August 24, 2019

Next Time: Sat., 8/31, 11am-3pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale, St. Louis Park)

Sam's Add-A-Tune: Samba de Orfeu (III-344)

A slightly shortened version this week, but fun while it lasted. Present were Sam (trumpet, trombone), Roger (tenor), Steve H (piano), Raphael (bass), Wes (tenor), and Carl (trombone).

Sam's Add-A-Tune was a Book V number, I Never Knew, so Sam had some handouts. Roger turned right away to the classic ballad, Body And Soul (I-57), which takes awhile, but it was worth it. Your scribe flipped the tempo with a swingy take on Thou Swell (I-411). Raphael moved us back and forth between Latin and swing on I'll Remember April (I-197). Robbin's Nest (II-330) was Wes' choice, to everyone's relief.

Round 2 got going on Sam's pick, Charlie Parker's My Little Suede Shoes (II-282). Roger turned us to John Lewis' tribute tune, Django (I-114), with its dual tempos. Yours truly decided to something really standard, Ellington's Take The A Train (I-399). Carl let Raphael pick the tempo on his choice, So What (I-364). Raphael had us take on the Bill Evans' oddly harmonized but lovely Time Remembered (I-413). Wes called one of his favorites, Along Came Betty (II-22).

Sam started a third set with Song For My Father (I-373). Carl got the last call, Autumn Leaves (I-39). But then we had a mass exodus, and our revels ended.

--SJH

August 17, 2019

Next Time: Sat. 8/24, 11am-3pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale, St. Louis Park)

Sam's Add-A-Tune: I Never Knew (V-186) [Sam will supply sheet music in concert key.)

Another light attendance, which is not entirely surprising in the summer. With us this time were Sam (bass, trumpet, trombone), John (trombone), Steve H (piano, soprano), Wes (tenor) and Carl (trombone).

Sam's Add-A-Tune for the session was Manteca (II-259), which is supposed to be a Latin thing, but somehow came out for us us as something not quite either Latin or swing. We got through it with some dignity, though. John opted to take a ride on Route 66 (II-334). Your scribe hadn't called Polka Dots And Moonbeams (II-318) at the workshop that he could remember, so that was nice. Wes decided on a somewhat slowed version of Groovin' High (I-166).

Sam, up again, pulled out Jordu (I-227). John's second choice was Black Nile (I-48). Carl took his first swing with a swingy Autumn Leaves (I-39). Yours truly thought a little Django would be fun, and we played Nuages (I-307). Sam, having changed seats to play bass, called Bluesette (I-56). Wes downgrade the difficulty of his choice with Red Top (III-332).

John got in one more before leaving, asking for Blue Bossa (I-50). Carl needed an Ellington fix, Mood Indigo (I-279). At Wes' suggestion, your scribe went with Mr. P.C. (I-276). Out of nowhere, Sam called for Out Of Nowhere (I-318). Wes went back to more difficult with Ornithology (I-317).

Carl took his last turn and asked for Lady Bird (I-235). Yours truly decided for the decidedly strange progressions of Unforgettable (III-420). We finished off the day with Sam's pick, that Summer Samba, So Nice (I-362).

--SJH

--

August 10, 2019

Next Time: Sat, 8/17, 11am-3pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale, St. Louis Park)

Sam's Add-A-Tune: Manteca (II-259)

A fun time was had by the five who could attend this session: Sam (trumpet/trombone), Steve C (piano), Raphael (bass), Steve H (alto and percussion) and Ari (trumpet and percussion).

The party started with Sam's Add-A-Tune, Straight No Chaser (I-386). Steve C went more traditional with How High The Moon (I-180). Raphael reached into his Bag of Unfamiliar Tunes for Bolivia (III-56). Being lazy, your scribe called the tune on the next page, Born To Be Blue (III-57).

Sam took us on an excursion into the lesser used books with A Foggy Day (IV-135). Steve C went even more traditional with Struttin' With Some Barbecue (II-372); everybody took two choruses. Raphael found an interesting change of pace in Straight Life (II-368). Yours truly opted for a somewhat uptempo version of It's All Right With Me (II-208).

Sam swung the tempo around with It's Only A Paper Moon (II-209). Ari got his first shot with I Found A New Baby (II-188). Steve C found his inner Parker, picking Yardbird Suite (II-433). Raphael took us for a ride on The Drive (II-112). Your scribe chose to slow things down and channel his inner Billie with Lover Man (II-255).

Sam kept things on a slow simmer, calling for Black Coffee (I-45). Ari picked up the pace with Boplicity (I-58). Steve C turned to Porter (again) with You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To (II-436). We finished the day with Raphael's choice of Black Narcissus (I-47). 

