August 1, 2026

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

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

We played on the front patio, on the corner of 36th and Wooddale. More soon.

--SJH

July 25, 2026

Next Time: Jazz on the Patio (or on 36th St., or in the Club Room, depending), Sat. 8/1, 11am-12:30pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

Downbeat at 11am. so come earlier to get set up.

A busy day at the Workshop. Present were Randy (flute, alto), Maria (bass), Bill (drums), John P (guitar), Ari (trumpet), Jerry (guitar), John C (trombone), Raphael (bass), Steve H (piano, soprano), Matt (vocals), and Serdar (guitar). 

Here are the tunes up to the point that your scribe had to leave at 1:00:

Maria: Have You Met Miss Jones (I)

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

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

Matt: I Thought About You (handout)

Ari: The Girl From Ipanema (I)

John C: I'll Remember April (I)

Matt: Always (I)

Jerry: Bessie's Blues (I)

See you next time?

--SJH

July 18, 2026

Next Time: Sat., 7/25, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

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

A lot of the core group were there: Raphael (bass), Matt (vocals), Bob (trombone), John P. (guitar), Bill (drums), Ari (trumpet), and Steve H (piano).

Not a lot of sticking to the old familiar tunes, however, Here's who called what.

Matt: Sentimental Journey (II)

Raphael: [Can't read my own writing here!]

Matt: Dream A Little Dream of Me (I)

Bill: Blue Bossa (I)

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

John: Black Orpheus (I)

Matt: The Frim Fram Sauce (II)

Randy: Oye Come Va (II)

Ari: Good Bait (II)

Bob: Exactly Like You (III)

Steve: Avalon (II)

Raphael: Elora (II)

Hope to see you soon!

--SJH

July 11, 2026

Next Time: Sat., 7/18, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

Bring your own stand.

Who showed up this time? Maria (bass), Bob (trombone), Matt (vocals), John P. (guitar), Ari (trumpet), Bill (drums), Randy (flute, alto), Raphael (bass), Steve H. (piano), Serdar (guitar)

What did they undertake? (Roman numerals refer to Real Book volume.)

Maria, There Will Never Be Another You (I)

Matt, Blue Skies (handout)

Ari, Maiden Voyage (I)

Matt,  Whatever Lola Wants (handout)

Randy, Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise (II)

Matt, L-O-V-E (I)

Bob, Satin Doll (I)

Serdar, Lady Bird (I)

Matt, The Tender Trap (III)

Raphael, Dewey Square (II)

Matt, How About You (handout)

Things were still cookin'. when your scribe left. 

Hope to see you there!

--SJH

June 27, 2026

NO Jazz Workshop this Saturday, July 4, for 250 obvious reasons. 

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

Bring your own stand. 

Participating: Bill (drums), John P (guitar), Randy (flute, alto), Ari (trumpet), Steve H (soprano), John C (piano, trombone), Raphael (bass), Jim (bass), Serdar (guitar), Scott (guitar)

Playing: 

Bill: Song For My Father (I)

Randy: Now's The Time (II)

John P: Summertime (IV)

Ari: Pure Imagination (III)

Steve H: Too Young (II)

Raphael: Moten Swing (II)

Jim: Blue Bossa (I)

Bill: Tangerine (II)

Randy: Cold Duck Time (II)

John P: Stella By Starlight (I)

Your scribe had to leave on the early side, but things were going strong at 1:00, when he had to depart for family obligations.

Hope to see you next time! Happy Independence Day!

--SJH

June 20, 2026

Next Time: Sat, 6/27, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

Bring your own stand.

There will be NO Workshop Saturday, 7/4. Go out and have a whizzbang of a time celebrating our nation's bisesquicentennial (or semiquincentennial, or sestercentennial, or quarter millennium--whichever seems most fitting for you)!

Present: Steve C (piano), Raphael (bass), John C (trombone, piano), Steve H (alto, rhythm, piano), Ari (trumpet, rhythm). 

Tunes called and played:

Steve C: Line for Lyons (III)

John C: Exactly Like You (III)

Raphael: Boplicity (I)

Steve H: Cherokee (I)

Ari: Pure Imagination (III)

Steve C: Strollin' (III)

Raphael: Rosetta (II)

Steve H: Lover Man (II)

Ari: Autumn Leaves (I)

John C: I'll Remember April (I)

Steve H: I Could Write A Book (I)

Ari: Little Sunflower (II)

June 13, 2026

Jazz on the Patio!

