April 22, 2023

Next Time: Sat., 4/29, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

Masks in the building unless playing.

Your scribe missed the festivities, but reports from reliable sources indicate that the Workshop carried on as usual. Present were Sam, Bill, Raphael, Ari and Serdar.  They played the following:

Jeanine (II-212) [Sam]

I'll Take Romance (handout) [Bill]

Killer Joe (II-229)[Raphael]

Ain't Misbehain' (handout) [Bill]

In A Mellow Tone (I-206) [Ari]

I've Got The World On A String (handout) [Bill]

Four Brothers (II-158) [Sam]

Samba de Orfeu (III-344) [Serdar]

The Rainbow Connection (III-330) [Raphael]

Mercy Mercy Mercy (II-262) [Ari]

Pick Yourself Up (II-317) [Sam]

How Insensitive (I-181) [Serdar]

Hope to see you next time!

--SJH

April 15, 2023

Next Time: Sat., 4/22, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

Masks in the building, please, until we are in the theater to play.

Good times as usual. Present were Sam (trumpet, trombone), Steve H (soprano), Steve C (piano), Raphael (bass), Jack (trumpet), and Bill (vocals). Even Raphael's brother came all the way from France to listen!

Sam started things going with Moanin' (II-270). Jack went with the blues classic, Freddie Freeloader (I-157). Bill sang his first tune, Ain't Misbehavin' (handout in his key). Steve C. pulled out some Monk, this time the ballad Reflections (I-340). Raphael made a statement with I Love Paris (I-189). His brother showed all of us pictures of Paris as inspiration. Even Bill joined for a chorus. Bill took another, this time Come Fly With Me (III-80). Your scribe opted for Afternoon in Paris (I-12); more pictures were shown to get us in the mood. Bill went less swingy on his next song, September Song (handout). 

Back to Sam again, he chose Triste (I-417). Jack had us Look for the Silver Lining (II-249). Bill called I Remember You (handout), and he did. Steve C. went with Stolen Moments (I-384). Your scribe was on his way out the door while that tune was in progress, so there might be more...

See you next time!

--SJH

April 8, 2023

Next Time: Sat., 4/15, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale, St. Louis Park)

Masks in building until playing, please.

Present this time were Sam (trumpet, trombone), Steve C (piano), Steve H (alto), Raphael (bass), Bill (vocals), and Serdar (guitar).

Plenty of songs could be covered with fewer people. We began with Sam's choice, I'm Sitting On Top of The World (III-xxx). Your scribe opted for Irving Berlin's other Easter tune, I'm Putting All My Eggs In One Basket (II-187). Bill went to the great Fats Waller number Ain't Misbehavin' (handout). Steve C. felt Porter-ish, calling You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To (II-436). Raphael felt the need to shake things up with Minority (I-273). Bill took two: I'll Take Romance (handout), and September Song (handout). Serdar needed some blues, and went to Tenor Madness (II-390). Sam chose Four (I-149) for his next one. Steve C. went to the quiet If I Should Lose You (II-193). Bill went to the Real Books for Pennies from Heaven (II-309). The last thing your scribe was present for was Raphael's call, Elora (II-117). But apparently the Workshoppers also covered Oleo and Rosetta.

--SJH

March 25, 2023

Next Time: Sat., Apr. 1, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park), in the basement theater.

Cancelled for this week due to snow. We will hope April 8 is better!

Masks in the building unless playing.

Another good crew showed up at one point or another: Sam (trumpet, trombone), Carl (trombone), Steve C (piano)(, Raphael (bass), Steve H (alto), Bill (vocals), Serdar (guitar), John (trombone), and Ari (trumpet, flugelhorn). Even Tom W stopped by to say hello.

Things began as usual with Sam's pick, this time Rosetta (II-341). Carl went blues with Two Degrees East, Three Degrees West (II-408). A little Parker was the choice of Steve C, who went with Yardbird Suite (II-433). Bill entered the fray with a vocal, opting for Just In Time (II-222). Another Parker tune was in the offing with Serdar's call, Billie's Bounce (II-44). Raphael went all porter with I Love You (I-190). Bill stuck to the Porter theme, going to a handout version of I've Got You Under My Skin. Yours truly, having just been to the Ordway that week, went with an easy swing on the ballad, I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face (III-192). Another vocal from Bill, this time Stardust (II-367). Ari decided to run with Autumn Leaves (I-39). 

