January 18, 2025

Next Time: Sat., 1/25, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

Bring your own stand. We generally play from the Real Book vols. I-III.

An instrumental-only group assembled to play at the Workshop this week: Jan (trumpet), Jerry (guitar), Jack (trumpet), Serdar (guitar), Steve (piano, soprano), Raphael (bass), Bill (drums). Strangely, there was still some singing...

Jan got things off to a Latin start with How Insensitive (I-xxx). Jerry was feeling more funky, calling Cantaloupe Island (II-76). Jack took us down a wistful path, opting for, and singing on, Long Ago and Far Away (I-251). Serdar changed directions with the Parker blues, Billie's Bounce (II-44). Your scribe returned to a bit of melancholy with Hoagy Carmichael's Skylark (III-355). Raphael turned the Workshop into a workout with an uptempo version of Lover, Come Back To Me (III-238). Bill returned us to the Latin mood, calling Desafinado (I-108). 

Round 2 began with Jan's choice of Black Coffee (I-45). Yours truly had to leave at this point, but he has it on good authority that the jam continued with Jerry's vocal stylings on Gee, Baby, Ain't I Good To You (I-153). Serdar next chose the classic Autumn Leaves (I-39). Raphael turned to a great tune in 3/4, Bluesette (I-56). The session finished up by playing Jan's call, Black Orpheus (I-49).

Hope to see you next time!

--SJH

January 11, 2025

Next Time: Sat., 1/18, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

Bring your own stand. We usually play out of the Real Book vols. I-III.

We had a roomful again, and bass players to spare (though another horn player or two would not be frowned upon). Present were Jan (trumpet), Matt (vocals), Charlie (trumpet, piano), Jerry (guitar), Raphael (bass), Owen (bass), Carl (bass), Serdar (guitar), Bill (drums), and Steve H (piano, soprano). 

Jan was first up to the plate, swinging at, or on, Alright, Okay, You Win (I-27). Matt got the vocal selection, opting for Fly Me To The Moon (II-135). Jerry went Latin, choosing Black Orpheus (I-49). Charlie brought us back to a nice swing with Lullaby of Birdland (I-236).

Yours truly was up next, and went to a little-played Ellington ballad, Warm Valley (II-412). Matt backed this up with another ballad, When Sunny Gets Blue (I-440). Owen had had enough of the slow stuff, and picked things up a bit with the easy swing of Satin Doll (I-349). Bill changed pace entirely with So Nice (Summer Samba) (I-362). 

Back to Matt, we did a rollicking version of All Of Me (I-40). Raphael turned us on our heads with the curious Off Minor (II-295)--after all, it is a workshop. Jerry called a much more familiar tune, Ain't Misbehavin' (III-13). Matt made us do a bit of (pleasant) work again, while he sang Beyond the Sea (II-40).

As your scribe and a couple of others had to leave, Charlie took over at the piano, and there were still plenty of participants to run things out to 2:00pm. 

Hope to see you next time!

--SJH

January 3, 2025

Happy New Year!

We opened up 2025 with Jan (trumpet), Matt (vocals), Carl (bass), Steve H (piano, soprano), Owen (bass), Raphael (bass), Craig (guitar), Jerry (guitar) and Jack (trumpet).

We kicked things off with Jan's call, Dancing on the Ceiling (I-98). Matt got his first vocal (and first ballad) on For All We Know (I-145). Carl got his first turn ever at the Workshop, going with Paper Doll (I-319). Matt pulled out a handout for us to work on, Nice and Easy. 

Your scribe opted for a popular classic, All the Things You Are (I-22). Next up was Owen, who turned to Ellington's It Don't Mean A Thing (I-224). Matt was ready to sing again, calling Young At Heart (I-461). Craig returned to Ellington, this time Satin Doll (I-349). 

Raphael made the unusual move of picking a tune with straightforward melody and changes, i.e., Beautiful Love (I-40). Jerry surprised us by turning to a show tune, I Could Have Danced All Night (III-156), although with a Jerry-type swing to it, and Matt on vocals. Matt had his own vocal to wrap up the afternoon, Come Fly With Me (III-80).

--SJH

December 28, 2024

Next Time: Sat., 1/4, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

Happy New Year!

A quartet made an appearance for our last Workshop of 2024: Jan (trumpet), Jerry (guitar), Steve H (piano, soprano), and Raphael (bass). Fewer people, of course, means more songs and extra solo time. 