Report soon.

-SJH

June 6, 2026

Present and accounted for:

Scott (guitar), Jerry (guitar), Bob (trombone), Raphael (bass), Bill (drums), John P. (guitar), Maria 9bass), Steve H (piano)

Requested and played:

Bob: Whispering (I)

Jerry: I Could Have Danced All Night (III)

Steve H: Lady Bird (I)

Raphael: Along Came Betty (III)

Bill: Have You Met Miss Jones (I)

John P: All The Things You Are (I)

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

Bob: Tangerine (II)

Jerry: Chitlins Con Carne (I)

Scott: Impression (I)

Raphael: Broadway (I)

--SJH

May 30, 2026

Next Time: Sat, 6/6, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

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

Your scribe has no report of the goings on, but as soon as he does, a report will be forthcoming.

Hope to see you there!

--SJH

May 23, 2026

Next Time: Sat., 5/30, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

Bring your own stand.

Who was present to play

Ari (trumpet), Raphael (bass), John C (trombone, piano), John P (trumpet), Serdar (guitar), Randy (flute, alto), Matt (vocals), Steve H (piano)

What those present played

Tume Up (I)

I Won't Dance (III)

Honeysuckle Rose (II)

Smokey Blues (handout)

You and the Night and the Music (handout)

Airegin (I)

My Funny Valentine (I)

When the Red Red Robin Comes Bob Bob Bobbin' Along (handout)

There Will Never Be Another You (I)

Dindi (II)

On Broadway (IV)

F Minor Blues (ad lib)

--SJH 

May 16, 2026

Next Time: Sat, 5/23, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

Come when you can, leave when you must.

Bring your own stand.

Present: Raphael (bass), Bill (drums), Jerry (guitar), Ari (trumpet), Randy (alto, flute)

Songs played: Desafinado, Jordu, Besame Mucho, Watermelon Man, Round Midnight, Road Song, There Will Never Be Another You, When You're Smiling, So Danco Samba, Exactly Like You, Midnight Sun, St. Thomas.

Hope to see you next time!

--SJH

May 9, 2026

Next Time:

Bring your own stand.

Present: John L (trumpet), John C (piano), Ari (trumpet), Raphael (bass), Randy (alto, flute), Matt (vocals), Steve H (drums!), Jerry (guitar)

Played:

John L: Basin Street Blues (II)

Matt: The Frim Fram Sauce (II)

Jerry: Mercy Mercy Mercy (II)

Raphael: Off Minor (II)

Matt: My Kind Of _____ (handout)

Steve H: Tangerine (II)

Ari: Song For My Father (II)

Matt: Quizas, Quizas, Quizas (III)

Randy: Wave (I)

Jerry: Chitlins Con Carne (I)

Matt: You Make Me Feel So Young (handout)

Raphael: Daahoud (I)

--SJH

May 2, 2026

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

Bring your own stand. We usually play out of the Real Book (vols. I-IV)

Present at our last gathering: Matt (vocals), Maria 9bass), Bill (drums), Raphael (bass), Jack (trumpet, recorder), Steve H (piano), John P (guitar), Bob W (trombone), Randy (flute, alto), Ari (trumpet).

Tunes we played or otherwise messed around with:

Matt: All of Me (I)

Maria: Ceora (II)

Matt: Anything Goes (handout)

Jack: Bye Bye Blackbird (II)

Matt: Beyond the Sea (I)

Bob: I Thought About You (II)

Matt: Moonglow (I)

Steve: The Pinochle Deal (original handout)

Raphael: Black Nile (I)

John P: There Is No Greater Love (I)

Matt: You Made Me Feel So Young (handout)

More tunes were played after your scribe departed.

Hope to see you next time!

--SJH

April 25, 2026

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

Bring your own stand. 

Present:

Maria (bass), Bill (drums), John C. (trombone), Ari (trumpet), Steve H (piano), Jerry (guitar), Raphael (bass), Randy (alto, flute), Matt (vocals), Meghan (vocals)

Tunes:

Maria: Ceora (I)

Jerry: Quizas Quizas Quizas (III)

Ari: Pent Up House (I)

John C: Perdido (II)

Matt: Nice and Easy (handout)

Steve H: Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise (II)

Matt: Since I Fell For You (handout)

Raphael: Lush Life (II)

Meg: It Don't Mean A Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing (I)

Randy: Chega De Saudade (I)

Matt: Dream A Little Dream (I)

Your scribe had to leave, but other tunes were in the offing...

