August 26, 2023

Next Time: Sat., 9/2, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale, St. Louis Park)

Masks were still necessary in the building this past session, so be prepared.

Attendance picked up this time out, with appearances by Sam (trumpet, trombone), Steve H (soprano, piano), Steve D (trumpet), Steve C (piano), Raphael (bass), Jack (trumpet), David (trombone), and Ari (trumpet). 

We got rolling with Sam's pick, Now's The Time (I-293) at an easy pace. Jack took things down with a very relaxed (and very cool) version of So What (I-364), which had the added advantage that we had the right horns present to play all five parts! We picked things up with Steve C's call, In Walked Bud (II-200). Raphael gave us our first ballad of the day, Infant Eyes (II-202). We stayed right in the same spot in the book, but went more up-tempo on your scribe's choice, It Could Happen To You (II-204). 

Back around to Sam, who opted for a bit of Latin in So Nice (I-362). Steve D stuck to the Latin rhythms, turning to Little Boat (I-245). Jack returned to Miles with his call, Solar (I-363). Steve C. chose a Tad Dameron classic, Lady Bird (I-xxx).  Yours truly took over piano duties for the last two: Raphael's pick, Invitation (I-297), and Ari's choice, Song For My Father (I-373).

See you next time!

--SJH

August 19, 2023

Next Time: Sat. 8/26, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale, St. Louis Park)

Masks in the building! There has been a Covid outbreak.

Due to the Covid outbreak in the building, there were a lot fewer people present than usual: Steve H (soprano, piano), Sam (trumpet, trombone) and Raphael (bass). Here's what we played.

I Love Paris (Steve)

Beautiful Love (Raphael)

Cherokee (Steve)

Daahoud (Raphael)

Lullaby of Birdland (Sam)

Easy Street (Raphael) 

Cry Me A River (Sam)

Somebody Loves Me (Steve)

When Sunny Gets Blue (Raphael)

Little Boat (Sam)

Three Little Words (Steve)

Bolivia (Raphael)

Dancing On The Ceiling (Sam)

--SJH

August 12, 2023

Next Time: Sat., 8/19, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale, St. Louis Park)

Your scribe has received no news from the Aug. 12 session, which he missed. But he does look forward to seeing you this coming weekend.

--SJH

August 5, 2023

Next Time: Sat., 8/12, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale, St. Louis Park)

In the basement theater. We're the Jazz Jam.

Our last session brought out regulars and semi-regulars Sam (trumpet, trombone), Steve H (piano, soprano), John (trombone, piano), Raphael (bass), Bill (vocals), Vern (accordian), and Serdar (guitar). 

We got things rolling with Sam's call, Bye Bye Blackbird (II-73). Going around the horn, so to speak, John made the next choice, Blue Skies (II-58). Your scribe opted for Midnight Mood (I-269), which turned out to be trickier than it looked. Bill, who had come in and set up after we had begun, decided to reprise Blue Skies. Raphael was in a traditional mood this time, going with On the Sunny Side of the Street (II-298). Vern tried to get us into an up-tempo swing on Autumn Leaves (I-39), but after several false starts we settled back down successfully to a medium up. Bill passed around a handout in his key of Dream A Little Dream Of Me. 

The circle having been completed, Sam took another turn, opting for Bernie's Tune (III-39). Yours truly got a second shot, pulling out Stella By Starlight (I-382). Bill's third choice was I've Got You Under My Skin (handout). John went with the Ellington classic, Perdido (II-311). 

A number of us had to leave at this point, so Sam and Serdar serenaded us in packing up with several choruses of St. Thomas (II-339).

Hope you can make it this week!

--SJH

July 29, 2023

Next Time: Sat., 8/5, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale, St. Louis Park)

Present at our last meeting were Sam (trumpet, trombone), Steve C (piano), John (trombone), Jack (trumpet), Raphael (bass), Steve H (alto), and David (trombone). 

We got started with the apropos Heat Wave (III-143), Sam's choice. Staying with the hot theme, your scribe opted for East of the Sun (III-104). Sticking to the air theme, John's call was Come Fly With Me (III-80). Finally tossing aside the theme, and the RB volume, Jack went with I Remember You (II-179). Steve C went a little more upbeat with Pennies From Heaven (II-309). Billy Strayhorn's surprisingly swingy Upper Manhattan Medical Group (I-426) was Raphael decision. 

Starting round two, and returning to our heat theme, Sam went to Miles' classic Solar (I-363). Yours truly stayed with the theme, but chose the breezy On The Sunny Side Of The Street (II-298). John decided on a bit of Latin, Jobim's A-Train-based So Danco Samba (III-360). Your scribe took over the keyboard for one last tune, Jack's call, I Thought About You (I-280).

Too many people had to leave at that point, so the fun had to end. But it continues this weekend. Hope to see you there!

--SJH

July 22, 2023

Next Time: Sat., 7/29, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale, St. Louis Park)

An active session at the Workshop this week, with the addition of old-timer (haven't seen him since the McRae days) Tom (drums), along with regulars Sam (trumpet, trombone), Steve C (piano), Jack (trumpet), Steve H (soprano), Raphael (bass), and Serdar (guitar).

Sam launched the boat this week with Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise (II-355). Jack got the next call, going with Four (I-149). Tom took us where we had not been previously, No More Blues (Chega de Saudade) (I-74). Steve C had a song for our trip, Road Song (I-344). Raphael took us to a beautiful place (hard to play, though), Joy Spring (I-244). Serdar took us to a 3/4 place with Alice in Wonderland (I-17). All the way around to yours truly, who pulled out a handout of the 1923 tune by Harry Archer, I Love You.

Round two began with Jack's choice of Dancing on the Ceiling (I-98). Sam tried to get us in a funk mode with Sister Sadie (III-355). Tom went with the more familiar Bye Bye Blackbird (II-73). Steve C, also carrying handouts, pulled out a chart of Never Never Land. Raphael's pick the second time around was You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To (II-436). Serdar rounded off the afternoon with a bossa, How Insensitive. 

Hope to see you there this week!

--SJH

July 15, 2023

Next Time: Sat., 7/22, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

Once again, your scribe has no report from attendees of the Workshop about what tunes were played, but he will be personally attending this week's shindig. Hope to see you there!

--SJH