October 31, 2026

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

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

Present at our Halloween festivities (spooky! scary!) were not only a number of new listeners, but a large contingent of players: Bill H (drums), Serdar (guitar), Ari (trumpet, flugelhorn), Randy (flute, alto), Jerry (guitar), Mike (tenor), Matt (vocals), Scott (guitar), John C (trombone), Steve H (piano), Bill M (guitar), and Raphael (bass). With so many present, it takes quite a while to get through all the solos, but it was quite fun. Here's what they called.

Matt: Witchcraft (III)
Scott: Satan Doll (I)
John: That Old Black Magic (III)
Matt: Fly Me To The Moon (handout, rather than the vol. II version)
Steve: Creepin' (an original)
Matt/Jerry: Spooky (handout: Love is kinda crazy with a spooky little girl like you...)
Bill M: Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me ("What's scary about that?" I asked.  "You never will," he replied.)
Raphael: Dewey Square (II) (frightening because it is quick Charlie Parker number)
Bill H: Tangerine (II) (the color of a pumpkin)

A number of us had to leave at this point, but as we left, the remaining players were starting up a version of My Deadly Valentine (I).

See you next time.

--SJH

October 24, 2026

Next Time: Sat., Oct. 31, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

Bring your own jack-o'-lantern and stand.

Who was there? Raphael (bass), Bill (drums), Serdar (guitar), Randy (alto, flute), Matt (vocals), Steve H (alto, piano), John C (piano, trombone), Scott (guitar), Ari (trumpet, flugelhorn)

What was called?
Matt: A Hundred Years From Today (handout)
Bill: There Will Never Be Another You (I)
Matt: I'm Beginning To See The Light (I)
Serdar: I'll Be Seeing You (II)
Randy: Opus de Funk (II?)
Matt: All I Do Is Dream Of You (handout)
John: Oleo (I)
Matt: You Make Me Feel So Young (handout)
Scott: Freddie Freeloader (I)

Several of us had to pull up stakes at the point, but St. Thomas (II) was playing as we left.

Hope to see you soon.

--SJH

October 17, 2026

Next Time: Sat. 1023, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park).

Bring your own stand. Real Book vol. I-IV very useful.

According to reliable reports, the following people were present this past session: Jack K. (trumpet), Bob (trombone), Tom A. (piano), Raphael (bass), Bill (drums), Jerry (guitar), Serdar (guitar).

According to equally reliable reports, these people called the following tunes:

Jack: Bye Bye Blackbird (II)

Bob: Tangerine (II)

Tom: If I Were A Bell (II)

Raphael: Off Minor (II)

Bill: How Insensitive (I)

Jerry: Round Midnight (I)

Serdar: Road Song (I)

Jack: Pick Yourself Up (II)

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

Tom: Fly Me To The Moon (II)

Raphael: Cheesecake (II)

See you next time?

--SJH

October 10, 2026

Next Time: 10/17, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

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

Who showed up? Bill (drums), Randy (flute, alto), Matt (vocals), Maria (bass), Ari (trumpet, flugelhorn), Steve H (soprano), John C (piano), Raphael (bass). 

And they played what?

Raphael: I Hear Music (III)

Matt: Blue Moon

Bill: Out Of Nowhere (I)

Matt: Angel Eyes (I)

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

Randy: Lester Leaps In 

Matt: Fly Me To The Moon (II)

Ari: Alice In Wonderland (I)

Steve: Walkin' Shoes (II)

Hope to see you soon!

--SJH

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