April 25, 2025

Next Time: Sat., 5/3, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

We're in the basement theater. Bring your own stand.

The joint was jumpin' at our most recent gathering. Present were John (trumpet), Bob (trombone), Tom (piano), Bill (drums), Craig (guitar), Raphael (bass), Steve (alto), Serdar (guitar), and Ari (trumpet.

Here's what we played.

John: Down For Double (II-110)

Craig: Fly Me To The Moon (II-135)

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

Raphael: Airegin (I-13)

Serdar: There Will Never Be Another You (I-407)

Ari: Pent Up House (I-324)

Bob: Somebody Loves Me (I-369)

John: Perdido (II-311)

Steve: Elora (II-117)

Tom: Agua De Beber (I-14)

That was all your scribe was present for, but he is guessing one or two more tunes were attempted before the fun ended.

Hope to see you soon!

--SJH

April 19, 2025

Next Time: Sat., 4/25

Who was there?

Bob (trombone), Jan (trumpet), Craig (guitar), Matt (vocals), Bill (drums), Ari (trumpet), Steve (alto), Doug (piano), Jack (trumpet), Carl (bass)

What did we play?

Bob: Exactly Like You (III-117)

Jan: Guilty (I-168)

Matt: You Brought A New Kind Of Love To Me (handout)

Craig: Lean On Me (IV-250)

Ari: Basin Street Blues (II-xx)

Matt: All I Do Is Dream Of You (handout)

Steve: I'm Putting All My Eggs In One Basket (II-187)

Matt: Anything Goes (handout)

Carl: Dream A Little Dream Of Me (I-124)

Doug: Footprints (I-144)

Matt: Let's Get Lost (handout)

Jan: Gypsy In My Soul (I-169)

There may have been one or two more that your scribe missed by departing early.

Hope to see you soon!

--SJH

April 12, 2025

Next Time: Sat., 4/19, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

Bring your own stand. We usually work from the Real Book vols. I-IV.

Present: Bill (drums), Jan (trumpet), Raphael (bass), Steve (piano, soprano), Charlie (trumpet), Matt (vocals), Serdar (guitar), Craig (guitar), Carl (bass), John (trumpet), Tom (piano)

Tunes:

Jan: You Don't Know What Love Is (I-459)

Matt: Call Me Irresponsible (I-67)

Charlie: Rhythm-a-ning (II-328)

Matt: Quizas Quizas Quizas (III-329)

Serdar: Blue Monk (I-52)

Tom: The Way You Look Tonight (II-415)

Raphael: Dream Dancing (III-99)

Matt: All I Do Is Dream Of You (handout)

Craig: Satin Doll (I-349)

Matt: Whatever Lola Wants (handout)

Steve: Somebody Loves Me (I-369)

Hope to see you soon!

--SJH

April 5, 2025

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

Bring your own stand. We usually work from the Real Book vols. I-IV.

People just kept on showing up! It was quite fun. Present were George (trombone), Bob (trombone), Jack (trumpet), John (trumpet), Matt (vocals), Tim (vocals), Craig (guitar), Bill (drums), Raphael (bass), Serdar (guitar), Steve H (piano, soprano), and Ari (trumpet). 

Here's what those people called: 

Bob: Close Your Eyes (II-86)

Jack: Up Jumped Spring (I-425)

Matt: All I Do Is Dream Of You (handout)

George: Mercy Mercy Mercy (II-xxx)

Matt: Let's Get Lost (handout)

Serdar: Oleo (I-309)

Craig: Wendy (II-4xx)

Matt: It Had To Be You (handout)

John and Tim: All Of Me (I-20)

Ari: Alice In Wonderland (I-18)

Matt: I'm Beginning To See The Light (I-200)

Bob: Somebody Loves Me (I-369)

People were still playing when your scribe left, but have delivered no report. We assume the fun continued.

Hope to see you next time!

--SJH

March 29, 2025

Next Time: Sat., 4/5, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

Bring your own stand. We typically work from the Real Books.

A fine crowd of good players swung by for a visit this week. On hand were Jan (trumpet), Bill (drums), Bob W (trombone), Steve H (soprano), Raphael (bass), John L (trumpet), Tom H (guitar), Tom A (piano), and Ari (trumpet). 

We began with a cool version of My Funny Valentine (I-287) set up by Jan, which was a bit faster than ballad speed and was just on the edge of dropping into a swing. Next Bob called for a slightly up version of There'll Be Some Changes Made (I-408). Tom H brought a handout of Love For Sale, which we cruised on at a nice mid-tempo swing. Tom A having arrived to relieve your scribe of piano duties, we launched into a straight-up swing number from the Basie book, Freddie Green's Down For Double (II-110). Tom A got the next pick, going with All Of Me (I-20). Raphael pulled out a tune we did a while back but which doesn't get out very often, A Weaver Of Dreams (I-416).

A few people passed a turn over to Jan, who went with Alright, OK, You Win (I-24). We moved backwards then to John, who called Satin Doll (I-349), and Ari, who proposed So What (I-364). Somehow Jan got another pick, and we did our first Latin of the day, Jobim's Dindi (I-xxx). Bob pulled out the classic Pennies From Heaven (II-286), while Tom H opted for Blue Bossa (I-50). 

At this point, yours truly had to pack up and head home, though it did not look as though the rest of the group, still having fun, were prepared to leave yet.

Hope to see you next time!

--SJH

March 22, 2025

Next Time: Sat., 3/29, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

George Linkert, the activities director at TowerLight and, as such, our lord and master, as well as a member of our group, arranged for us to play upstairs in the Club Room for the March 22 Workshop. Things went pretty well. Present were George (trombone and vocals), Jack (trumpet), Steve H (soprano), Ari (trumpet), Serdar (guitar), Tom A (piano), Raphael (bass), and Bill (drums). There were also a number of people who stopped, most for several tunes, which was a treat for us.

Here's what we played: All of Me, Autumn Leaves, Lady Bird, Satin Doll, Solar, Stella By Starlight, Take The A Train, Bye Bye Blackbird, On The Sunny Side Of The Street, St. Thomas, and Tenor Madness.

We hope to be back in the Club Room some Saturday in May or June.

--SJH

March 15, 2025

Next Time: Sat., 3/22, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

We'll start upstairs in the Club Room this week! If we still have significant time left, we can finish back downstairs in the theater.

Your scribe missed the March 8 gathering, but no one else took notes, so nothing to report about it.

However, he was present at the March 15 funfest, so here is what happened.

People
Jan (trumpet), Matt (vocals), Serdar (guitar), Raphael (bass), Steve (piano, soprano), John (trumpet), Ari (trumpet).

Tunes played

Jan: Black Orpheus (I-49)

Matt: Quizas, Quizas, Quizas (III-329)

Serdar: Tenor Madness (II-390)

Steve: Up Jumped Spring (I-425)

Matt: You and the Night and the Music (handout)

Raphael: Joy Spring (I-229)

Ari: St. Thomas (II-339)

Matt: Moonglow (II-275)

Jan: Doxy (II-111)

Matt: Come Fly With Me (III-80)

Serdar: Moon River (II-274)

A few people lingered to play some more after yours truly had to retire. They're no quitters!

--SJH