--SJH

April 18, 2026

We played in the Club Room of TowerLight this time, and it was, if your scribe may say so, a success.

More later.

--SJH

April 4, 2026

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

Bring your own stand! We usually play from the Real Book, unless someone brings a handout.

Who was there? A pretty big crowd for the day before Easter! Tom (piano), Raphael (bass), Maria (bass), Bill (drums), Serdar (guitar), John P (guitar), Scott (guitar) Jack K (trumpet), Mike (tenor), Randy (flute, alto), Steve H (soprano), Ari (trumpet), and Sharon (guitar, vocals)

What did we play? Well, fewer tunes, but plenty of soloing. 

Steve: I'm Putting All My Eggs In One Basket (II)

Tom: Long Ago and Far Away (I)

Raphael: Ceora (II)

Maria: There Will Never Be Another You (I)

Sharon: Dream A Little Dream Of Me (I)

Serdar: My Funny Valentine (I) [medium Latin]

John P: Doxy (II)

Scott: Mr. P.C. (I)

Randy: Killer Joe (II)

Ari: Lady Bird (I)

Mike: Have You Met Miss Jones (I)

That's all your scribe knew about before leaving, but the fun was still going strong.

See you next time!

S--SJH

March 28, 2026

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

Bring your own stand (and the first three or four volumes of the Real Book, if you got 'em)

People present:

Raphael (bass), Steve H (piano), Carl (bass), Bill (drums), Jack K (trumpet, recorder), John L (trumpet), Matt (vocals), Ari (trumpet), Serdar (guitar), Randy (flute, alto)

Tunes tooted:

Raphael: Lonely Dreams (II)

Bill: There Will Never Be Another You (I)

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

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

Randy: Serenade To A Cuckoo (I)

Matt: When You Wish Upon A Star (handout)

Jack: I Thought About You (II)

John L: Triste (I)

Matt: Come Fly With Me (III)

Ari: Topsy (I)

Carl: All Of Me (I)

Matt: It Had To Be You (handout)

See you next time!

--SJH

March 21, 2026

Next Time: Sat. 3/28, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

Bring your own stand.

Everybody came ready to enjoy the music: Jack K (trumpet, recorder), Randy (flute, alto), John L (trumpet), John C (trombone, piano), Steve H (soprano, piano), Raphael (bass), Bill (drums), Serdar (guitar), Scott (guitar), Ari (trumpet). 

Plenty of tunes, plenty of solos.

Jack K: My Romance (I)

Randy: Black Orpheus (I)

John L: It Could Happen To You (II)

John C : I Remember April (I)

Steve H: Too Young (II)

Raphael: Dewey Square (II)

Serdar: Billie's Bounce (II)

Scott: Blue Monk (I)

Ari: Body and Soul (I)

Jack K: Four (I)

Randy: My Favorite Things (I)

Ari: Maiden Voyage (I)

Your scribe had to leave before this one got played, and other songs may have been called. 

--SJH

March 14, 2026

Next Time: Sat., 3/21, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

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

Another weekend, another barrel of fun. Quite a good chunk of the usual gang showed up: John P (guitar), John L (trumpet), Ari (trumpet), Raphael (bass), Bill (drums), Steve H (piano, soprano), Matt (vocals), Randy (alto, flute), Serdar (guitar). Going around the circle, they called the following tunes:

Bill: Sunny (III)

John P: Beautiful Love (I)

Matt: Let's Get Lost (handout)

Randy: Triste (I)

Matt: Hallelujah, I Love Her So (handout)

Ari: Pure Imagination (III)

John L/Matt: Lullaby of Birdland (I)

Steve: Lucky Southern (I)

Matt: September in the Rain (handout)

Raphael: Hello, Young Lovers (I)

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

Other songs were probably played after your scribe had to leave.

See you next time!

--SJH

 

March 7, 2026

Next Time: Sat., 3/14, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

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

Present: John L (trumpet), Raphael (bass), Maria (bass), Steve C. (piano), Megan (vocals), Matt (vocals), Randy (alto, flute), Jack (trumpet), Ari (trumpet, flugelhorn).

