October 3, 2026

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

Bring your own stand.

Who was there?

Bill (drums), John P. (guitar), Maria (bass), Jack (trumpet), Steve H. (piano), Raphael (bass), Randy (flute, alto), Serdar (guitar), Ari (trumpet), Scott (guitar)

What did we play, and whose idea was it?

Bill: Blue Bossa (I)

John P: There Is No Greater Love (I)

Maria: Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise (II)

Jack: There Will Never Be Another You (I)

Serdar: My Funny Valentine (I)

Ari: Topsy (I)

Randy: Bye Bye Blackbird (II)

Scott: Nostalgia In Times Square (I)

Steve H: Lucky Southern (I)

Raphael: (illegible) (II)

Bill: Chitlins Con Carne (I)

Maria: Ceora (I)

Ari: Lady Bird (I)

When your scribe left, music was still happening.

Hope to see you soon!

--SJH

September 26, 2026

Next Time: Sat. 10/3, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

Bring your own stand. Couldn't hurt to bring Real Books if you got 'em.

Present

Bill (drums), Raphael (bass), Ari (trumpet), Randy (flute, alto), Jerry (guitar), Bob (trombone), Matt (vocals), Steve H (piano)

Played

Bill: Moonglow (I)

Randy: Black Orpheus (I)

Matt: September in the Rain (handout)

Jerry: Moten Swing (II)

Matt: From Russia with Love (handout)

Bob: I Thought About You (II)

Much more happened after your scribe had to leave far too early.

--SJH

--SJH

September 19, 2026

Next Time: Sat. 9/26, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

Bring your own stand. Real Books are also very useful.

Who showed up this week?

John C. (piano), Paul (bass), Bill (drums) Raphael (bass), Matt (vocals), John P. (guitar), Steve H. (alto), Randy (flute, alto), Ari (trumpet, flugelhorn).

Who called what when, and where can we find it in the Real Book?

Bill: Corcovado (Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars) (I)

Matt: East of the Sun (III)

Raphael: Isfahan (III)

Matt: Gee, Baby, Ain't I Good To You (I)

Randy: Joyce's Samba (II)

Matt: Dream A Little Dream Of Me (I)

Ari: Billie's Bounce (II)

Matt: September in the Rain (handout)

Steve: It's De-Lovely (III)

Matt: The Lady Is A Tramp (III)

John P: Manha de Carnevale (Black Orpheus) (I)

Matt: Moon Dance (handout)

--SJH 

September 12, 2026

Next Time: Sat 9/19, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

Bring your own stand.

Your scribe was not present, but has it on reliable authority (thank you, Matt) that the following people were present and tunes were played.

Personnel: Bill (drums), Raphael (bass), Bob (trombone), Matt (vocals), Scott (guitar), Serdar (guitar), Ari (trumpet), and Cathleen (piano).

Songs: How About You, In A Mellow Tone, Forest Flower, Minor Swing, Impressions,  Smile, Red Clay, Lady Bird, Moon Dance, My Funny Valentine, The Stars Fell On Alabama, Tennessee Waltz, Just The Two Of Us, St. Thomas.

See you next time!

--SJH 

September 5, 2026

Next Time: Sat., 9/12, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

Bring your own stand. We typically work out of the Real Book vols. I-IV.

Present: Steve C (piano), Raphael (bass), Bill (drums), Jerry (guitar), Ari (trumpet), Jack K (trumpet), Bob (trombone), Steve H (alto), Randy (flute, alto).

Tunes called:

Bob: In A Sentimental Mood (I)

Jack: It Don't Mean A Thing (I)

Randy: One Note Samba (I)

Steve C: Out Of Nowhere (I)

Raphael: Lush Life (I)

Bill: Have You Met Miss Jones (I)

Jerry: Wave (I)

Ari: Watermelon Man (III)

Steve H: Three Little Words (III)

Hope to see you soon!

--SJH

August 29, 2026

Next Time: Sat. 9/5, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

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

A more intimate group this time, but perfectly set up: Bill (drums), Raphael (bass), John P (guitar), Steve H (alto), John C (piano), Ari (trumpet, flugelhorn)

The session started with Bill's call, It Could Happen To You (II), with alto, guitar, bass, and drums. John C arrived in time for the second tune--John P's choice of Stella By Starlight (I)--and decided to forego the trombone entirely in favor of the keyboard; Ari was set up in time to participate in that one. He also got the third tune pick, going with Tune Up (I). Yours truly went with the Clifford Brown tune, Sandu (II). Raphael opted for Oliver Nelson's The Drive (II), 

Round Two had Bill calling East of the Sun (III). John P decided on the classic Have You Met Miss Jones (I). The next one went to Ari, but your scribe forgot to write it down. Next up, yours truly opted to pick things up a bit with Charlie Barnet's Skyliner (II), which went fine once we established the form. Raphael thought it might be fun to give Randy Weston's High Fly (II) a whirl, but we universally agreed it was not. 

We began a third go 'round with Bill's choice, Tangerine (II). John P. thought it was time for a ballad, calling Georgia On My Mind (II). It was so ballad-y that, fifteen minutes later, three of us had to leave, thus bringing the session to a halt.

Hope to see you next time!

--SJH

August 22, 2026

Next Time: Sat., 8/29, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

Bring your own stand. We'll be in the basement theater.

Who made it this time?

Bill (drums), Raphael (bass), Matt (vocals), John C (trombone, piano), John P (guitar), Mike (tenor), Randy (flute, alto), Ari (trumpet), Steve H (soprano, piano)

And what did they call while they were there?

John P: There Will Never Be Another You (I)

Matt: Tennessee Waltz (handout)

Mike: One Note Samba (I)

Matt: Unforgettable (handout in different key than Real Book)

Randy: Recado Bossa Nova (II)

Matt: Cheek to Cheek (III)

Ari: Bernie's Tune (III)

Matt: Fly Me To The Moon (II)

Steve H: A Portrait Of Jenny (II)

Hope to see you soon!

--SJH