February 18, 2017

On Saturday, February 28 (assuming we are not completely snowbound) we will be holding our weekly hootenanny at TowerLight from 11 to 3. 

Unseasonably warm, and since Annie has a Springtime gig in April, we felt justified in playing a few Spring songs. Serdar (guitar) was there, along with Jack D. (trumpet), Wes (tenor), Carl (trombone), and Steve H (alto). 

Jack got us started with something even more out of season, George Gershwin's Summertime (we didn't have it in the Real Book, but we had loose copies). Annie's first tune was Everything Must Change (also not in the book; Carl supplied copies). She followed this up with The Gravy Waltz (II-152). Serdar tried to turn things around with a slightly accelerated version of Early Autumn (II-114). But Annie battled back with Joy Spring (I-229) and It Might As Well Be Spring (II-205). Yours truly broke the string by ordering up COle Porter's It's DeLovely (III-213). Annie opted for another Porter tune, I Love You (I-190). Wes saw an unfamiliar song on the following page, I Mean You (I-191), a collaboration of that popular songwriting duo, Theolonius Monk and Coleman Hawkins. 

Jack had to skip out around this point, but we pressed on despite our sadness, with Annie calling Put On A Happy Face (III-328). Serdar went to one of his favorites, Black Orpheus (I-49). Carl turned to one of his standby's, Two Degrees East, Three Degrees West (II-408). We finished up with a rough and ready off-book version of Fine and Mellow. We were interrupted by guys coming in to place equipment for the evening show at the Hook and Ladder, so that was that. 

Participant Picks

Joy Spring

Clifford Brown

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnK6OHPQZbA

Manhattan Transfer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0K2k9yDMAE

It Might As Well Be Spring

From State Fair

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

Stacey Kent

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C59PDsfoKWM

Libby York

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYH3c8_lUK4

Up Jumped Spring

Freddie Hubbard

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khby51sf82s

Let It Snow! (It’s a weird week.)

Karrin Allyson

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufw8f4AK4aI

Enjoy!

--SJH

February 11, 2017

Your scribe arrived at the Hook and Ladder a couple of minutes before the downbeat, only to find himself alone. Jack D came in shortly thereafter, and finally Carl and Annie, but alas, there were no rhythm players, so we called it a day at 3:30.

--SJH

February 3, 2017

Only Serdar (guitar) was available as rhythm section this week, and he was hoping to get in some solo work, so yours truly (alto) pulled out the Hook and Ladder's big electronic piano to give us some alternative chords and bass lines. Steve M (alto), Wes (tenor) and Jack D (trumpet) joined in the festivities.

We began with Charlie Parker's Billie's Bounce (II-44), Serdar's choice, and one he wanted to work on. Sensing a theme, I went with Jersey Bounce (III-223) as my call. Wes wanted to keep working on Donna Lee (I-123), so we did; we're starting to get the hang of it. Jack slowed things down with But Beautiful (II-62). Up next, At Long Last Love (III-32), Steve M's choice this week out of the Songs That Don't Get Played Enough songbook. Back to Serdar, we did a reprise of Billie's Bounce, because he really wanted to work on it. Your scribe went with the unseasonal Warm Valley (III-412). Jack had to fly at that juncture, which was too bad, because we got in the groove fairly well with Wes' next pick, Robbins Nest (II-330). I'm pretty sure Steve M had another call at this point, but I didn't write it down. Serdar called for another tune he's been working on each week, All The Things You Are (I-22). I requested All Of Me (I-20), which I counted off thinking it was going to be one thing, but turned into at least three other things as we proceeded through solos. Wes, always looking for a challenge or a tune he hasn't tried, pulled out Boplicity (I-158). Steve M's next choice of underappreciated song was Love Me Or Leave Me (III-255). Wes and I had to pack up, but I managed to squeeze in a bit of piano background for Song For My Father (II-373). We left Steve M and Serdar still jammin'.

Participant Picks

Miles Davis, Boplicity (Birth of the Cool, 1957)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxSiGJCS0Qs

Frank Sinatra, At Long Last Love (A Swingin’ Affair, 1957)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tUcRT04QKE

Enjoy.

--SJH

January 28, 2017

HEADS UP:  February 25 session will be at TowerLight 3601 Wooddale St Louis Park

Little smaller turn out, little smaller tune list, a good time was had by all.

Checked out the piano available to us.  Works fine, sounds good, we need to bring amp to use with it.

Tunes played:

All Blues, Don't Blame Me, Stella By Starlight, How High The Moon, Stardust, Straight No Chaser.

Attendees:

Jack (trumpet), Wes (tenor), Jim (piano),Sam (bass).

January 21, 2017

The core was there for this week’s version of the workshop: Serdar (guitar), Ray (bass), Steve M (alto), Steve H (alto), Jack D (trumpet), Annie (vocals), Carl (trombone) and Jim D (alto and clarinet).

Ray got us rolling with I Remember You (II-179). Steve M. called for the little-heard Irving Berlin tune, This Year’s Kisses (II-399), with its 6/6/8/8-bar construction. Annie caled a couple of oldies but goodies, Get Out Of Town (II-148), and Georgia On My Mind (II-145). Jim D. shook out his book and came up with Doxy (II-111). Annie took another vocal, this time to work on the tricky but lovely I Get Along Without You Very Well (II-174).  Jack D. stuck with the standards and Autumn In New York (I-38). Time to change the tempo, so Annie called Put On A Happy Face (III-328). Carl didn’t feel like playing In A MellowTone, so he chose Rose Room (III-340) instead. Another vocal moment had Annie bringing it back to the ballad with Never Let Me Go (III-299). Jack and Jim had to pull up stakes at this point. Yours truly was feeling a bit Nat King Cole-ish with L-O-V-E (III-252). Annie, feeling a bit contrary, said This Can’t Be Love (III-402). Still, she continued in a very bluesy tone, They Say It’s Wonderful (III-400). Unfortunately, Ray had to stop at this point. Serdar nonetheless opted for a favorite, All The Things You Are (I-22). Annie took another swing with All of You as your scribe packed up to head out, and they were playing Steve M’s call, Body and Soul as I danced out.

