March 7, 2015

It was one of those slightly discombobulated days at the workshop. A funeral kept your scribe from arriving until about 12:15; thanks to Jack D for keeping notes. Fearless Leader Sam, our usual bassist, was absent, and people had other events to attend that prevented them from staying as long as usual, so there was a lot of movement. At least Gene was back, and that was very good.

When I arrived with my alto, it was Gene (drums), Wes (tenor), Steve M. (alto), Jack D. (trumpet) and Jim D. (no relation), whom we haven't seen for a few months, surprising us with his baritone sax. By that time, the group had tried out a down-speed version of So What (I, 364), followed by Isn't It Romantic (I, 219), and Lady Bird (I, 235). As I settled in, Jack D. picked Solar (I, 363). Next up came the 3/4 Up Jumped Spring (I, 425). We then ran down a blues arrangement which might make an appearance at a public venue some day. Gene thought I Thought About You (I, 180) would be fun, and we all thought that would work fine. We were sure Wes was going with Blues for Alice, but he changed his mind for Robbin's Nest.

Jack D. and Steve M. had to make their exits, though we managed to hold on to Jim D. for a few more songs. Meanwhile, Annie (vocals) and Carl (trombone) made their entrance, followed soon by Dick (vocals). This may have proved the most profitable part of the afternoon, as the horns tried to create some chordal structure behind the vocalists in the absence. Annie kicked off the vocal portion with Hello, Young Lovers (I, 176). Dick pulled out Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me (II, 107). Annie wanted to try out one she hadn't worked on for a while, Soon It's Gonna Rain (III, 372). Dick wanted to give a go to one with which the rest of us were unfamiliar, If You Never Come To Me (I, 204), and we appreciated the new tune. Next, Annie called the old Basin Street Blues (II, 37). Dick called the classic In A Mellow Tone. Annie took us out with the last three songs: With A Song In My Heart (II, 427), Who Can I Turn To (II, 423), and I Could Write A Book (I, 184).

Participant's Picks
Sam, though absent, sent along a pick he used before, but it's a good one, so we'll post it again: Luis Salinas' La Salsalinas.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-f76JGCG_WU

Gene was enthusiastic about Cannonball Adderley's Sack O' Woe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DR3rm-4ZiFo&list=PL1a4Vr37XCn_Zg4L0btVwOC5mmQePh4Ed

Annie and Carl had a discussion of Rene Marie's Peel Me A Grape, so here it is.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELd4QewyXnY

Dick has a memory of Anthony Newley singing a song to a seal, but I have been unable to locate it. If anyone has a lead, please let us know.

I was looking for something from Phil Woods, and came across one Sam should appreciate, because he keeps trying to get us to play it: Dear Old Stockholm.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQosC3wx08U&index=84&list=PLyyN1REB-P36Ry9H29fGqfZlFqwEMHbwz

Here is my favorite track off the 1963 collaboration of Johnny Hartman and John Coltrane.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cT1YTkl0-NY

Enjoy.

--SJH

February 28, 2015

Your scribe had a car snafu this particular Saturday, and thus did not arrive at the workshop until after noon. The members assembled in the lobby. Sam on the bass, Jack D on trumpet and Steve M on alto had already played Autumn Leaves, On A Clear Day You Can See Forever, and Slow Boat To China, and Jack had just called In A Mellowtone. Wes, tenor already out, was digging in the storage closet for a drum and cymbal in the absence of Gene, whom we understand is recovering at home after some time in the hospital. Jack K eventually arrived to provide some actual expertise on the set, but Wes and I did what we could. Please get better, Gene!

By the time I got set up, we were ready to cover I Hear A Rhapsody (II-177) at Steve M's request. Yours truly asked for the ballad The Very Thought of You (III-421). Wes was next, and we chugged along on Coltrane's Blue Train (I-54), which received applause from a passing father and son. Sam had spotted Unforgettable on the preceding page (III-420) from the one I had chosen, so that was next.