--SJH

August 3, 2019

Next Time: Sat, 8/10, 11am-3pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale, St. Louis Park)

Sam's Add-A-Tune: Straight No Chaser (I-386)

An odd week with a shortage of people. The day began a bit late with only Steve H (piano, alto) and Raphael (bass) on hand. Eventually they were joined by Ari (trumpet), and by 1:00 Annie (vocals) and Carl (trombone) had arrived. Most of us had to leave at 2:00, so we ended then.

Raphael and your scribe got things underway with an easy swing on the ballad Tenderly (II-389). Raphael got us swinging a bit more with Why Do I Love You (II-425). Yours truly upped the ante with Cherokee (I-77). Raphael's next choice changed directions--Jobim's Antigua (III-28). Ari arrived during our next tune, Parker's Blue Bird, and had his horn out in time to take some choruses and trade fours. Annie and Carl showed by the time Ari made the next call, Autumn Leaves (I-39), so Annie got a chorus in there as well. Annie took charge of the next four: Most Gentlemen Don't Like Love (handout); Midnight Sun (III-276); It Never Entered My Mind (III-205); and Without A Song (II-428). Sadly, we could not continue after that.

--SJH

July 27, 2019

Next Time: Sat, 8/3, 11am-3pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale, St. Louis Park)

Your scribe arrived late and left early, so Raphael took charge of the notes. On hand were Raphael (guitar), Steve H (piano, soprano), Tony (bass), Sam (trumpet, trombone), John (trombone), Ari (trumpet), Wes (tenor), Carl (trombone).

Sam kicked things off with Straight, No Chaser (I-386). John called the classic Satin Doll (I-349). Tony got us grooving to Stanley Turrentine's Sugar (I-387). Raphael surprised us with the 3/4 Oh What A Beautiful Morning (II-296). Yours truly wanted to play soprano on Indiana (II-xxx). Ari had, amazingly, never had a chance to play On The Sunny Side Of The Street (II-298), so we indulged him.

The next round started with Sam changing the feel of things with Nica's Dream (I-299). Wes went to the fun Have You Met Miss Jones (I-172). John messed with us with Wave (I-431). Carl brought us back to earth, opting for In A Mellow Tone (I-206). Tony chose a more ballad-y version of My Romance (I-289). Raphael pulled one out of the hat with One Foot In The Gutter (II-300). Wes surprised no one with his choice of Groovin' High (I-166). Sam's last call was It Don't Mean A Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing (I-244). Carl ended the afternoon with Blue Bossa (I-50).

--SJH

July 20, 2019

Next Time: Sat. 7/27, 11am-3pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale, St. Louis Park)

Sam's Add-A-Tune: Straight No Chaser (I-386)

Attendees:
Sam, Jack K, Carl, Raphael

Compositions:
Moanin' (II-270) Sam
I Remember You (II-171) Jack
Jumpin' With Symphony Sid (II-218) Carl
Why Do I Love You (II-425) Raphael
Nuages (I-307) Sam
Indiana (II-201) Jack
In Walked Bud (II-200) Carl
Watch What Happens (II-413) Raphael
Softly As In A Morning Sunrise (II-355) Sam
Two Degrees East, Three Degrees West (II-408) Carl
It's A Lovely Day Today (III-210) Raphael
Triste (I-417) Sam

--SJH

July 13, 2019

Next Time:

Sam's Add-A-Tune:

Things got under way with Sam (trumpet, trombone), Jack K (trumpet) and Steve H (piano, soprano). Soon enough, Tony (bass), Wes (tenor), Ari (trumpet), and Roger (tenor) joined in. By 1:20, Annie (vocals) and Carl (trombone) rounded out the congregation.

Sam's Add-A-Tune this week was Bud Powell's Parisian Thoroughfare (II-307). Jack liked the changes on the Ellington/Tizol classic, Perdido (II-311). Your scribe likes playing Pennies From Heaven (II-309, especially on soprano. Tony asked if it would be OK to work on the funky/floaty Cantelope Island (II-76). Sam took an easy pace on Four Brothers (II-138). Jack went to another classic set of chord changes, Bye Bye Blackbird (II-73). Yours truly had often wanted to pull out Oscar Pettiford's Blues In The Closet (II-61), and finally did. Tony's second call was Four (I-149). Wes got his first chance, wanting the Latin Ceora (I-72). We found Days Of Wine And Roses (IV-99) for Ari, loping along with a medium swing; Annie present, tossed in a vocal chorus.

Following protocol, the vocal portion gives the singers several tunes with only two choruses maximum of instrumental. But things began to drift, with everyone taking choruses, so we only took one pure instrumental break. Annie's first two calls were Without A Song (II-428), and It Never Entered My Mind (III-205). Roger got to name the instrumental, Some Day My Prince Will Come (I-367). From there on, Annie decided the rest of the tunes, but a lot of solos got involved: I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free (I-195); People Will Say We're In Love (II-310); Fine And Mellow (III-122); Quiet Nights Of Quiet Stars (I-335); and Take The A-Train (I-298). We finished with our traditional St. Thomas, though this time at slower, but surprisingly effective, pace.

--SJH