October 26, 2019

Next Time: Sat., 11/2, 11am-3pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale, St. Louis Park)

Sam's Add-A-Tune: Broadway, I-61

A smaller but healthy group this week: Sam (trumpet, trombone, bass), Raphael (bass), Steve H (piano, alto), Steve M (alto), Serdar (guitar), and Carl (trombone).

We began with Lennie Tristano's very difficult riff on All The Things You Are, entitled Ablution (II-10), Sam's Add-A-Tune for this week. Hey, it's a Workshop. Steve M returned us to earth with Indiana (II-201). Your scribe stuck to jazz roots by calling Honeysuckle Rose (II-167). Raphael the Adventurous--again, it's a Workshop--got us working on Speak Like A Child (II-363). Serdar was set up by this point, and opted for Blue Monk (I-52).

Back around to Sam, we ran with an easy-going version of Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise  (II-355). Sam wanted to get in one more before Raphael had to go, so we gave him an extra turn with Minor Swing (IV-284). Raphael got another before he departed, By Myself (III-67). We returned to the usual pattern of going around the circle, Steve M calling Like Someone In Love (I-243). While Sam went out to get his bass, yours truly decided on a ballad he could handle the bass line on, Polka Dots and Moonbeams (II-318). Carl was given the next one, and we dug into Two Degrees East, Three Degrees West (II-408). Serdar took on one last tune before departing, old favorite Billie's Bounce (II-44).

Sam thought we needed a bit of Latin, and chose Triste (I-417). Carl pulled out a bit of Ellington with Mood Indigo (I-279). Steve C made his last call of the afternoon Cheesecake (II-82). Your scribe pulled out Creepin' for one last pre-Halloween turn. Sam wrapped up the day with St. Thomas (II-339).

--SJH

October 19, 2019

Next Time: Sat., 10/26, 11am-3pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale, St. Louis Park)

Sam's Add-A-Tune: Ablution (II-1)

After weeks of small group work, a merry band of regulars dropped by for a festive gathering. Sam (trumpet, trombone), Steve H (piano, alto), Jack K (trumpet), Raphael (bass), Steve M (alto), Wes (tenor), Ari (trumpet), Annie (vocals) and Carl (trombone).

Sam, Jack, Raphael, and yours truly got things slowly rolling with Sam's Add-A-Tune, Harlem Nocturne (III-140). Jack got the next call, with There Will Never Be Another You (I-406). Your scribe went a bit more up-tempo on Perdido (II-311). Raphael introduced us to one we were all unfamiliar with, Time Was (III-409). Sam started the next go-round with Move (II-280). Jack took his second shot on Time After Time (II-408). Steve M. opted for a a crisp, alternating Latin/swing version of I'll Remember April. Yours truly finished out the instrumental segment with an original Halloweeny called Creepin'.

We haven't had a vocal segment for weeks, but Annie was back and in voice. She had a theme for the first two: Early Autumn (II-114) and Autumn Leaves (I-39). Wes surprised this writer, at least, by choosing Mercy, Mercy, Mercy (II-212). Another pair of songs from Annie: Good Morning Heartache (III-134), and Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars (I-335). Ari took the instrumental call with Lullaby of Birdland (II-256). Annie took us right to 3:00 with It Never Entered My Mind (II-204) and Without A Song (II-428).

--SJH

October 12, 2019

Next Time: Sat. 10/19, 11am-3pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale, St. Louis Park)

Sam's Add-A-Tune: Harlem Nocturne (III-140)

Small group again, but plenty of opportunity for us to get to work. Present were Raphael (bass), Sam (trumpet, trombone), Steve H (piano, soprano), and Serdar (guitar).

We got started with the first three aforementioned, taking on Sam's Add-A-Tune, There's A Small Hotel (II-391), mostly because Sam said he hadn't heard it for a long time. Your scribe, not wishing to look too far, chose These Foolish Things (II-392). The ever-adventurous Raphael decided it is, after all, a Workshop, and had us tackle Ezz-Thetic (II-124); it was weird, but we think we got a bead on it. Sam returned to something more traditional, Perdido (II-311). Yours truly again went to the next page, following Ellington with Bechet's Petite Fleur (II-312), which we tried as a tango. Raphael spared us the peculiar, but we worked hard to pull off a satisfactory Cheesecake (II-82).

Sam opted for a book change, going to Minor Swing (IV-284). The piano player was looking for a good soprano ballad, and called Come Rain Or Come Shine (II-88). Right around here, Serdar made his first appearance in a long time, and joined us for Raphael's pick, Gerry Mulligan's Idol Gossip (II-191). We made Serdar make the next decision, and he immediately said Four (I-149).

The piano player had to leave, but the remaining trio still had what they needed for a rhythm section. Raphael kept the notes. Sam wanted to return to Petite Fleur, and apparently they did. Raphael found another lesser-known piece, Spiral (II-365). Serdar went full on trad jazz with Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans (II-108). Miss New Orleans had no comment. Sam found another Latin bit, My Little Suede Shoes (II-282). Raphael went to the unusual but haunting Nature Boy (II-284). Serdar's turn brought them to old favorite Blue Bossa (I-50). They rounded out their afternoon with Sam's last, Swing 42 (IV-442).

--SJH

October 5, 2019

Next Time: Sat., 10/12, 11am-3pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale, St. Louis Park)

Sam's Add-A-Tune: There's A Small Hotel (II-391)

A very small attendance, and a shortened session due to other commitments. Sam (trumpet, trombone), Steve H (piano) and Carl (trombone) managed to put together some fun for a while.

Sam's Add-A-Tune was the other version of Miles Ahead that was in the earlier edition of Vol. II of the Real Book. We're pretty sure it's a different song that was mislabeled, but have been unable to track it down. It's an intriguing tune with peculiar chord changes in the last segment. Anyone know?

Your scribe took the next call, going to A Foggy Day (IV-135). Sam opted for Django's Minor Swing, which we played in a couple different styles. Back to the piano player, we moved on to Benny Golson's Whisper Not (II-422).

Carl was in time to join us on Sam's next pick, All The Things You Are (I-22), sans intro. Carl, not wishing to search far, settled on Blues By Five (II-59). Yours truly decided on a slightly slower than usual, rocking' and swaying' version of How High The Moon (I-180). We finished off with Sam's call of Once I Loved (I-311).

Here's hoping everyone is OK and will be returning this week!

--SJH

September 28, 2019

Next Time: Sat., 10/5, 11am-3pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale, St. Louis Park)

Sam's Add-A-Tune: Miles Ahead (1st edition version: Sam will bring copies)

Sorry about the last minute cancellation last week. Your scribe was at about 30,000 ft. over Lake Erie when the word came in, and did not discover it until late that evening.

We're up and running for this week though. Hope to see you there!

--SJH

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