By now, Jack K had come in with a few more cymbals and some sticks, and called Miles Davis' Four (I-149). Bye Bye Blackbird (II-73), a popular old standard, was Jack D's choice. Steve M. pulled out I Love Paris (I-189), with its intriguing shift back and forth between minor and major keys. Annie and Carl had both presented themselves by this time. Annie, her microphones and amp again locked in the office, stuck with an "I" tune, I Can't Get Started (I-184), which turned into a peculiarly amusing duet with Jack K. Steve M and I saw I Can't Give You Anything But Love on the next page and said, "Why not?" Jack K moved over to trumpet after this, and Wes and I kept the beat in turn. Annie got another call, and carried on the pattern with I Could Write A Book (I-186). By now, Dick was ready to sing, and went back-to-back with Fly Me To The Moon (II-135) and Out of Nowhere (I-318). Sam settled on Black Orpheus. Not sure who called the next one, but it was Dearly Beloved. We finished off the afternoon with Mean To Me (III-274).

Participant Picks
Well, I forgot to bring it up this week, so I don't have any picks. I have to admit, though, that I had never thought of On A Clear Day as a jazz tune. So I did a little research, and I stand corrected. Here are a few versions you might enjoy.

Bill Evans On a Clear Day You Can See Forever

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fG1Wgdhexg

Frank Sinatra

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPTDuqZPesA

Johnny Hartman

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8W0ACnRrVto

Sarah Vaughan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oe7dctQJWho

Barney Kessel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9z_flywrqY

--SJH

February 21, 2015

On Saturday, it was announced that the inimitable Clark Terry had died at the age of 94. I’ll have some of his work cued up at the end of this post.

A good number showed this week: Wes on tenor, Steve M. and Steve H. on alto, Jack D and Todd on trumpet, Carl on trombone, Annie and Dick on vocals, Sam on bass and, in the absence of Gene, Jack K on drum. Yes, drum. Jack pulled a snare out of the closet and his brushes from the car. Given the size of the set, Wes and Steve H also did a little time-keeping while Jack played trumpet.

Sam started us out off-book with Amazing Grace. Jack K. called Misty (I-277). Wes moved us on to Blues for Alice (I-55).  Steve H. was inspired by a tune from the previous week, It’s De-Lovely (III-213).  Jack D. asked for the pretty Softly As In A Morning Sunrise (II-355). Todd pulled out the old standard Bye Bye Blackbird (II-73). Steve M. went with the classic I’ll Remember April (I-197), which is hard to do in the depths of a February freeze.  Sam stretched us so much with Solar (I-363) that we decided to take another round on it to get more comfortable. As long as we were remembering, Jack K wanted I Remember You (II-179). Annie started off Singer Time with All of You. Carl followed with his only request of the day, Two Degrees East, Three Degrees West (II-408). The great standards went back and forth between the vocalists: Easy Living (I-127) for Annie; How High the Moon (I-180) for Dick. Back to Annie, it was Easy to Love (I-128); Dick responded with Have You Met Miss Jones (I-172). Annie took another call, Dearly Beloved (I-103). Steve M. tried a tune we were unfamiliar with, Detour Ahead, which gave us a good workout. Dick went with the more familiar I Could Write A Book (I-180). Annie sang the lovely For All We Know (I-145). We rocked a bit on Dick’s request, Red Top, and went out with Annie singing I Can’t Get Started (I-184).

This week’s Participant’s Picks

Sam wanted to send me a link to Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd, Samba De Uma Nota So

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEUJAgKyhUo&index=10&list=PL80HDsGs-eTmmZQnjRwWFOpUEKZnJZqAr

but he accidentally sent this link to Stan Getz and Bill Evans, But Beautiful

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRWDeGplx3Q&list=PL80HDsGs-eTmmZQnjRwWFOpUEKZnJZqAr. It was pretty, so I posted it anyhow.

