Well, it was the weekend of the St. Paul Jazz Festival, and some were attending, in particular Wes, so his morning session was cancelled. (Full disclosure: I attended the evening before, and Debbie Duncan sang Happy Birthday to me, which was very cool.)
However, this did not mean a highly attended afternoon session. It was Ray (fiddle and bass), Sam (bass and trumpet), and yours truly (soprano and piano). Nonetheless, we had an excellent time rotating through instruments and played some fun tunes. I was too busy having a good time to write them down.
--SJH
Wednesday, July 5, 2017
Thursday, June 8, 2017
June 3, 2017
It's been a few weeks, and we've undergone some changes.
Wes has started a group of workshoppers who want to consider more prolonged preparation of a smaller number of songs. They meet Saturday mornings at Lake Nokomis Community Center, this week (6/10) at 9 am, until summer hours kick in next week (6/17), when the start time is 11 am.
The regular workshop, following the standard format, continues, generally at the Hook and Ladder from 3 pm (set-up at 2:30) until 6 pm. Occasionally (as was the case this week) we play at TowerLight from 11 am to 3 pm.
Our gathering at TowerLight was not large, but enthusiastic. Jack D (trumpet), Steve H (soprano), Sam (bass), his wife Betty (roadie), Annie (vocals) and Carl (trombone).
Yours truly got things started with an OLD standard, My Blue Heaven (III-xxx). Same kept us in that groove with Bye Bye Blackbird (II-73). Jack opted for one he admired when Chet Baker played it, Let's Get Lost (II-238). Annie got her first vocal, choosing Thou Swell (I-411). Carl called one of his favorites, Two Degrees East, Three Degrees West (II-408). Back to Annie, who sang The Party's Over (III-313), though not in such a way that we thought this was true.
Sam got the next one, pulling out Old Cape Cod (II-307). Another vocal for Annie, this time the lovely Skylark (III-356). My turn again, and we went with On A Slow Boat To China (III-309), though not too slow. Speaking of slow, Annie really tried to keep things sultry on Teach Me Tonight (III-387). Jack's turn again, and we went smoothly through When I Fall In Love (I-439). Carl has a thingus for Mingus, and we played his tribute to Mr. Morton called Jelly Roll (I-226). Sam decided to do a bit of three-quarter time on West Coast Blues (I-436). We struggled to get started on Annie's next call, Lazy Afternoon (III-233), so we changed tunes in midstream to Melancholy Baby (III-xxx). I got one more chance, and picked Jersey Bounce (III-223). We finished off the afternoon with Annie's rendition of Witchcraft (III-452).
It appears likely that the sessions will take place at their regular locations and times this Saturday.
Participant Pick
At Annie's insistance
Aretha Franklin, Skylark
Wes has started a group of workshoppers who want to consider more prolonged preparation of a smaller number of songs. They meet Saturday mornings at Lake Nokomis Community Center, this week (6/10) at 9 am, until summer hours kick in next week (6/17), when the start time is 11 am.
The regular workshop, following the standard format, continues, generally at the Hook and Ladder from 3 pm (set-up at 2:30) until 6 pm. Occasionally (as was the case this week) we play at TowerLight from 11 am to 3 pm.
Our gathering at TowerLight was not large, but enthusiastic. Jack D (trumpet), Steve H (soprano), Sam (bass), his wife Betty (roadie), Annie (vocals) and Carl (trombone).
Yours truly got things started with an OLD standard, My Blue Heaven (III-xxx). Same kept us in that groove with Bye Bye Blackbird (II-73). Jack opted for one he admired when Chet Baker played it, Let's Get Lost (II-238). Annie got her first vocal, choosing Thou Swell (I-411). Carl called one of his favorites, Two Degrees East, Three Degrees West (II-408). Back to Annie, who sang The Party's Over (III-313), though not in such a way that we thought this was true.
Sam got the next one, pulling out Old Cape Cod (II-307). Another vocal for Annie, this time the lovely Skylark (III-356). My turn again, and we went with On A Slow Boat To China (III-309), though not too slow. Speaking of slow, Annie really tried to keep things sultry on Teach Me Tonight (III-387). Jack's turn again, and we went smoothly through When I Fall In Love (I-439). Carl has a thingus for Mingus, and we played his tribute to Mr. Morton called Jelly Roll (I-226). Sam decided to do a bit of three-quarter time on West Coast Blues (I-436). We struggled to get started on Annie's next call, Lazy Afternoon (III-233), so we changed tunes in midstream to Melancholy Baby (III-xxx). I got one more chance, and picked Jersey Bounce (III-223). We finished off the afternoon with Annie's rendition of Witchcraft (III-452).
