June 23, 2018

Next Time: Saturday, June 30, 1-5pm, Hook and Ladder, Lake and Minnehaha, MPLS

Add-A-Tune: Desafinado (I-108)

We had a drastically reduced session, due to the fact that yours truly, manning the piano, had to leave at 2:30. Rarely has your scribe felt so wanted.

Present were Sam (trumpet and trombone), Craig (guitar), Raphael (bass), followed by Victor (vocals) and Wes (tenor); Annie (vocals) and Carl stopped in a bit after 2:00.

We began with Sam's Add-A-Tune, Cold Duck Time (II-87). The piano player found Moonglow (II-275) gathering dust, so we blew out the spiders and tried it. Raphael went the be-bop route--though with caution--opting for Groovin' High (I-166). Craig surprised us by calling Don't Get Around Much Anymore (I-122). Given the time crunch, the vocalists each got one tune: Victor choosing Stardust, and Annie continuing Without A Song (II-428).

We hope things are more normal this coming week.

Participant Picks

Cold Duck Time

Eddie Harris/Les McCann

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ago8dP4fFA

Moonglow

Artie Shaw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKQ7v3S9atM

Benny Goodman

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dm3Ml9g_cs

Billie Holliday

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fm9zli5lWSo

Enjoy!

--SJH

June 16, 2018

Next Session: Probably June 23, 1-5 at The Hook and Ladder (Minnehaha and Lake)

Add-A-Tune: Cold Duck Time (II-87)

We got started with Sam (trumpet and trombone), Steve M (alto), Raphael (bass) and yours truly (piano). Craig (guitar) and Victor (vocals) soon joined us, followed by Carl (trombone), Annie (vocals) and Dick (vocals).

Sam's Add-a-Tune this week was Dancing On The Ceiling (I-98). We tried it at increasing tempos. Your scribe called for Don't Get Around Much Anymore (I-122). Raphael changed directions entirely with Coltrane's Giant Steps (which we took a wee bit slower than those whose steps we were following). Craig reached into his grab bag of seventies hits with Lean On Me (IV-250). Steve M went more traditional, choosing Here's That Rainy Day (I-175). Victor joined the instrumentalists in a go-round of Bye Bye Blackbird (II-73). Back to Sam, we took on a full steam version of Dear Old Stockholm (I-102).  We went a little easier with a bouncy version of Thou Swell (I-411), compliments of your scribe. Raphael wrapped up the instrumental portion with a stretched-out Waltz For Debby (I-432).

On to the vocal portion of the day, Annie got us cooking with The Surrey With The Fringe On Top (I-393). Victor called the old reliable Avalon (II-25). Dick surprised us with the moving Body And Soul (I-57). Annie jollied things up with Ain't Misbehavin' (III-13). Dick took Doxy (II-111) for an easy swing. Victor reprised Dancing On The Ceiling (I-98). Carl broke things up with an instrumental version of Blue Monk (I-52), on which Annie took a turn. She then pulled out Without A Song (II-428). Dick opted for I'm Beginning To See The Light (I-200). Victor scatted his way through Blue Skies (II-58). We took another instrument break with Steve M asking for On A Clear Day (III-308). One more tune for Annie, Let There Be Love (II-236), and for Victor, Beyond The Sea (II-40). Craig got the choice of instrumental to finish the afternoon, going with Satin Doll (I-349).

Participant Picks

Giant Steps

John Coltrane

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30FTr6G53VU

Joey Alexander (!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4V_uaxBVOw

Wynton Marsalis

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XrdiOY_Uxk

Dancing on the Ceiling

Jo Stafford

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

Chet Baker

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IwOQ8mzd7k

The Supremes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SwzEsb9No8

Waltz for Debby

Bill Evans

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dH3GSrCmzC8

Cannonball Adderley and Bill Evans

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJqkN1w0fFg

Oscar Peterson

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wzUinUv9g4

Enjoy!

--SJH

June 9, 2018

Next session: Saturday, June 16, 1-5pm, the Hook and Ladder (Minnehaha and Lake).

Your scribe stood alone for a few minutes after 1:00, but then Steve M (alto) and Raphael (bass) arrived, and with me on the piano, we got things rolling with Raphael's pick, Well You Needn't (I-4xx). Steve M went with Sentimental Journey (II-3xx). Wes (tenor) had arrived to join us, and called Robbin's Nest (II-3xx). In came Serdar (guitar), with yours truly choosing Autumn Leaves (I-xx). Craig (guitar) wandered in, while Serdar offered Tenor Madness (II-390). Jim D (alto, clarinet) came in during Craig's choice, Goin' Out Of My Head (IV-150). Raphael took another, calling Blue Bossa (I-50) as a quicker samba. Jim D opted for Slipped Disc (II-353), and when that turned out quite confusing (we had conflicting versions), he went with I Thought About You (II-180).

Annie (vocals) and Carl (trombone) had set up by now, with Sam (trumpet and trombone) coming in shortly after we began the vocal portion. Annie started with Let There Be Love (III-236), and followed that up with Take The A Train (I-398), with solos for everyone. Wes went with Red Top (III-322) as an instrumental. Never Let Me Go (III-299) was Annie's next song, followed by Quiet Nights Of Quiet Stars (I-335). Another instrumental was in order, and Sam pulled out Sister Sadie (III-355). Annie then sang I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free (I-195), and then Easy To Love (I-128). Again with the instrumentals, Carl got his way with Blue Monk (I-52). We finished up with Annie's last choice, Bye Bye Blackbird (II-73).

Participant Pick

Slipped Disc

Benny Goodman

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

Scott Hamilton

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

Goin' Outta My Head

Little Anthony and the Imperials

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3j9bAVqt3c

Wes Montgomery

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24XbSd_fEY0

Enjoy!

--SJH