Steve M. suggested George Shearing performing Lullaby of Birdland:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNSxiLnJSVQ

Wes put in a request for Along Came Betty. I found this one by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, naturally.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNSxiLnJSVQ

Dick suggested Johnny Green and Edward Heyman’s Out of Nowhere. No particular arrangement, he said; it’s just a great tune. So here are a few good examples.

Frank Sinatra: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcn8F-VYJDo

Django Reinhardt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0XdQWm_m4A

Lena Horne and Teddy Wilson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1-AL2cVGtE

As promised, your scribe offers a few numbers in tribute to the late Clark Terry. The most remarkable thing about him, for me, anyhow, was that you knew within two notes who was playing—fast or slow, flugelhorn or trumpet, muted or open, you could always tell it was Clark Terry. He had a sound, and a joy in performing, like no other.

Sam’s accidental link reminded me of this version of But Beautiful, a duet with Oscar Peterson:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hNAhiQ6_RU

From the same album, Slow Boat to China, just because I like it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdHBctFAf8g&list=PLp2dpqr8nszSHnZfaJ4CC2UX4hwmlO-Wu

Trumpet Mouthpiece Blues, with Paul Gonsalves

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1CcFQitx7Y

A rollicking version of Blueport, with Gerry Mulligan at The Village Vanguard

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vjaFTSCnfg&list=PLAoJvZfykij73g7wKN_v4-p2bUYdDrC7R

No tribute would be complete without a version of Mumbles. I have the original version, Incoherent Blues, with Oscar Peterson, then one with a very old Woody Herman and a very Young Herd, Clark playing his later upside-down flugelhorn.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWdW2F1ux0E

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsw5jgWdwHY&index=6&list=PLGCPQ02J6VIo9kFPMK9UXwtlxRQpfsWmU

--SJH

February 14, 2015

We had an interesting mix of people on Valentine's Day. Despite our old stalwarts, Sam and Gene, off doing something more important, we had a good showing, and people shifting around on instruments to  get enough of a rhythm section. For example, when Jack D, on trumpet, started us out by calling Misty, we had Jack K on drums, Steve M and Steve H on alto, Wes on tenor, and Todd picking out bass notes on the piano. After Steve H finished a solo, he took over at the piano so Todd could play trumpet. They did some shifting back and forth for a few songs. Todd even played a bit of drums so Jack K could play some horn. Later on, Carl (trombone) and Annie (vocals) arrived, followed soon by Bob on guitar, much to everyone's relief.

After Misty, Steve H asked for Makin' Whoopee. Wes followed with Groovin' High. Todd pulled out the sinuous and strenuous Oleo. Steve M. brought us back with the standard All The Things You Are. We played a blues arrangement for four horns to work a bit on our ensemble chops. Annie, sans microphone, wanted Corcovado, a.k.a. Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars; we played in that spirit. Back to Jack D., we had a go at Cry Me A River. Annie, looking through the books for ideas, found It's De-Lovely. The next call came from Carl for Two Degrees East, Three Degrees West. Steve H. talked Annie into taking a stab at Midnight Sun, which is a beautiful tune that, at the pace we set, takes way too long time to play. So Annie next chose They Say It's Wonderful at a nice medium swing. Steve M. liked the thought of There Will Never Be Another You. We wrapped up the afternoon with Satin Doll.

Amazingly, not a single person thought to call My Funny Valentine. Therefore--and because no one suggested any recording picks--I am including links here to several versions of that song.

Ella Fitzgerald

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjuaZDdqmCw

Chet Baker

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPkCbIa1hmg

and this slightly strange artsy-looking thing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IATTu8bQfXU

Miles Davis and John Coltrane

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=va4sNXYpDXY

Al Cohn and Zoot Sims

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjTLzpAXLmw

Oscar Peterson

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0jC6jtxbBs

Paul Desmond

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdWKL_r-NMU

Stan Kenton

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g__hoh9L_iw

I'm sure I could find a million more. Your favorite version not here? Send me a link.

--SJH