It appears likely that the sessions will take place at their regular locations and times this Saturday.
Participant Pick
At Annie's insistance
Aretha Franklin, Skylark
Enjoy.
--SJH
Friday, May 12, 2017
POSSIBLE New Location and Time This Week UPDATE
The session organized by Wes at Lake Nokomis went OK--but the afternoon session is still on!
This morning we had Wes, Sam, Steve H, Jim D, and Becky on vocals (thanks to Steve M for the tip!).
Sam will be coming this afternoon, and maybe Becky.
--SJH
Sunday, April 23, 2017
April 22, 2017
Attendees:
Steve M. - Alto Sax
Jack D. - Trumpet
Sedar G. - Guitar
Ray S. - Bass
Sam F. - Trumpet
Wes S. - Tenor Sax
Jack K. - Trumpet
Carl S. - Trombone
Craig T. - Guitar
Vocals:
Dick J.
Annie S.
Songs:
Black Orpheus
Dearly Beloved
Beautiful Love
Quiet Night
Round Midnight
Lazy Afternoon
Time After Time
Easy To Love
There Will Never Be Another You
Don't Blame Me
St. Thomas
Afro Blue
Steve M. - Alto Sax
Jack D. - Trumpet
Sedar G. - Guitar
Ray S. - Bass
Sam F. - Trumpet
Wes S. - Tenor Sax
Jack K. - Trumpet
Carl S. - Trombone
Craig T. - Guitar
Vocals:
Dick J.
Annie S.
Songs:
Black Orpheus
Dearly Beloved
Beautiful Love
Quiet Night
Round Midnight
Lazy Afternoon
Time After Time
Easy To Love
There Will Never Be Another You
Don't Blame Me
St. Thomas
Afro Blue
Saturday, April 15, 2017
April 8, 2017
The Jazz Workshop from the Park pulsates, from the rhythm of the tunes we play, and from the number of players who attend week to week.
Attendees:
Jack D
Carl
Annie
Ray S
Sam
Tunes Played:
Lullaby of Birdland
Easter Parade
Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White
Lullaby of the Leaves
Joy Spring
Blue Monk
Sugar
Everything Must Change
It Might As Well Be Spring
Attendees:
Jack D
Carl
Annie
Ray S
Sam
Tunes Played:
Lullaby of Birdland
Easter Parade
Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White
Lullaby of the Leaves
Joy Spring
Blue Monk
Sugar
Everything Must Change
It Might As Well Be Spring
Monday, March 27, 2017
March 24, 2017
Sorry, my note taking this week was not so good. I was playing piano, and occasionally trying to transpose music, so I was not paying as much attention to writing down the doings as usual.
All that having been said, we had a nice group. Sam (trumpet and bass), Jack D (trumpet), Jack K (trumpet), Steve H (alto and piano), Ray (bass and violin), Carl (trombone), Annie (vocals), and Wes (tenor).
Sam kicked us off with Oliver Nelson's The Drive. Annie called for It Might As Well Be Spring. Carl pulled out a non-Real Book piece by Al Cohn, The Natural Thing To Do. Another vocal for Annie, this time Joy Spring. Wes went with the classic Red Top. We worked on Annie's off-book vocal, Everything Must Change. Jack D request I Remember You. Annie chose the Porter favorite I Love You. Jack K. opted for My Little Suede Shoes; I refused to give them to him. Back to Annie, we tried our hand at The Gravy Waltz. Ray called one that doesn't get out too often in our group, Lullaby of the Leaves. As things were breaking up, Sam went with Straight, No Chaser. We concluded with my choice, Makin' Whoopee.
Sam said of my final choice, "That reminds me of Spike Jones." Hence the following Participant Picks.
Cocktails for Two
All that having been said, we had a nice group. Sam (trumpet and bass), Jack D (trumpet), Jack K (trumpet), Steve H (alto and piano), Ray (bass and violin), Carl (trombone), Annie (vocals), and Wes (tenor).
