great Debbie Duncan. A tough way to end a tough 2020. Musicians, however, are a resilient batch, and this writer is looking forward to a burst of beautiful sound come the anniversary of our first lockdowns.

Merry Christmas, and may your New Year be an excellent one.

--SJH

April 25, 2020 (Hiatus Fun)

Due to COVID-19, we remain on hiatus until...well, who knows right now.

In the meantime, your scribe has put out a call to keep connected during our time of sheltering-in-place. 

I've asked everyone to share with others their Top Ten Lists: top songs to improvise on; top single recordings; top albums; top tunes from the big band era, top vocal performances; top musicals or music-related movies--things like that.

To date, no one has contributed. Now, I know why I haven't contributed: I have been very busy trying to convert my college courses to online courses in a hurry. It finally occurred to me that other people might also be very busy trying to suddenly work online. So,  I'll take the lead here and put up a few top ten lists. Actually, it turns out to be very hard to make my lists exactly ten, so I'm abandoning the particular number and just asking for people's favorites, the ones they love to return to.

As for this writer, I play both alto and soprano saxophones, and the tunes I like to play on them are not identical. So, to get things started here are my favorites for alto, for soprano, and for either one.

Steve H's favorite songs for improvisation

Alto

Afternoon in Paris (John Lewis)

All the Things You Are (Jerome Kern)

Angel Eyes (Matt Denis)

Autumn in New York (Vernon Duke)

Body and Soul (Johnny Green)

Cherokee (Ray Noble)

I’m Old Fashioned (Jerome Kern)

If You Could See Me Now (Tadd Dameron)

Lady Bird (Tadd Dameron)

My Funny Valentine (Richard Rodgers)

The Nearness of You (Hoagy Carmichael)

On the Street Where You Live (Frederick Loewe)

Polka Dots and Moonbeams (Jimmy van Heusen)

Whisper Not (Benny Golson)

Favorites for soprano

Alice in Wonderland (Sammy Fain)

Indiana (James Hanley)

It’s De-Lovely (Cole Porter)

On A Slow Boat to China (Frank Loesser)

Pennies from Heaven (Arthur Johnston)

Tangerine (Victor Schertzinger)

Favorites that cross over to either horn well

Bluesette (Toots Thielemans)

Georgia on My Mind (Hoagy Carmichael)

Here’s That Rainy Day (Jimmy van Heusen)

Perdido (Duke Ellington/Juan Tizol)

Secret Love (Sammy Fain)

Skylark (Hoagy Carmishael)

Softly As In Morning Sunrise (Sigmund Romberg)

Up Jumped Spring (Freddie Hubbard)

The Way You Look Tonight (Jerome Kern)

I hope to hear from other past and present members of the Workshop with their favorite jazz songs in whatever category they wish. Let's give each other some new things to listen to and play while we wait this thing out. 

--SJH