November 11, 2023

Next Time: Sat., 11/18, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

In case anyone is worried, there has been no requirement for masks recently.

Things were a little slow at the Workshop again. Sam (trumpet, trombone) and Steve H (piano) were debating whether to play, when Jack (trumpet) arrived. We got in one tune before--surprise!--Serdar (guitar) came in and was ready to try to play, splinted arm and all. A couple of us had to leave by 1:00, so it was a shorter time span, but we did manage to play the following:

Manteca (II-xxx)  Sam

Too Young (II-403)  Steve

Doxy (II-111)  Sam

Speak Low (II-xxx)  Jack

Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise (II-355)  Serdar

A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square  (III-302)  Steve

In A Little Spanish Town  (III-197)  Sam

Sure hope to see more of you next time!

--SJH

November 4, 2023

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

Well, sadly, not enough people showed up this past weekend--or at least, not the right combination of people (bass, trumpet)--to make a Workshop happen. But we will take another shot at it this Saturday! REALLY hope to see you there...

--SJH

October 28, 2023

Next Time: Sat., 11/04, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

A small but perfectly workable group gathered for this particular hoedown: Sam (trumpet, trombone), Steve C. (piano), Raphael (bass), and Steve H. (alto).

Sam, as usual, called the first number, and it really is a number: BR-2, in a revised handout from last time. We got off to a swinging, bluesy start. Your scribe, opting for Halloween-themed tunes, went to This Masquerade (II-496), more as a Latin than as its original rock feel. Steve C. did not feel the need to revise anything, calling for Yardbird Suite (II-433). Raphael decided on Daahoud (I-96), though we had to downshift twice before we found the groove. 

Back to Sam again, who thought a Halloween theme should include a moon-based song, chose How High The Moon (I-180). Yours truly thought we needed to keep an eye out for Killer Joe (II-229). Steve C. took us to another, more easy-going Latin groove with Lucky Southern (I-255). Raphael went to classic Cole Porter, I Love You (I-190). 

Time for a third round, and Sam called for more sky-based imagery in Nuages (I-307). Yours truly was not letting go of Halloween yet, turning to Witchcraft (III-452). Steve C. thought Lullaby of the Leaves (III-260) captured that autumn feeling. Raphael brought it home with his choice of A Night in Tunisia (I-302).

Here's hoping you will join us next time!

--SJH

October 21, 2023

Next Time: Sat., 10/28, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

A core group showed up for jazz jamming this past session: Sam (trumpet, trombone), Raphael (bass), Steve H (piano, soprano), Jack (trumpet), and Serdar (guitar). 

Things got rolling, as usual, with Sam's choice, Line For Lyons (III-240) at an easygoing pace. Jack went to a ballad, Everything Happens To Me (III-114). Your scribe dug back for a peppy, early tune, I Can't Give You Anything But Love (I-185). Raphael got much more contemporary, calling This I Dig Of You (II-395). 

Going around again, Sam made the Workshoppers work on Moment's Notice (I-280). Jack got classic, opting for There Will Never Be Another You (I-207). Serdar finally got a chance, pulling out On The Sunny Side Of The Street (II-298). Yours truly chose a more "floaty" tune, Whisper Not (II-422). Raphael picked up the pace with In Walked Bud (II-200). Sam closed things out with another tricky one, Chitlins Con Carne (I-87). Sam and Serdar closed things out with their now-traditional St. Thomas (II-xxx).

Hope to see you next time!

--SJH

October 14,, 2023

Next Time: Sat., 10/21, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

A quiet little group assembled: John (bass), Sam (trumpet, trombone), and Steve H (piano). It did, however, give the players time to cover more ground.

Sam    The Girl from Ipanema (I-138)

John    Four  (I-xxx)

Steve   Girl Talk (II-151)

Sam     Footprints (I-144)

Steve   Autumn in New York (I-38)

Sam    Dear Old Stockholm ((I-102)

John    Autumn Leaves (I-39)

John    All Blues (I-18)

Steve   Broadway (I-xx)

Sam    Doxy (II-111)

Steve  A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square (III-302)

Sam    BR-2 (handout)

--SJH

October 7, 2023

Next Time: Sat., 10/14, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

Present: Sam (trumpet, trombone), Jack (trumpet), Raphael (bass), Steve H (piano), Serdar (guitar).

Your scribe continued to fill in on keyboards while the real piano player is out of town. Tunes played:

Gone with the Wind (III-132) Sam

Time After Time (III-408) Jack

East of the Sun (III-104) Steve H

Three Little Words (III-406) Raphael

Time Was (III-407) Sam

It Never Entered My Mind (II-205) Jack

Basin Street Blues (II-37) Serdar

Witchcraft (III-452) Steve H

Stablemates (III-378) Raphael

There might have been one or two more after yours truly left.

--SJH

September 30, 2023

Next Time: Sat., 10/7, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

A peculiar day of duos and trios. Participants were Sam (trumpet), Steve H. (piano, soprano), Jack (trumpet), and Serdar (guitar). 

Sam and yours truly were the only two at the beginning, and after waiting a few minutes, decided to take on Moanin', which proved tricky when our charts did not match. However, we worked out the details and made our way through it. Meanwhile, Jack arrived, and joined us on your scribe's choice, Angel Eyes. Jack then opted for Dancing on the Ceiling. Sam's next choice was Moment's Notice. Someone then called C-Jam Blues, which went without incident. 

Sam had to leave, but Jack stuck around for some duets on ballads, first (I Don't Stand)A Ghost of a Chance, followed by Georgia on My Mind.

By this time, Serdar, had arrived, but Jack had to head out, so now it was guitar/sax duets, with piano backing up the guitar solos. We tackled Blue Monk, Witchcraft, On the Sunny Side of the Street, Somebody Loves Me, Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans, Do Nothing Till You Hear from Me, All the Things You Are, and, of course, St. Thomas. 

Here's hoping more people can make it this weekend!

--SJH