April 5, 2025

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

Bring your own stand. We usually work from the Real Book vols. I-IV.

People just kept on showing up! It was quite fun. Present were George (trombone), Bob (trombone), Jack (trumpet), John (trumpet), Matt (vocals), Tim (vocals), Craig (guitar), Bill (drums), Raphael (bass), Serdar (guitar), Steve H (piano, soprano), and Ari (trumpet). 

Here's what those people called: 

Bob: Close Your Eyes (II-86)

Jack: Up Jumped Spring (I-425)

Matt: All I Do Is Dream Of You (handout)

George: Mercy Mercy Mercy (II-xxx)

Matt: Let's Get Lost (handout)

Serdar: Oleo (I-309)

Craig: Wendy (II-4xx)

Matt: It Had To Be You (handout)

John and Tim: All Of Me (I-20)

Ari: Alice In Wonderland (I-18)

Matt: I'm Beginning To See The Light (I-200)

Bob: Somebody Loves Me (I-369)

People were still playing when your scribe left, but have delivered no report. We assume the fun continued.

Hope to see you next time!

--SJH

March 29, 2025

Next Time: Sat., 4/5, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

Bring your own stand. We typically work from the Real Books.

A fine crowd of good players swung by for a visit this week. On hand were Jan (trumpet), Bill (drums), Bob W (trombone), Steve H (soprano), Raphael (bass), John L (trumpet), Tom H (guitar), Tom A (piano), and Ari (trumpet). 

We began with a cool version of My Funny Valentine (I-287) set up by Jan, which was a bit faster than ballad speed and was just on the edge of dropping into a swing. Next Bob called for a slightly up version of There'll Be Some Changes Made (I-408). Tom H brought a handout of Love For Sale, which we cruised on at a nice mid-tempo swing. Tom A having arrived to relieve your scribe of piano duties, we launched into a straight-up swing number from the Basie book, Freddie Green's Down For Double (II-110). Tom A got the next pick, going with All Of Me (I-20). Raphael pulled out a tune we did a while back but which doesn't get out very often, A Weaver Of Dreams (I-416).

A few people passed a turn over to Jan, who went with Alright, OK, You Win (I-24). We moved backwards then to John, who called Satin Doll (I-349), and Ari, who proposed So What (I-364). Somehow Jan got another pick, and we did our first Latin of the day, Jobim's Dindi (I-xxx). Bob pulled out the classic Pennies From Heaven (II-286), while Tom H opted for Blue Bossa (I-50). 

At this point, yours truly had to pack up and head home, though it did not look as though the rest of the group, still having fun, were prepared to leave yet.

Hope to see you next time!

--SJH

March 22, 2025

Next Time: Sat., 3/29, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

George Linkert, the activities director at TowerLight and, as such, our lord and master, as well as a member of our group, arranged for us to play upstairs in the Club Room for the March 22 Workshop. Things went pretty well. Present were George (trombone and vocals), Jack (trumpet), Steve H (soprano), Ari (trumpet), Serdar (guitar), Tom A (piano), Raphael (bass), and Bill (drums). There were also a number of people who stopped, most for several tunes, which was a treat for us.

Here's what we played: All of Me, Autumn Leaves, Lady Bird, Satin Doll, Solar, Stella By Starlight, Take The A Train, Bye Bye Blackbird, On The Sunny Side Of The Street, St. Thomas, and Tenor Madness.

We hope to be back in the Club Room some Saturday in May or June.

--SJH

March 15, 2025

Next Time: Sat., 3/22, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

We'll start upstairs in the Club Room this week! If we still have significant time left, we can finish back downstairs in the theater.

Your scribe missed the March 8 gathering, but no one else took notes, so nothing to report about it.

However, he was present at the March 15 funfest, so here is what happened.

People
Jan (trumpet), Matt (vocals), Serdar (guitar), Raphael (bass), Steve (piano, soprano), John (trumpet), Ari (trumpet).

Tunes played

Jan: Black Orpheus (I-49)

Matt: Quizas, Quizas, Quizas (III-329)

Serdar: Tenor Madness (II-390)

Steve: Up Jumped Spring (I-425)

Matt: You and the Night and the Music (handout)

Raphael: Joy Spring (I-229)

Ari: St. Thomas (II-339)

Matt: Moonglow (II-275)

Jan: Doxy (II-111)

Matt: Come Fly With Me (III-80)

Serdar: Moon River (II-274)

A few people lingered to play some more after yours truly had to retire. They're no quitters!

--SJH

March 1, 2025

Next Time: Sat., 3/8, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

We meet in the basement theater. Bring your own stand.

