February 24, 2024

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

Another busy Saturday at the Workshop. Joining us were Tom (drums), Jan (trumpet), Steve C. (piano), Vern (accordion), Steve H. (soprano), Sam (trumpet, trombone), Raphael (bass), John (trombone), Matt (vocals), and Lee (bass). 

The whole shindig got of to a bouncy start with Steve C.'s choice, All Of Me (I-22). Raphael found an intriguing number in 3/4, It's A Big Wide Wonderful World (III-207). Tom got the next call, My Little Suede Shoes (II-282). Matt tok his first vocal of the day, a bossa version of Berlin's Change Partners (handout). Serdar turned to some Rhythm changes with Oleo (I-309). Jan opted for a peppy version of Doxy (II-111). 

Matt took a second vocal turn, this time on I'm Beginning To See The Light (I-200). John thought it was a good idea to dip into the Parker bank, with Anthropology (I-29). Vern brought us back to some Latin with Quiet Nights Of Quiet Stars (I-338). Matt called On The Street Where You Live (III-310), and agreed to give it a bit of a swingy bounce.

Sam finally got a shot, and went to Monk's Straight, No Chaser (I-380). Your scribe chose old favorite On A Slow Boat To China (III-309). Some people were packing up, but there were enough left for yours truly to fill in on the piano for Raphael's pick, Let's Face The Music And Dance (III-xxx). As your scribe was headed out the door, a handful were still working on Serdar's choice, Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans?

Hope to see you next time!

February 17, 2024

Next Time: Sat., Feb. 24, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

As happened last time, some newcomers stopped in to join the fun--or rather, in one instance, someone who used to come to this same workshop when it was in its infancy. Joining regulars Steve C (piano), John (trombone), Tom (drums), Jan (trumpet), Jack (trumpet), Raphael (bass), Steve H (soprano), Serdar (guitar), and Matt (vocals), were Linda (vocals) and Lee (bass). 

Yours truly had the privilege of getting the ball rolling with John Lewis' Milano (I-272) at an easy swing. Jack picked things up slightly with Have You Met Miss Jones (I-172). Steve C. changed the mood a bit, opting for Mingus' Nostalgia In Times Square (I-xxx).

Matt kicked off the vocal rounds with a handout of How About You. Raphael filled in the space with the peculiar and tricky five-bar phrases of Gloria's Step (I-159). Linda took the mic and belted out a beautiful version of Autumn Leaves (I-39). Tom took the next one, calling Chega de Saudade (No More Blues) (I-74). Matt returned to take on East Of The Sun (III-xxx). Serdar, after weeks of waiting, finally got a chance, choosing On The Sunny Side Of The Street (III-xxx). Jan returned to a favorite, Watch What Happens (II-xxx).

Once again, your scribe had to bail out before the crew landed, but he heard that one or two other tunes were enjoyed before all was said and done.

Hope to see you next time!

--SJH

February 10, 2024

Next Time: Skip ahead to Feb. 17!

Things got very energetic at the Workshop this time out, as we had both listening guests and new participants. Joining regulars and semi-regulars Tom (drums),  Steve C (piano), Jan (trumpet), Sam (trumpet, trombone), Steve H (alto), John (trombone), Vern (accordion), Raphael (bass), Serdar (guitar), and Matt (vocals), were newcomers JD (bass), and Liz (vocals). 

Things got kicked off by Sam's pick of Billie's Bounce (II-44). Tom got the next call, My Little Suede Shoes (II-282). John opted for the semi-spiritual Moanin' (II-270). Jan went back to the bossa on Watch What Happens (II-413). Yours truly changed the tempo, going to an medium-up version of Easy To Love (I-128).

Things started to get particularly interesting when the vocals began. Matt started things off with Fly Me To The Moon (II-xxx). Liz, no stranger to the stage, took her first shot with our gang on Satin Doll (I-349). Vern took the in-between number, calling September Song (II-344), to which Matt added a vocal. Liz got another opportunity, calling Route 66, but in F rather than whatever is in the Real Book. Steve C. went right to another blues, Two Degrees East, Three Degrees West, in honor of our late friend, Carl Sandberg. Matt took us on an Ellington ride with his choice of I'm Beginning To See The Light (I-200). Liz got another call, this time All Of Me, but in C (rather than the Real Book version).

Your scribe had to leave in the middle of this last tune, though things were still cooking. 

