September 9, 2023

Next Time: Sat., 9/16, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

Your scribe did not think this past session was going to take off at all at first, but after a short while, we had assembled a reasonable contingent of players: Sam (trumpet, trombone), Bill (vocals), Steve H (piano), John (bass), and Serdar (guitar). 

Sam, as usual, got the ball rolling with his pick, this time Dindi (II-105). Bill had been wanting to rehearse At Last for a gig, and we finally had enough music and chutzpah to pull it off; sounded pretty good. John opted for the classic All The Things You Are (I-18). Serdar took the next call for us to play On The Sunny Side Of The Street (II-xxx). Yours truly chose Milt Jackson's eponymous Bags' Groove (II-30).

Bill took the next one, going with I Remember You (II-179). Around to Sam again, we were treated to Perdido (II-311). Bill's vocal choice next was Dream A Little Dream Of Me (handout). Serdar took us to a medium swing version of the ever-popular Autumn Leaves (I-39); Bill joined in with a vocal. Sam got another call, this time Four (I-149). We finished up with Bill's closer, The Girl From Ipanema (I-158).

Hope to see you this coming weekend!

--SJH

September 2, 2023

Next Time: Sat., 9/9, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale, St. Louis Park)

Last week, masks were no longer required in the building. But keep your eyes open for notices.

An odd assortment of players stopped in for our festivities: Sam (trumpet/trombone), Raphael (bass), John (bass), Steve H (piano, soprano), and Bill (vocals). 

Your scribe spent most of his time at the workshop this time filling in at the keyboard, but was glad to be able to help, to some lesser degree. Raphael and yours truly were just a duo to get things underway, with Raphael's call, Dewey Square. The rest showed up before our next tune, also Raphaels choice, Elora, and Sam was able to join in on that. A resident who stopped in to listen asked for Waltz for Debby, which we managed to get through reasonably well. John got on board with Song for My Father. Bill got to pick the next two: All of Me, and Autumn Leaves. Sam got in the act by requesting All of You. John thought something Latin would go down well, and went with How Insensitive. Bill got another vocal chance, going to Ain't Misbehavin'. Yours truly finally took a swing with a medium swing version of Here's That Rainy Day. Bill got in his final option, Dream A Little Dream of Me. We rounded off the afternoon with John calling Mr. P.C.

Here's hoping to see you soon!

--SJH

August 26, 2023

Next Time: Sat., 9/2, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale, St. Louis Park)

Masks were still necessary in the building this past session, so be prepared.

Attendance picked up this time out, with appearances by Sam (trumpet, trombone), Steve H (soprano, piano), Steve D (trumpet), Steve C (piano), Raphael (bass), Jack (trumpet), David (trombone), and Ari (trumpet). 

We got rolling with Sam's pick, Now's The Time (I-293) at an easy pace. Jack took things down with a very relaxed (and very cool) version of So What (I-364), which had the added advantage that we had the right horns present to play all five parts! We picked things up with Steve C's call, In Walked Bud (II-200). Raphael gave us our first ballad of the day, Infant Eyes (II-202). We stayed right in the same spot in the book, but went more up-tempo on your scribe's choice, It Could Happen To You (II-204). 

Back around to Sam, who opted for a bit of Latin in So Nice (I-362). Steve D stuck to the Latin rhythms, turning to Little Boat (I-245). Jack returned to Miles with his call, Solar (I-363). Steve C. chose a Tad Dameron classic, Lady Bird (I-xxx).  Yours truly took over piano duties for the last two: Raphael's pick, Invitation (I-297), and Ari's choice, Song For My Father (I-373).

See you next time!

--SJH

August 19, 2023

Next Time: Sat. 8/26, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale, St. Louis Park)

Masks in the building! There has been a Covid outbreak.

Due to the Covid outbreak in the building, there were a lot fewer people present than usual: Steve H (soprano, piano), Sam (trumpet, trombone) and Raphael (bass). Here's what we played.

I Love Paris (Steve)

Beautiful Love (Raphael)

Cherokee (Steve)

Daahoud (Raphael)

Lullaby of Birdland (Sam)

Easy Street (Raphael) 

Cry Me A River (Sam)

Somebody Loves Me (Steve)

When Sunny Gets Blue (Raphael)

Little Boat (Sam)

Three Little Words (Steve)

Bolivia (Raphael)

Dancing On The Ceiling (Sam)

--SJH

August 12, 2023

Next Time: Sat., 8/19, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale, St. Louis Park)

Your scribe has received no news from the Aug. 12 session, which he missed. But he does look forward to seeing you this coming weekend.

--SJH

August 5, 2023

Next Time: Sat., 8/12, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale, St. Louis Park)

In the basement theater. We're the Jazz Jam.

Our last session brought out regulars and semi-regulars Sam (trumpet, trombone), Steve H (piano, soprano), John (trombone, piano), Raphael (bass), Bill (vocals), Vern (accordian), and Serdar (guitar). 

We got things rolling with Sam's call, Bye Bye Blackbird (II-73). Going around the horn, so to speak, John made the next choice, Blue Skies (II-58). Your scribe opted for Midnight Mood (I-269), which turned out to be trickier than it looked. Bill, who had come in and set up after we had begun, decided to reprise Blue Skies. Raphael was in a traditional mood this time, going with On the Sunny Side of the Street (II-298). Vern tried to get us into an up-tempo swing on Autumn Leaves (I-39), but after several false starts we settled back down successfully to a medium up. Bill passed around a handout in his key of Dream A Little Dream Of Me. 

The circle having been completed, Sam took another turn, opting for Bernie's Tune (III-39). Yours truly got a second shot, pulling out Stella By Starlight (I-382). Bill's third choice was I've Got You Under My Skin (handout). John went with the Ellington classic, Perdido (II-311). 

A number of us had to leave at this point, so Sam and Serdar serenaded us in packing up with several choruses of St. Thomas (II-339).

Hope you can make it this week!

--SJH

July 29, 2023

Next Time: Sat., 8/5, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale, St. Louis Park)

Present at our last meeting were Sam (trumpet, trombone), Steve C (piano), John (trombone), Jack (trumpet), Raphael (bass), Steve H (alto), and David (trombone). 

We got started with the apropos Heat Wave (III-143), Sam's choice. Staying with the hot theme, your scribe opted for East of the Sun (III-104). Sticking to the air theme, John's call was Come Fly With Me (III-80). Finally tossing aside the theme, and the RB volume, Jack went with I Remember You (II-179). Steve C went a little more upbeat with Pennies From Heaven (II-309). Billy Strayhorn's surprisingly swingy Upper Manhattan Medical Group (I-426) was Raphael decision. 

Starting round two, and returning to our heat theme, Sam went to Miles' classic Solar (I-363). Yours truly stayed with the theme, but chose the breezy On The Sunny Side Of The Street (II-298). John decided on a bit of Latin, Jobim's A-Train-based So Danco Samba (III-360). Your scribe took over the keyboard for one last tune, Jack's call, I Thought About You (I-280).

Too many people had to leave at that point, so the fun had to end. But it continues this weekend. Hope to see you there!

--SJH