Oh, the weather outside is frightful

but jazz is so delightful. However, only four of us braved the snow (and what one usual participant described as "bumper cars") to come to the workshop. This was about the smallest turnout in the past two years, but easily the worst weather conditions as well. And to think that one week ago it was sparklingly beautiful. So, today, Bill (tenor ukulele), Tim (guitar) and Annie and Matt (vocals) turned up. The focus was on holiday music in preparation for the annual "Santa Breakfast" at McRae Park.

Hopefully the weather will be more cooperative next Saturday (11/20/10). The odds are good the park building will be closed the Saturday after Thanksgiving (11/27/10) but if you want to hear some jazz that evening, you can. Several workshop regulars and "occasionals" have formed Optimum Trajectory and will be playing at the Gingko Coffee House in St. Paul (Snelling and Minnehaha) from 8:30-10:00 PM.

The Night Has a Thousand Eyes

Or at least it seems like that during deer season if you're driving on rural roads.

It was another week of spectacular, unseasonable weather- underscored by the afternoons being relatively long due to Daylight Savings Time. But that ended hours after the end of the Jazz Workshop of 11/6/10. To celebrate the end of DST and a return to early sunsets, a baker's dozen musicians got together to play jazz in the afternoon: Josh and Tim on guitars, Bill on ukulele, Max on bass, Gene on drums, Peter on bari sax, Wes on tenor sax, Ahmed on trumpet, Paul on piano and vocalists Annie, Toria, Matt and Cheryl.

The music of the day included "Footprints," "Along Came Betty," "Dindi," "Birdland," "East of the Sun," "When Sunny Gets Blue," "Anything Goes," "I've Got It Bad," "My Favorite Things," "Witchcraft," "C'est Si Bon," "Out of Nowhere," "How High The Moon," "The Night Has A Thousand Eyes," "Change Partners," "Bewitched." And that was a wrap!

Photos to come, I did manage to remember my camera this time.

Sunny

The beautiful fall weather continued nto the last weekend of October, perhaps creating some competition for the Jazz Workshop. Despite that, a dozen folks came out to McRae Park to sing and play jazz. We had trumpeters Todd, Steve and Sam; bari sax player Peter and tenor sax player Wes; drummer Gene; ukelelist Bill; vocalists Toria, Matt and Annie; and guitarists Craig, Bob and Tim. I couldn't find my camera before leaving to get to the park, so no photos from today.

The set list included "Nostalgia in Times Square," "Dear Old Stockholm," "In the Wee Small Hours," "Girl From Ipanema," "Close Your Eyes," "Till There Was You," ""Every Time We Say Goodbye," "Put Your Dreams Away," "Satin Doll," "Canteloupe Island," "No Moon At All," "Somewhere My Love," "Easy Living," "Embreaceable You," "Moon River," "Watch What Happens," "Along Came Betty," "Day By Day," "I'll Be Around" and "We'll Be Together Again." In that order.

Next week: the last Jazz Workshop in Daylight Savings Time for the year. We are heading into the cooler and darker part of the Endless Summer but fear not, the days will start getting longer in only 7 1/2 weeks!

The Roving Reporter Reports

Having missed the Jazz Workshop on 10/23/10 due to scheduling conflicts, we turn to the report of Sam Fiske, roving jazz reporter, for a report on events at McRae Park. According to Sam, the attendees included Bill (ukulele), Owen (accordion), Paul (piano), Gene (drums), Wes (tenor sax), Craig (guitar), Sam (trumpet synth), and vocalists Annie, Matt and Cheryl.

Most of the songs of the day: "Jump Monk," "My Funny Valentine," "Petite Fleure," "C'est Si Bon," "Alfie," "Ornithology," "Down Home Blues," "Cheek to Cheek," "Bewitched," "Work Song," "I Could Have Danced All Night," "From Russia With Love," "East of the Sun."

Thanks, Sam, for the report!

Timing is everything.