--SJH

February 3, 2024

Next Time: Sat., 2/10, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

Another happenin' gathering this past date, with a steady crowd emerging: Jan (trumpet), Tom (drums), Steve C (piano), Steve H (soprano), Jack (trumpet), Raphael (bass), John (trombone), Sam (trumpet, trombone), Matt (vocals), and Serdar (guitar). 

Here's what we played: Jan called Girl Talk (II-151). John called The Gift! (Recado Bossa Nova) (II-154). Sam called Gone With The Wind (III-132). Matt called Gee, Baby, Ain't I Good To You (I-153). Jack called Stella By Starlight (I-382), and did a vocal. Matt called Unforgettable (III-xxx). Yours truly called It's De-Lovely (III-213). Steve C called Beautiful Love ((I-40). Matt called A Hundred Years From Today (handout). Raphael called Ornithology (I-317). Tom called One Note Samba (I-384). 

Your scribe had to leave before the session ended.

Hope to see you next time!

--SJH

January 27, 2024

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

It was another happenin' time at the Jazz Workshop as a sizeable cast of characters dropped in: Jan (trumpet), Tom (drums), Steve H (soprano), Steve C (piano), Raphael (bass), Jack (trumpet), John (trombone), Serdar (guitar), and Matt (vocals). 

We began the day with a call from Jan, who was the first to arrive, but also had to leave quite early: The Gift! (or, Recado Bossa Nova) (II-150). John got the next turn, going with It's Only A Paper Moon (II-209). Matt was ready to sing, and so we grooved on Route 66 (II-xxx). Jack changed the mood with an easygoing version of There Will Never Be Another You (I-xxx). Yours truly wanted to swing a little harder with a medium version of Witchcraft (III-452). Matt got another choice, this time handing out music for the tango Whatever Lola Wants. Steve C. also brought out a handout, this time of Star Eyes. Raphael picked up the pace a bit with Daahoud (I-xxx). Matt got another go at things with Angel Eyes (I-20).

Your scribe had to leave a little earlier than usual, but has it on good authority that the group disbanded before Tom or Serdar even got a chance to choose a tune. Apparently, they finished with a version of St. Thomas. 

See you next time!

--SJH

January 20, 2024

Doing a little catch-up here!

Who was there? Steve C (piano), Raphael (bass), Jan (trumpet), John (trombone), Jack (trumpet), Steve H (alto), Matt (vocals), and Sam (trumpet, trombone)

What was played, and who called it? Steve C: Lucky Southern (I-2xx); Raphael: Lover (II-256); Jan: Come Rain or Come Shine (II-88) as a medium swing; Matt: Bella Notte (handout) i.e., the spaghetti song from Lady and the Tramp; John: Come Fly With Me (III-80); Sam: Little Boat (I-245); Matt: In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning (I-210); Steve H: Somebody Loves Me (I-369); Jack: Angel Eyes (I-20); Matt: Polka Dots and Moonbeams (Handout: different key from Real Book).  

--SJH

January 13, 2024

Next Time: Sat., 1/20, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

Another fun time was had by the attendees at the Jazz Workshop in the Park (in the basement in the senior citizens building). Playing were Jan (trumpet), John (trombone), Jack (trumpet, recorder), Steve C (piano), Raphael (bass), Steve H (alto), Serdar (guitar), and Matt (vocals). 

Yours truly took the initiative to get things going, and opted for Nevertheless (III-300) for the opener. Jack was next in line, and chose Nancy With The Laughing Face (III-298). (Your scribe has often wondered what Nancy thought of that title.) Serdar got himself settled in time to call All Of Me (I-20). Steve C. had a handout from Book V, 'Tis Autumn. Raphael went to a second Kalmar and Ruby tune, Three Little Words (III-406). Jan got seasonal, turning to Baby, It's Cold Outside (II-28). John was feeling the need for a bit of Charlie Parker, for some reason, and pulled up the fun Billie's Bounce (II-xx). 

The cycle began again, and yours truly went to the John Lewis tune, Afternoon In Paris (I-12). Jack sang and played on his choice, I'm Old Fashioned (III-182). Serdar recognized our lack of a Latin tune, and called for How Insensitive (I-xxx). Matt, arriving when he could, asked our indulgence on Fly Me To The Moon (II-xxx). Your scribe had to go as the remaining group was getting started on Beyond the Sea for another vocal by Matt. A little bird tells me that the follow-up tune, L-O-V-E, did not go so well, but things wrapped up with St. Thomas. 

Hope to see you next time!

--SJH