September 21, 2019

Next Time:

It was a quiet week, but in no way woebegone. Steve H (alto, piano), Raphael (guitar) and Tony (bass) were the complete package.

Things started close to noon with an unusual choice by Raphael, One Morning In May (II-302). Yours truly decided on It's All Right With Me (II-208). Tony opted for a ballad-y version of I Remember You (II-179). Raphael captured no one's feelings today with It's A Blue World (II-207). Needing a pick-us-up after the slow ones, your scribe called Perdido (II-317). Tony was definitely on the slow boat, turning this time to the immortal Stardust (II-367). Raphael got us back up-tempo with Tangerine (II-386). Your scribe decided to give a whack at a Parker-esque ballad, Leonard Feather's I Remember Bird (II-178), who was not the "You" being remembered in the earlier tune. Tony chose the classic Oliver Nelson piece, Stolen Moments (I-384). Then he left. Raphael waxed nostalgic with The Last Time I Saw Paris (II-233). This writer thought it might be fun to take a swing at The Jitterbug Waltz (II-214), which it was. Raphael thought it would be even more fun to watch the alto player stagger over Ice Cream Konitz (II-190), which he did. 

--SJH

September 14, 2019

Next Time: Sat. 9/21, 11am-3pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale, St. Louis Park)

Sam's Add-A-Tune: Miles Ahead (No the one in current book. Sam will provide music.)

A slower start than usual. Your scribe sat alone for a while until Raphael arrived. We played duets until the remaining four dropped in. So, all told: Steve H (piano), Raphael (bass), Wes (tenor), Annie (vocals), Carl (trombone), and Ari (trumpet).

Raphael took the first call with Walkin' My Baby Back Home (III-428). The piano player found Three Little Words (III-406) that seemed appropriate. Raphael looked around for something more contemporary, opting for Segment (III-349). Yours truly turned to the opposite page, Seems Like Old Times (III-348). Raphael wanted to give I'll Get By (III-178) a try, so we did. For all of these tunes, we took extra solos.

Wes showed, followed immediately by Annie and Carl. Soon, Ari made his appearance. Wes got in an instrumental, Have You Met Miss Jones (I-172). Annie began a vocal and alphabetical exploration of Book III, starting with After You've Gone (III-12) and Ain't Misbehavin' (III-13). Carl found an interesting blues, Hit That Mess (III-146). Two more from Annie, All Or Nothing At All (III-18) and At Long Last Love (III-32). Ari, arrived at last, got to take one with All Of You (I-21). A couple more vocals from Annie, this time Besame Mucho (III-42) and Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea (III-46). Raphael found one he was not familiar with, You're Nobody Til Somebody Loves You (II-438). Annie got three next time: Bye Bye Baby (III-68), Crazy He Calls Me (III-85), and Chicago (III-79). Wes took one more, Groovin' High (I-166). We finished out with two last vocals, It Never Entered My Mind (III-205), and Feel Like Making' Love (III-119).

Hope to see you next time.

--SJH

September 7, 2019

Next Time: Sat. 9/14, 11am-3pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale, St. Louis Park)

A nice workable combo made an appearance: Steve C (piano), Tony (bass), Raphael (guitar), Sam (trumpet, trombone), Steve H (soprano and percussion), Wes (tenor) and Carl (trombone).

Sam's Add-A-Tune, Miles Ahead (II-264), got us rolling. Your scribe, having recently found a small knot of good tunes in Book II, called for the blues tune Tenor Madness (II-390). Steve C. wanted something else entirely, and reached back for Tangerine (I-386). Feeling it was time for a ballad, Tony chose When Sunny Gets Blue (I-440). Raphael got us working with Si Danco Samba (III-360). Wes called on old favorite Blues For Alice (I-55).

Coming full circle, Sam opted for a medium-speed Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise (II-355). Yours truly, holding tight to his knot of tunes, went with These Foolish Things (II-392). Carl looked at the next page for Things To Come (II-393). Steve C. was feeling more traditional, calling Beautiful Love (I-40). Tony got all ballad-y again, but everyone had a nice solo on My Funny Valentine (I-287). Raphael changed the mood with the old Basie standard Until I Met You (II-409), or Corner Pocket if you aren't singing it (which we did not). Wes decided on Along Came Betty (III-22).

Sam changed speeds with Pent Up House (I-324). Your scribe changed mellowed them out with In A Mellow Tone (I-206). Carl got all hypothetical with If I Were A Bell (II-194). We finished off the afternoon with St. Thomas (II-339).

--SJH

August 31, 2019

Next Time: Sat., 9/7, 11am-3pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale, St. Louis Park)

Sam's Add-A-Tune: Miles Ahead (II-264)

We had some fun for a while: Sam (trumpet and trombone), Jack K. (trumpet), Steve H. (piano, alto), Tony (bass), Raphael (guitar), and Steve M (alto).

We began with Samba de Orfeu (III-344), Sam's Add-A-Tune. Jack K. has a very different mood in mind with Four (I-149). Your scribe went full standard with Satin Doll (I-349). Tony stayed in that groove, calling for Lullaby of Birdland (I-256). Raphael reached into his back of tricks and found Skating In Central Park (I-360).

Sam went to Little Boat (I-245) to open the next round. Jack K. was feeling the mood on Isn't It Romantic (I-219). Yours truly picked up the pace (but not too much) with Cherokee (I-77).

Sam, Tony and Jack all cleared out, but Steve M checked in as we moved to Raphael's choice, Perdido (II-311). Steve M opted for the friendly Robbins Nest (II-330). Back to your scribe, we turned to show tunes on People Will Say We're In Love (II-310). Even more surprising was Raphael's movie choice, Moon River (II-274). Back to something more originally jazz, Steve M called John Lewis' Afternoon In Paris (I-12). Yours truly had been thinking recently about Thou Swell (I-411). While Raphael packed up, the two Steves took things out with a duet on Autumn Leaves (I-39).

--SJH

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