Tunes played: 

Three Little Words

Moonlight in Vermont

Sandu

Georgia on My Mind

Blue Bossa

All of Me

Lullaby of Birdland

Four

The Night Has A Thousand Eyes

Oleo

My Funny Valentine

Wave

St. Thomas

See you next time.

--SJH

February 28, 2026

Next Time: Sat., 3/7, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

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

Report soon.

--SJH

February 21, 2026

Next Time: Sat. 2/21, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

Bring your own stand. 

The gang seems to be growing each week! This session we had on hand Bill (drums), Maria (bass), Raphael (bass), Steve C (piano), Steve H (alto), John L (trumpet), Ari (trumpet, flugelhorn), Jerry (guitar), Serdar (guitar), John P (guitar), Scott (guitar), and Mike (tenor). 

Here's what we played, and what volume of the Real Book to find it in.

Raphael: Easy Living (I)

Maria: Boplicity (I)

John P: I Remember You (II)

Ari: Au Privave (I)

Jerry: Moanin' (II)

Serdar: Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans (II)

Steve C: Beautiful Love (I)

Raphael: Hocus Pocus (II)

Maria: Cherokee (I)

Scott: Now's The Time (II)

When your scribe departed at 1:30, they were still going strong, with reports that they went on to play Stella By Starlight (I), Blue Bossa (I), and Blue Monk (I). Great fun!

Hope to see you next time!

--SJH

February 14, 2026

Next Time: Sat., 2/21, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park).

Bring your own stand.

Who showed up?

Maria (bass), Raphael (bass), Bill (drums), John P (guitar), Randy (alto, flute), Ari (trumpet), Jack (trumpet), Matt (vocals), John C (piano)

What did they play?

L-O-V-E (III), Boplicity (I), Horace Scope (II), Blue Moon (handout), Alice in Wonderland (I), There Is No Grater Love (I), Beyond the Sea (II), The Girl From Ipanema (I), My Funny Valentine (I), Bye Bye Blackbird (II), When the Red-Red-Robin Comes Bob-Bob-Bobbin' Along (handout).

See you next time? Here's hoping!

--SJH

February 7, 2026

Next Time: Sat., 2/14, 11am-2pm. TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

Bring your own stand.

Thanks to John C for taking notes.

Present were Steve C (piano), Raphael (bass), Maria (bass), Bill (drums), Scott (guitar), Serdar (guitar), Randy (alto and flute), Jerry (guitar), John C (trombone), John L (trumpet), Jack (trumpet), Ari (trumpet), Matt (vocals).

Tunes Played: 

All of Me (I)

I'll Remember April (I)

You Brought A New Kind of Love To Me 

Nostalgia in Times Square (I)

I Won't Dance (III)

Horace Scope (II)

Rubber Duckie (handout)

Candy (II)

Wave (I)

--SJH

January 31, 2026

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

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

A surprisingly large group of musicians found themselves congregating in the basement theater for our weekly jump, jive and wail. Present were Matt (vocals), John C. (trombone and piano), Jack K. (trumpet), Ari (trumpet), Steve H. (piano and soprano), Raphael (bass), Jerry (guitar), Maria (bass), Bill (drums), Carl (bass), George (trombone), Serdar (guitar), and a harmonica player whose contact information I failed to get before he had to leave (so please come back).

As a result, there were fewer tunes, but more solos per tune. Here's what we covered before your scribe had to leave:

Matt: L-O-V-E (II)

John C: I'll Remember April (II)

Matt: How About You (handout)

Raphael: Dearly Beloved (I)

Serdar: Billie's Bounce (II)

Matt: It's Only A Papaer Moon (II)

George: Mercy Mercy Mercy (II)

Matt: When the Red Red Robin Comes Bob Bob Bobbin' Along (handout)

Jerry: In A Mellow Tone (I)

Matt: Angel Eyes (I)

At this point, yours truly had to pull up stakes, but things were still going strong.

Hope to see you one of these weeks!

--SJH

January 24, 2026

Next Time: Sat. 1/31, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

We're in the basement theater. We play mostly out of the Real Books. Bring your own stand.