OK, this report is over a week late. Jeez. I'll make up for it with an embarrassing photo in which I appear to be impersonating the latter-day Jerry Garcia. Jeez. Don't get me wrong, I love Jerry's playing and the Grateful Dead along with the Allman Brothers were my introduction to improvisational music. But I don't particularly want to share morbid obesity with him. That's me on the right with Jeff (bass) on the left. In my defense, my wife says I'm not as fat as it appears.

This is the Jazz Workshop report for 10/16/10. Yes, eight days ago. This is not the report for the Jazz Workshop which happened yesterday because I missed that one.

On 10/16/10, the attendees included Bill (uke)- who I have been mis-naming as "Dan" week after week after week, Josh (banjo), Jeff (bass), Gene (drums), Paul (keys), Wes (tenor sax), Tim (guitar) and vocalists Annie, Matt and Cheryl.

In the photo to the left, you will find two jazz musicians even though it looks more like a bluegrass jam at first glance. That's Josh on the banjo and Bill (not "Dan") on the ukulele.

The tunes de jour included "Misty," "Girl From Ipanema," "Autumn Leaves," "Freedom," "Bop Shop," "We'll Be Together Again," "East Of The Sun," "Tune Up," "Imagination," "Late, Late Show," "Angel Eyes," "Close Your Eyes," "Dream A Little Dream Of Me," "Summer's End," "Call Me Irresponsible," "Let's Fall In Love," "Touch Of Your Lips," "Miss Otis Regrets," "Basin Street Blues," "Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans," "I'll Be Around," "Here's That Rainy Day" and "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered."

And here we've got (from the left) Matt, Wes, Annie and Paul. Annie is the Jazz Workshop coordinator; it was her husband Sam Favors who started the Workshop about 1978.

OK, that's it for last week. Hopefully some more responsible participant (than me, anyway) at the Jazz Workshop this week took notes. My apologies for my inattentiveness.

Another Late Report

Sometimes in jazz you play behind the beat, but this is ridiculous. Here's the report for last week's Jazz Workshop, typed up before I go to this week's Jazz Workshop!

On 10/9/10 we had another full house of seasoned and aspiring jazz musicians including:

Gene (drums), Max (bass), Bob (guitar), Tim (guitar), Josh (banjo), Dan (ukulele), Sam (trumpet), Paul (piano and Keytar), Peter (bari sax), Wes (tenor sax), Dick (guitar), Kevin (drums), Toria (vocals), Anie (vocals).

The set list was comprised of "Tune Up," "Peace," "Ladybird," "Three Flowers," "Always On My Mind," "I've Never Been In Love Before," "Take The 'A' Train," "I Should Care," "Softly As A Morning Sunrise," "Down Home Blues," "Close Your Eyes," "Summer's End," "Cousin Mary," "We'll Be Together Again," "Once In A While," "Well You Needn't," "'Round Midnight," "I May Be Wrong" and "Forest Flower." There may have been a couple of others I forgot to write down.

No photos this week, I forgot my camera again. I'll look through the archives for photos of some of the attendees.

The Not-Late Report

Thanks to roving reporter Same Fiske, who was at the Workshop while your editor was out of town for a wedding, we have an on-time report about the Jazz Workshop of 10/2/10:

"A good time was had by all.

"Attendees:
Trumpets: Steve and Sam
Reeds: Peter
Piano: Paul
Drums: Gene
Bass: John and Max
Guitar: Bob
Ukelele: Dan
And Vocals: Annie, Vickie, Dick, Matt


Tunes played: Blue Moon, Caravan, Up A Lazy River, Cantelope Island, Lets Fall In Love, Lullaby Of The Leaves, Autumn Leaves, Dream, Moonglow, Day By Day, Am I Blue, Blues In The Night, Flying Home, I Cover The Waterfront, Down Home Blues, From Russia With Love, What More Can I Say, Waltz For Debbie, Don't Explain, Somewhere My Love."

Thanks, Sam, for the info!