April 11, 2015

Plenty of people showed up, but due to the great weather, quite a few had to head out early for various tasks. We missed Gene on drums again, but Jack K. filled in admirably for a few hours, and played a couple on trumpet. Todd saved his chops for an evening gig by playing guitar, joining Greg. Both Steves were there on alto, Wes on tenor, Jim on bari sax and Jack D. on trumpet. Finally came Carl on trombone, Annie and Dick to sing.

Sam got us rolling on the old standard, Bye Bye Blackbird (I, 73). Steve M. got us to deliver on How High the Moon (I, 180). Jack D. surprised us with Stanley Turrentine's Sugar (I, 387). Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most (III, 374) was Jim's choice. Yours truly decided to see if we could do an alternating Latin/Swing groove with Caravan (II, 77). Wes stayed with one of his favorites, Groovin' High (I, 166). Jack K. moved over to trumpet and asked for one he was clearly fond of, My Ideal (III, 292). We went back to a nice groove with Todd's pick, All the Things You Are (I, 22). 

By this time, Jack D and Jack K and Wes had pulled out, and Carl, Annie and Dick had arrived. While they got set up, Sam called for Four Brothers (II, 138). Our singers found that, once again, they had to operate without microphones, so we needed to make adjustments. Annie picked the lovely But Beautiful (I, 62), and followed it with a medium-tempo version of For All We Know (I, 145). Dick called for the intriguing Dancing on the Ceiling (I, 98), then changed the mood with Black Orpheus (I, 49). Carl, at the urging of others, requested Stella By Starlight (I, 382). Annie strove not to copy Dinah Washington in a rendition of What A Diff'rence A Day Made (III, 430), then chose the up-tempo From This Moment On (III, 126). We finished the afternoon with Dick's call, Skylark (III, 356).

Participant Picks

Sam: Conception, Harlequin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEHlLo1ExIs

Carl: Chrissie, Chico Hamilton Quintet

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtDkPbeshKY&index=13&list=PLoodzr0MYST66UUuZhtoafSN5Ras0dxGB

Steve M.: Skyliner, Charlie Barnet

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsDXnYKkdqw

Annie: From This Moment On (I chose an Ella version)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7M5NBC2y8U

Everyone: What a Diff’rence a Day Made, Dinah Washington

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxWPk41uBpU

Dick: Nature Boy, Nat King Cole

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQerH4nRTUA

ME: Chattanooga Choo Choo, Glenn Miller Orchestra

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2aj0zhXlLA

I recently saw the movie Sun Valley Serenade, from which this version is taken, and included it not only because it has all the band choreography, but also because it has a completely gratuitous and fantastic follow-up featuring the dancing of the absolutely incredible Nicholas Brothers. (Bonus points to anyone who can explain, without looking on the internet, how they created the strange ice effect in the final scene with skater Sonja Henie.)

Enjoy.

--SJH