A happy peppy crew stopped in on a frigid day to warm up with some solid jazz. Present were Maria (bass), John P (guitar), Bill (drums), John C (piano), Steve H (soprano), Raphael (bass), Serdar (guitar), Randy (alto, flute), Ari (trumpet).

John P got things started the ball rolling with All of Me (I). Yours truly pushed the tempo just a bit by calling Cherokee (I). Ari took it down a notch with an easy-going version of Four (I). John C kept the mood up with Fly Me To The Moon (II). Raphael pushed everyone outside their comfort zones by ordering up Salt Peanuts (II). Maria brought us to a warm beach with Wave (I). Bill got a chance to work the brushes with his option, Cute (handout). Serdar chose the fun 3/4 tune, Alice in Wonderland (I). 

Sadly, your scribe had to leave early, while the Workshop was in full swing, and people were still coming in to listen. Perhaps we will see you next time!

--SJH

January 17, 2026

Next Time: Sat., 1/24, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

Bring your own stand.

A good group stopped by for the weekly happening: Raphael (bass), John L (trumpet), John P (guitar), John C (trombone), Matt (vocals), Randy (alto, flute), Steve H (piano), Serdar (guitar)

Here's what got called by whom:

Matt: Always (I)

John C: All the Things You Are (I)

Matt: Whatever Lola Wants (handout)

Steve: Tangerine (II)

Matt: On the Street Where You Live (III)

Raphael: Indian Summer (III)

Matt: Anything Goes (handout)

Serdar: There Will Never Be Another You (I)

Matt: Wave (handout)

Randy: Alice in Wonderland (I)

Your scribe had to run at this point, but one or two more tunes got played before the festivities wrapped up.

Hope to see you next time!

--SJH

January 10, 2026

Present and accounted for: Bill (drums), Carl (bass), Matt (vocals), Scott (guitar), John (guitar), Ari (trumpet), Randy (sax, flute), Jerry (guitar), Maria (bass), Raphael (bass), Serdar (guitar), John C. (piano). plus four listeners.

Tunes played (according to sources):

Matt: All of Me (I)

Scott: Blue Monk (I)

John: All the Things You Are (I)

Matt: Come Fly With Me (III)

Ari: Au Privave (II)

Randy: Mercy Mercy Mercy (I)

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

Jerry: C'est Si Bon (I)

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

Maria: The Girl From Ipanema (I)

Raphael: Off Minor (II)

Serdar: On the Sunny Side of the Street (II) and St. Thomas (II)

--SJH

January 3, 2026

Next Time: Sat., 1/10, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

Bring your own stand. You'll find us in the basement theater.

Your scribe was absent for the festivities this past weekend, but Jerry was kind enough to take notes. Here's what he reports.

Present were Maria (bass), Randy (sax and flute), John (guitar), Jerry (guitar), Ari (trumpet), John C. (piano), and Bill (drums). Welcome to the newcomers!

Songs worked on: 

Maria: All the Things You Are (I)

Randy: All of Me (I)

John: My Favorite Things (I)

Jerry: Watch What Happens (II)

Ari: Happy Little Sunbeam (II)

John C: Wave (I)

Maria: Mr. PC (I)

John: There Is No Greater Love (I)

Randy: Black Orpheus (I)

Jerry: A Night In Tunisia (I)

Ari: Now's The Time (II)

Maria: Alice in Wonderland (I)

Happy New Year! Hope you can come next time!

--SJH

December 27, 2025

 

Present: Matt (vocals), Bill (drums), Paul W. (guitar), Maria (bass), Steve H. (piano), Ari (trumpet)

Songs: 

Matt: All of Me (I)

Steve: I Could Write A Book (I)

Paul: Yesterdays (I)

Matt: On The Street Where You Live (III)

Maria: Recorda Me (I)

Matt: How About You (handout)

Ari: All The Things You Are (I)

Matt: Let's Get Lost (handout)

Steve: Beautiful Love (I)

Matt: When the Red Red Robin... (handout)

Paul: Footprints (I)

Matt: Quizas Quizas Quizas (III)

Maria: Autumn Leaves (I)

Bill: How Insensitive (I)

Matt: Dream A Little Dream (I)

--SJH

December 20, 2025

 Report soon!

--SJH

December 13, 2025

Annual Christmas gig in the Club Room!

More soon.

--SJH

Decemnber 6, 2025

Report soon.

--SJH 

November 29, 2025

 Report soon.

--SJH