We finally came back around to Sam, who surprised us with Killer Joe (II-229). Bill got in one more vocal, The Lady Is A Tramp (II-227). It was reported to your scribe after the fact that the Workshop wrapped up after two more tunes: Serdar's choice, Oleo (I-309), and Ari's option, A Night In Tunisia (I-302). 

Hope to see you at the Workshop, assuming we are not buried under another foot of snow.

--SJH

March 18, 2023

Next Time: Sat., 3/25, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale, St. Louis Park)

Your scribe missed the last (3/11) event; I had the notes somewhere, but I can't seem to find them. Oh, well--here is the report from the latest Workshop. 

Present were Sam (trumpet, trombone), John (trombone), Steve C (piano), Raphael (bass), Bill (vocals), Jack K (trumpet), Carl (trombone), Ari (trumpet), and Steve H (soprano).

From the top, the following people called the following tunes:

Sam: West Coast Blues (I-436)

John: My Funny Valentine (a handout in Bill's key)

Carl: In a Mellow Tone (I-206)

Bill: Dream A Little Dream of Me (a handout in Bill's key)

Jack: It Could Happen To You (II-204)

Bill: I'll Take Romance (a handout in 3/4)

Steve C: When Lights Are Low (II-421)

Bill: All of Me (I-20)

Raphael: Robbin's Nest (II-350)

Serdar: Billie's Bounce (II-xx)

Bill: Come Fly With Me (II-80)

Ari: Lady Bird (I-xxx)

Sam: My Little Suede Shoes

In looking for the rest of the notes for this week, I stumbled across the ones for last week, so I will try to get that note up soon. In the meantime, hope to see you there.

--SJH

March 4, 2023

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

Masks in the building until playing, please.

Another nice turnout: Sam (trumpet, trombone), Jack K (trumpet), Jack H (tenor), Steve H (soprano), Steve C (piano), John (trombone), Raphael (bass), Carl (trombone), Bill (vocals), Ari (trumpet). 

Sam began the festivities with Out of Nowhere (I-318). Your scribe went to a handout for a Latin version of the old Kalmar and Ruby tune, Thinking of You. John took us into deep waters with Dolphin Dance (I-119). Bill brought in music in his key on the old favorite, Dream A Little Dream of Me. Carl opted for the classic Latin tune Blue Bossa (I-50). Back to Bill for another vocal, we got another handout, this time for a little 3/4 bit, I'll Take Romance. Jack took a vocal shot as well, choosing Old Cape Cod (III-307). Serdar wanted to do  the folk song Dark Eyes as a gypsy jazz number, but in the Real Book (II-90) it was in 3, so that's what happened.

Yours truly had to head out during Dark Eyes, but it was reported to him that the last two numbers were chosen as a tribute to the recently departed Wayne Shorter. Steve C chose Black Nile, while Raphael called Deluge.

Hope you can join us for the fun soon.

--SJH

February 25, 2023

Next Time: Sat. 3/4, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

In the basement theater. Masks in the building unless playing.

This week we had another good turnout: Sam (trumpet, trombone), John (trombone, piano), Steve H (soprano, piano), Raphael (bass), Carl (trombone), Jack K (trumpet, rhythm), Bill (vocals), Ari (trumpet).

Things got a bit up-dumped, and your scribe was not always careful about marking down where the songs were coming from. 

Sam did not mess around to get us started, calling Dear Old Stockholm (I-xxx). Bill sang Come Rain or Come Shine, but from a handout to be in his key. John pulled out something a little brighter and more Latin with Wave (I-4xx). Bill took chance, opting for I've Got the World on a String (also by handout). Carl found So What (I-364) amusing, and we mostly made it through. Jack wanted to sing himself, calling for It Could Happen To You (II-xxx). Bill handed out another one, this time a version of Don't Get Around Much Anymore. Yours truly pulled out an original he had written a number of years ago, She Wore Black. Vocal time for Bill again, this time right out of Real Book I, All of Me. When your scribe was packing up, the group was just about to settle into Minority.

Here's hoping we see you next time!

--SJH