Participant Picks

Billie Holiday, This Year’s Kisses

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vK1WTJKMDms

Ballad of the Sad Young Men

Roberta Flack

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JksP1Kc6fjo

Keith Jarrett

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxWNB-2FltA

January 14, 2017

After finally negotiating a parking spot, your scribe and his alto rolled in shortly before the workshop participants were ready to play. Present were Sam (bass), Serdar (guitar), Jack D (trumpet), Carl (trombone) and Annie (vocals). Steve M (alto) joined the festivities a bit later.

Somehow, I got the first call, and opted for Broadway (I-61). Jack D, next around the circle, pulled out Long Ago and Far Away (I-251). I don’t believe we had ever played Carl’s choice, Bessie’s Blues (I-42). Annie took the next one, Easy Living (I-127). She and Carl then presented us with a fresh chart of Firm Brown Frame. Serdar is working on All The Things You Are (I-22), and invited us to work on it with him. Annie took another vocal, and worked on Hoagy Carmichael’s lovely but surprisingly confusing I Get Along Without You Very Well (II-174). Sam changed the tempo with Wes Montgomery’s West Coast Blues (I-436). Steve M pulled out an old standard, I Left My Heart In San Francisco (III-168). Annie had a good time with My Heart Belongs To Daddy (III-290).

Back around the circle, yours truly chose Pennies From Heaven (II-309).  Annie’s next vocal selection was When I Fall In Love (I-439). Jack D is always a fan of Bags’ Groove (II-30) by, of course, Bags. Sam interjected himself in the course of things by calling Softly As In A Morning Sunrise (II-395).  Back to Annie, we got caught up in Watch What Happens (II-413). Carl pulled out a favorite, Robbin’s Nest (II-330). Purely coincidentally, he swears, when I announced that I had to pack up, Steve M called Get Out Of Town (II-148). By the time I was ready to go, the crew was on to Annie singing I’ve Got The World On A String (III-189).

Participant Picks

Lou Rawls and Dianne Reeves, Fine Brown Frame

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxfLWIcrg6s

I Get Along Without You Very Well

Nina Simone

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_22tXp1g44U

Diana Krall

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQS_7A0l-wk

Billie Holiday

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

Wes Montgomery, West Coast Blues

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeMr4SQtWGo

My Heart Belongs To Daddy

Eartha Kitt

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyqwsBm4Ock

Peggy Lee (Double-Time feel)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjKj1tQrOcg

Julie London (in ¾)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TewPV1-sbHo

John Coltrane, Bessie’s Blues

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMC2bvHk0Bo

It sounds so different when he plays it…

January 7, 2017

Happy New Year!

The Workshop began the new year at the Hook and Ladder with a good turnout. Yours truly was the last to turn up, just before the official 3:00 start time. Sam (bass), Annie (vocals), Carl (trombone), Serdar (guitar) Steve M. (alto), Jack D. (trumpet), Jim D. (clarinet and alto), and Wes (tenor) were already there.

Carl got the first call with Two Degrees East, Three Degrees West (Real Book II-408). Going clockwise around the circle, Annie went next with Blame It On My Youth (II-51). Serdar got the next call, going with All Of Me (I-20). Sam pulled something out of his bag and passed it around, a blues called BR2. Back to the vocals, Annie reached into Carousel for the beautiful ballad, If I Loved You; somehow, though, it turned into a mid-tempo swing that worked surprisingly well. Donna Lee (I-123) was next, chosen, of course, by Wes. Another vocal for Annie, this time I Get Along Without You Very Well (II-174)--again, a bit swingier than usual, because Annie is afraid we'd all fall asleep during the solos. I got the next call, pulling out a tune I hadn't heard in years, but spotted in the book this morning: Aquellos Ojos Verdes, better known to America as the Jimmy Dorsey/Helen O'Connell/Bob Eberly hit Green Eyes (III-25). Jim D. flipped around for a few pages until he settled on Black Orpheus (I-49). Annie wanted to do Lover (II-256) as a standard swing tune, but it was in the book in 3/4, so we stayed with that, once we found a satisfactory tempo. Jack picked the Miles Davis classic Solar (I-363). Steve M changed the mood entirely with the old Mama Cass Elliot favorite, Dream A Little Dream Of Me (I-124). Annie wanted things to get a little smoky with The Glory Of Love (III-131); we tried, but I don't know how successful we were. Finally back around to Carl's pick, we played the Charlie Parker tune, Little Suede Shoes (II-282). Our last full song, which we had to do without benefit of a bass, was Serdar's choice, Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise (II-355). In the last five minutes, we started to play some Basin Street Blues as Sam packed up, but others started to leave as well, so we closed up the workshop for another week.

Participant Picks

Sam

Interlochen Arts Academy 2015

At Sea

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4mSLkPVcA0

Living

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhCvj2EoMxs

Steve H

Green Eyes

Xavier Cugat

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pa3fkrx3hkY

Jimmy Dorsey, Helen O’Connell, Bob Eberly

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8hMyVQaCUo

Zoot Sims/ Bucky Pizzarelli

Softly As In A Morning Sunrise

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MeZYRI3djw

Enjoy.

--SJH