Sam kicked us off with Oliver Nelson's The Drive. Annie called for It Might As Well Be Spring. Carl pulled out a non-Real Book piece by Al Cohn, The Natural Thing To Do. Another vocal for Annie, this time Joy Spring. Wes went with the classic Red Top. We worked on Annie's off-book vocal, Everything Must Change. Jack D request I Remember You. Annie chose the Porter favorite I Love You. Jack K. opted for My Little Suede Shoes; I refused to give them to him. Back to Annie, we tried our hand at The Gravy Waltz. Ray called one that doesn't get out too often in our group, Lullaby of the Leaves. As things were breaking up, Sam went with Straight, No Chaser. We concluded with my choice, Makin' Whoopee.
Sam said of my final choice, "That reminds me of Spike Jones." Hence the following Participant Picks.
Cocktails for Two
That Old Black Magic
I’m Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter
You Always Hurt The One You Love
Der Fuerher’s Face
Enjoy. Seriously.
--SJH
Friday, March 24, 2017
March 18, 2017
You might think that a guy on Spring Break would be able to get this post done in a timely fashion. You would be wrong. Sorry.
The group this week were Steve M (alto), Steve H (alto and piano), Serdar (guitar), Jack D and Jack K (trumpets), Wes (tenor), Ray (bass and violin), Carl (trombone), Annie (vocals) and newcomer Jackie (vocals).
We insisted that Carl, who is almost never there at the very beginning, but was here this time, take the first pick, and so we began with Two Degrees East, Three Degrees West (II-408). Jackie was our first vocalist present, and since it was her first day, she got first vocal option, going to Fly Me To The Moon (II-135). Annie needed to work more on the upcoming gig, and we ran Joy Spring (I-229). Jack D was next up, choosing When I Fall In Love (I-439). Annie took the lead on the next vocal turn, with Everything Must Change. Jackie followed with a nice swingy version of You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To (II-436). Dream A Little Dream Of Me (I-124) was Steve M's instrumental call, although at least one vocalist felt the need to get involved. Back to vocals, Jackie requested What's New (II-420). Annie went with Easter Parade (I-126), also part of her upcoming program. Jack K was happy to get in a chance before the afternoon was out, going to a light swinging My Romance (I-289). Ray wanted some time on the fiddle before heading out, and we did some hard swinging on I Can't Give You Anything But Love (I-185). Jackie got one last call, going with The Very Thought Of You (III-421). Serdar pulled out one of his favorites, Song For My Father (I-373). Your scribe got a shot, and went with a Latin version of Here's That Rainy Day (I-175). Annie finished the session with Gravy Waltz.
See you March 25 at the Hook and Ladder at 3:00.
--SJH
The group this week were Steve M (alto), Steve H (alto and piano), Serdar (guitar), Jack D and Jack K (trumpets), Wes (tenor), Ray (bass and violin), Carl (trombone), Annie (vocals) and newcomer Jackie (vocals).
We insisted that Carl, who is almost never there at the very beginning, but was here this time, take the first pick, and so we began with Two Degrees East, Three Degrees West (II-408). Jackie was our first vocalist present, and since it was her first day, she got first vocal option, going to Fly Me To The Moon (II-135). Annie needed to work more on the upcoming gig, and we ran Joy Spring (I-229). Jack D was next up, choosing When I Fall In Love (I-439). Annie took the lead on the next vocal turn, with Everything Must Change. Jackie followed with a nice swingy version of You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To (II-436). Dream A Little Dream Of Me (I-124) was Steve M's instrumental call, although at least one vocalist felt the need to get involved. Back to vocals, Jackie requested What's New (II-420). Annie went with Easter Parade (I-126), also part of her upcoming program. Jack K was happy to get in a chance before the afternoon was out, going to a light swinging My Romance (I-289). Ray wanted some time on the fiddle before heading out, and we did some hard swinging on I Can't Give You Anything But Love (I-185). Jackie got one last call, going with The Very Thought Of You (III-421). Serdar pulled out one of his favorites, Song For My Father (I-373). Your scribe got a shot, and went with a Latin version of Here's That Rainy Day (I-175). Annie finished the session with Gravy Waltz.
See you March 25 at the Hook and Ladder at 3:00.
--SJH
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)