Not our biggest crowd this week, but a solid group that made things happen: Jan (trumpet), Matt (vocals), Craig (guitar), Steve H (piano), Raphael (bass), Serdar (guitar), Don (conga)

Here's who called what, right up to the time your scribe departed:

Craig: Ornithology (I-317)

Jan: Whisper Not (II-422)

Matt: Gee, Baby, Ain't I Good To You (I-153)

Steve: Some Day My Prince Will Come (I-367)

Matt: When You Wish Upon A Star (handout)

Raphael: Here's That Rainy Day (I-175)

Matt: Whatever Lola Wants (handout)

Craig: Killing Me Softly (IV-241)

Jan: Saint James Infirmary (II-338)

Matt: Let's Get Lost (handout)

Serdar: Tenor Madness (II-390)

Matt: Smile (IV-401)

Steve: Pennies From Heaven (II-309)

Hope to see you next time!

--SJH

February 22, 2025

Next Time:

Who was there?

Matt (vocals), Jan (trumpet), Bill (drums), Craig (guitar), Carl (bass), Steve H (piano), Raphael (bass), Serdar (guitar)

What did we call?

Jan: Meditation (I-266)

Craig: Satin Doll (I-349)

Matt: How Little We Know (handout)

Steve: Indiana (II-201)

Matt: Blue Skies (handout)

Raphael: That Old Black Magic (III-394)

Bill: Autumn Leaves (I-77)

Carl: Dream A Little Dream (I-124)

Matt: Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart (handout)

Serdar: Billie's Bounce (II-44)

Jan: Witchcraft (III-452)

--SJH

February 15, 2025

Next Time: Sat., 2/22, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park).

Bring your own stand. We work mostly from the Real Book, vols. I-IV.

Your scribe was looking after his sick wife (and consequently got the bug himself), but Jerry was kind enough to take the minutes of the meeting.

Present were Jerry (guitar), Serdar (guitar), Owen (bass), Bill (drums), Jan (trumpet), Jack (trumpet), Carl (bass), Raphael (bass), Tom (piano), and Matt (vocals). Also Pat, a resident, visited.

Here's what they played:

Watch What Happens (II-413)

Four (I-149)

Baubles, Bangles, and Beads (handout)

My Funny Valentine (I-287)

Oleo (I-309)

Wave (I-431)

La Vie. En Rose (handout)

From This Moment On (III-126)

All Of Me (I-20)

Angel Eyes (I-28)

Coming Home Baby (II-89)

Just The Two Of Us III-228)

St. Thomas (II-339)

See you next time?

--SJH

February 8, 2025

Next Time: Sat. 2/15, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

Bring your own stand. We usually work from the Real Book Vols. I-IV.

Last week's weather, among other things, kept the meeting to only a few people for about an hour. Since your scribe was not present (for several reasons), he cannot report firsthand on the goings-on, but did get at least this brief report from a participant.

Matt (vocals and recording secretary), George (trombone), Serdar (guitar), Craig (guitar), and Jan (trumpet) made it in. They played My Funny Valentine, Black Orpheus, How About You, Georgia On My Mind, Blue Monk, Black Coffee, L-O-V-E, Alice In Wonderland, and Come Dance With Me.

--SJH

February 1, 2025

Next Time:

Personnel: Bill (drums), Raphael (bass), Matt (vocals), Jerry (guitar), Carl (bass), Steve (alto), Pat (piano), Serdar (guitar), Jan (trumpet), Tom A (piano), Don (congas).

Songs:

Jerry: Night Train (I-302)

Matt: Gee, Baby, Ain't I Good To You (I-153)

Steve: Beautiful Love (I-40)

Matt: How About You (handout)

Serdar: Oleo (I-309)

Matt: The Girl From Ipanema (I-158)

Tom: Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars (Corcovado) (I-335)

Raphael: Speak No Evil (I-374)

Matt: I'm Beginning To See The Light (I-200)

Bill: Autumn Leaves (I-39)

Matt: Fly Me To The Moon (II-135)

Don: Cherokee (I-77)

Carl: Dream A Little Dream (I-124)

January 25, 2025

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

Bring your own stand. We usually work from the Real Book, vols. I-IV.

A good crowd showed up for our last meeting: Jan (trumpet), Bill (drums), Steve (piano, soprano), Matt (vocals), Raphael (bass), Craig (guitar), Jerry (guitar), George (trombone), Tom (guitar), and Carl (bass).

We spent a lot of time in vol. II of the Real Book this time. Jan go the first call, choosing Let's Fall In Love (II-237). Matt picked up the pace a little with a chugging Route 66 (II-334). Jerry turned to a rather different sound on Mercy Mercy Mercy (II-262). Matt went all easy-going, opting for Moonglow (II-275). George didn't want anyone falling asleep, so he went to a medium up version of Sentimental Journey (II-343). Tom called for an easy swing Let's Get Lost (II-238). We had another vocal from Matt, this time Old Devil Moon (II-297). Serdar wanted to work on the peculiar turnaround of the otherwise regular blues Turnaround (II-405). Your scribe had a new tune he wanted to test out, Reveille from a Reverie (handout). It seemed to work. Raphael went more traditional, calling Yardbird Suite (II-433). Matt broke the string of book II tunes, taking on I'm Beginning to See the Light (I-200).

As yours truly was packing up, the remaining troupe was working through Jan's choice of Black Coffee. There were likely a couple more songs played before time expired.

Hope to see you next time!

--SJH

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