August 20, 2022

Next Time: Sat., 8/27, 11am-2pm, entrance to McRae Rec Center (906 E. 47th St., MPLS), weather permitting.

Bring your own chair and stand.

A smaller group this time out, despite the excellent weather. Sam (trumpet, trombone), Steve (alto), John (trombone) and Raphael (bass) were on hand.

We opened with a choice by your scribe, East of the Sun (III-104). Sam went Latin with Aquellos Ojos Verdes (III-25), better known to most of us as Green Eyes. Raphael dug back into the history books for My Lucky Star (III-293). John also stayed with jazz roots, opting for At Sundown (III-33). 

We came back around again to yours truly, who called a medium-up version of How Deep Is the Ocean (III-150). Sam chose an easy-going swinger for his second tune, Mean To Me (III-274). Raphael, apparently feeling nostalgic, pulled out Irving Berlin's Let's Face The Music And Dance (III-278), which is tricky to improvise on, given its varying length passages. Don't know what got into John, but he decided on Benny Golson's Stablemates (III-378), which we managed to get through without much incident.

Third time around. Your scribe sent us back to the 1930s again, going with Kalmar and Ruby's Nevertheless (III-300). Ever the contrarian, Sam went to the quicker Bernie's Tune (III-39). Raphael's choice was I'm Sitting on Top of the World (III-187). Fats Waller made an appearance on John's pick, Ain't Misbehavin' (III-13). 

Three of us had to leave at 1:30, so we finished off with On the Sunny Side of the Street (II-312). Another session when we played everything out of the same volume of the Real Book!

Looking forward to seeing more of you this coming weekend at the Workshop.

--SJH

August 13, 2022

Next Time: Sat., 8/20,, 11am-2pm, McRae Rec Center (906 E. 47th St., MPLS), front or back entrance, weather permitting. 

Bring your own chair and stand.

We had a decent crew at the last Workshop: Sam (trumpet, trombone), John (trombone), Steve (soprano), Carl (trombone), Raphael (bass), and Serdar (guitar). We also had an appreciative audience at a kid's birthday party by the pool, which is always a plus.

Sam got the motor running with the lengthy Nica's Dream (I-299). John opted for the more traditional Satin Doll (I-349). Your scribe decided a medium swing version of Beautiful Love (I-40) would work. It did. Carl returned us to Ellington with his choice of In A Mellow Tone (I-206). Raphael felt it necessary to change books with Bolivia (III-56). It took us quite a bit of work and vocal counting to get hold of the form correctly, but when we did it was satisfying. 

Sam changed moods entirely with Stanley Turrentine's Sugar (I-387). Serdar felt the need to work on something in 3, picking Alice In Wonderland (I-17). John decided we all needed to work on a favorite of his, Wave (I-431); he was correct. Taking us back to roots, yours truly went with a bit of Gershwin from 1924, Somebody Loves Me (I-369). We completed our afternoon, as a number of us had to leave, with a spirited if choppy rendition of Sam's call, Four Brothers (II-282).

Hope to see you next time!

--SJH

August 6, 2022

Next Time: Sat., 8/13, 11am-2pm, at one of the entrances to McRae Rec Center (906 E. 47th St., MPLS) weather permitting.

Bring your own chair and stand. 

It came to my attention while I was out of town that weather interfered with holding the Workshop last time. Sorry to hear that. Here's hoping for a more successful weekend this time.

--SJH

July 30, 2022

Next Time: Sat., 8/6, 11am-2pm, McRae Rec Center (906 E. 47th St., MPLS) weather permitting.

Could be at the front door or the back door, so look around. Bring your own chair and stand.

Your scribe is out of town, and left his scribblings from the last Workshop gathering behind. He can tell you that Raphael (bass), Wes (tenor), Ari (trumpet), and Serdar (guitar) were also present; however, he cannot report on the tunes played. Perhaps upon his return--which will not be in time for the upcoming edition of the Workshop--he can fill in the blanks.

Hope you can make it. Hope someone else takes notes.

--SJH

UPDATE: Here are the tunes we played.

III-206 It Only Happens When I Dance With You

III-104 East of the Sun

III-236 Let There Be Love

III-111 Doxy

II-145 Georgia On My Mind

II-144 Funky

I-22    All The Things You Are

I-362  Stella By Starlight

I-309  Oleo

I-172  Have You Met Miss Jones

I-185  I Can't Give You Anything But Love

July 23, 2022

Next Time: Sat., 7/30, 11am-2pm, McRae Rec Center (906 E. 47th St., MPLS), weather permitting.

 Outside front or back, depending. Bring your own chair and stand.

Your scribe waited in the parking lot with a storm brewing. When Sam showed up, he said, "It's not raining yet!" But we opted not to get out the equipment, and it started raining soon after. Ah, well...next week.

--SJH

July 16, 2022

Next Time: Sat., 7/23, 11am-2pm, McRae Rec Center (906 E. 47th St., MPLS), weather permitting.

Might be at the front entrance, might be at the back entrance, so check both. Bring your own chair and stand.

Only three people stopped by on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon to play: Sam (bass), Carl (trombone), and Steve H. (soprano). We had fun. 

Your scribe started things off with a lively and fun version of Cole Porter's I Love Paris (I-189). Carl went to the mysterious with the bossa Black Orpheus (I-49). We went Parker (but not too Parker) with Sam's pick, Au Privave (I-37). Back to yours truly, it was time for a bit of Ellington, I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart ((I-188). Carl went classic, choosing Autumn Leaves (I-39). Sam went unexpected, opting for the challenge of Take Five (I-397). 

Full circle again (it being a tiny circle), your scribe called Gershwin into the mix in Somebody Loves Me (I-369). Someone very not-Gershwin was evoked with Carl's choice of Blue Monk (I-52). Sam surprised us again by going totally traditional, Blue Room (I-53). Your scribe went with an easy flowing version of Isn't It Romantic (I-219). Carl was feeling it as well, turning to Dearly Beloved (I-103). Sam stayed in that vein, opting for All The Things You Are (I-22). Bass and soprano finished the day back with whom we started with a duet on a somewhat up-tempo version of Easy To Love (I-128).

So much fun, and we never left Vol. I of the Real Book. 

Hope to see you next time!

--SJH

July 9, 2022

Next Time: Sat., 7/16, 11am-2pm, behind McRae Rec. Center (906 E. 47th St., MPLS), weather permitting.

Bring your own stand and chair!

Football camp was concluding behind McRae this past week. After some delay, the Park People suggested that we set up at the front doorway, which turned out to be much better shaded than the back, and has a working outlet! By the time noon rolled around, we had Steve (soprano), Carl (trombone), Wes (tenor), and Sam (trombone, trumpet). We were then happily surprised by newcomer Chris on guitar, so we had the enough rhythm for a successful gathering.

Sam got us going with Work Song (III-429). Wes kept us swinging with Doxy (II-111). Carl returned us to the blues with Tenor Madness (II-390). Your scribe opted for a not-too-slow These Foolish Things (II-392). Killer Joe (II-229) was Sam's next choice. Chris picked a not-too-fast Now's The Time (II-293). Wes passed to Carl, who went with In A Mellow Tone (I-206). Back to Wes, we played an old favorite, Groovin' High (I-66). Yours truly found a favorite of his own, Have You Met Miss Jones (I-xxx). We wrapped things up back with Sam and Take The A Train (I-398). 

Hope to see you this weekend! If it looks like there is an event out back, check the front door...

--SJH