We began with Jerry's pick, Mercy, Mercy, Mercy (II-262). Your scribe called the next one, Perdido (II-311). Raphael opted for Bright Boy (II-68). Jan went for the classic, On the Sunny Side of the Street (II-298).

For round two, Jerry stuck with his funky groove with Watermelon Man (III-429). Yours truly picked that non-Christmas song that often shows up at Christmas time, Thad Jones' A Child Is Born (I-79). Raphael made us work on Horace-Scope (II-168). Jan changed to a Latin mood with Watch What Happens (II-413).

Jerry started round three with the fun Let's Get Lost (II-238). Your scribe went to the easy-going (but not easy to play) John Lewis tune, Afternoon In Paris (I-12). Raphael made us work again by calling the next page, Airegin (I-13). Jan stuck with the adventurous by choosing the Frank Foster jazz waltz Simone (II-350). We closed out the session playing Jerry's call, Killer Joe (II-229).

See you in 2025!

--SJH

December 21 2024

MERRY CHRISTMAS

We took some time from normal activities to prepare for a Holiday Gig upstairs in the Club Room of TowerLight, which took place on Dec. 21. 

Present for that event were George (trombone), Matt (vocals), Serdar (guitar), Jerry (guitar and vocals), Owen (bass), Steve H (piano, soprano) and, for a few tunes, Tom H. (guitar). 

We got the ball rolling with a medium swing version of Silver Bells in 4/4 rather than the usual 3/4. Jerry took the vocal on a slightly-faster-than-usual I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus. Matt, in his green velvet jacket and scarf, channeled Elvis with his rendition of Blue Christmas.

Next, we did a medium-up instrumental version of God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen. Matt took the vocals on the next two: and easy swinging White Christmas, and the bluesy Merry Christmas, Baby. 

Our next bit was an Latin instrumental mash-up of Heat Wave and Let It Snow, which seemed to work out. Jerry took another vocal turn on Santa Claus Is Coming To Town, which swung nicely. Matt sang the ballad Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.

Somewhere in here, we slipped in Jingle Bell Rock and Mistletoe and Holly. I think Matt took both vocals.

Another instrumental followed, i.e., a medium swing version of I'll Be Home For Christmas. Matt led everyone in The Christmas Song. We finished the program with a ska version of Auld Lang Syne.

All in all, a fun event. We didn't hear any objections from the residents who stopped, or who just passed by on the way to lunch, so that has to count for something...

Hope to see you soon at the Workshop!

--SJH

November 30, 2024

Next Time: Sat., 12/7, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

We're in the basement theater. Bring your own stand. We usually play out of the Real Books, though this week we will likely be playing a lot of Christmas tunes.

Your scribe has been away on some sad family business for a few weeks, but should be back this coming weekend. In the meantime, he has gotten reports that all has gone well, and that the following players played the following songs.

Players: Charlie (trumpet/piano), Jack (trumpet/vocals)), Jan (trumpet), Sam (trombone), Serdar (guitar), Craig (guitar), Jerry (guitar/vocals)), Carl (guitar), Raphael (bass), Owen (bass), Bill (drums), Matt (vocals).

Songs:

Dolphin Dance

Satin Doll

 Merry Christmas, Baby

I Love Paris

Perdido

Angel Eyes

Long Ago and Far Away

The Christmas Song

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus

Sidewinder

You and the Night and the Music

Memories of Tomorrow

St. Thomas

Hope to see you next time!

--SJH

November 23, 2024

Next Time: Sat., 11/30, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

Bring your own stand. We are usually playing from the Real Books, but if you want to play something else, bring some music in C, Eb, and Bb.

ONCE AGAIN, your scribe was not present, and will not be there this coming weekend, either. But, once again, I have it on good authority that things went OK. Here is the who and the what.

Who: Jan (trumpet), Jerry (guitar), Serdar (guitar), Jack (trumpet), Bill (drums), Craig (guitar), Raphael (bass), Carl (bass), Sam (trombone), and Tom (piano).

What: 

Four

Satin Doll

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus

My Romance

Take the A Train

Billie's Bounce

The Last Time I Saw Paris

Softly As In A Morning Sunrise

Pick Yourself Up

Moon River

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

I Thought About You 

Doxy

Out Of Nowhere

Tequila

Come join the crew for some Saturday Jazz fun!

--SJH