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 

September 12, 2026

Next Time: Sat 9/19, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

Bring your own stand.

Your scribe was not present, but has it on reliable authority (thank you, Matt) that the following people were present and tunes were played.

Personnel: Bill (drums), Raphael (bass), Bob (trombone), Matt (vocals), Scott (guitar), Serdar (guitar), Ari (trumpet), and Cathleen (piano).

Songs: How About You, In A Mellow Tone, Forest Flower, Minor Swing, Impressions,  Smile, Red Clay, Lady Bird, Moon Dance, My Funny Valentine, The Stars Fell On Alabama, Tennessee Waltz, Just The Two Of Us, St. Thomas.

See you next time!

--SJH 

September 5, 2026

Next Time: Sat., 9/12, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

Bring your own stand. We typically work out of the Real Book vols. I-IV.

Present: Steve C (piano), Raphael (bass), Bill (drums), Jerry (guitar), Ari (trumpet), Jack K (trumpet), Bob (trombone), Steve H (alto), Randy (flute, alto).

Tunes called:

Bob: In A Sentimental Mood (I)

Jack: It Don't Mean A Thing (I)

Randy: One Note Samba (I)

Steve C: Out Of Nowhere (I)

Raphael: Lush Life (I)

Bill: Have You Met Miss Jones (I)

Jerry: Wave (I)

Ari: Watermelon Man (III)

Steve H: Three Little Words (III)

Hope to see you soon!

--SJH

August 29, 2026

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

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

A more intimate group this time, but perfectly set up: Bill (drums), Raphael (bass), John P (guitar), Steve H (alto), John C (piano), Ari (trumpet, flugelhorn)

The session started with Bill's call, It Could Happen To You (II), with alto, guitar, bass, and drums. John C arrived in time for the second tune--John P's choice of Stella By Starlight (I)--and decided to forego the trombone entirely in favor of the keyboard; Ari was set up in time to participate in that one. He also got the third tune pick, going with Tune Up (I). Yours truly went with the Clifford Brown tune, Sandu (II). Raphael opted for Oliver Nelson's The Drive (II), 

Round Two had Bill calling East of the Sun (III). John P decided on the classic Have You Met Miss Jones (I). The next one went to Ari, but your scribe forgot to write it down. Next up, yours truly opted to pick things up a bit with Charlie Barnet's Skyliner (II), which went fine once we established the form. Raphael thought it might be fun to give Randy Weston's High Fly (II) a whirl, but we universally agreed it was not. 

We began a third go 'round with Bill's choice, Tangerine (II). John P. thought it was time for a ballad, calling Georgia On My Mind (II). It was so ballad-y that, fifteen minutes later, three of us had to leave, thus bringing the session to a halt.

Hope to see you next time!

--SJH

August 22, 2026

Next Time: Sat., 8/29, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

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

Who made it this time?

Bill (drums), Raphael (bass), Matt (vocals), John C (trombone, piano), John P (guitar), Mike (tenor), Randy (flute, alto), Ari (trumpet), Steve H (soprano, piano)

And what did they call while they were there?

John P: There Will Never Be Another You (I)

Matt: Tennessee Waltz (handout)

Mike: One Note Samba (I)

Matt: Unforgettable (handout in different key than Real Book)

Randy: Recado Bossa Nova (II)

Matt: Cheek to Cheek (III)

Ari: Bernie's Tune (III)

Matt: Fly Me To The Moon (II)

Steve H: A Portrait Of Jenny (II)

Hope to see you soon!

--SJH

August 15, 2026

Next Time: Sat., 8/22, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

Bring your own stand.

Who was there?

John C (trombone), Steve C (piano), Raphael (bass), Steve H (percussion), Scott (guitar), Mike (tenor), Jerry (guitar), Matt (vocals), and Randy (flute, alto).

What was played?

Mike: All the Things You Are (I)

John C: Along Came Betty (II)

Matt: Tangerine (handout in Db)

Scott: Nostalgia in Times Square (I)

Matt: The Stars Fell on Alabama (handout)

Steve C: Robbins Nest (II)

Matt: Zing Went the Strings of My Heart (handout)

Raphael: Look to the Rainbow (II)

Matt: Moonglow (handout)

Steve H: It's De-Lovely (II)

See you next time!

--SJH

August 8, 2026

Next Time: Sat., 8/15, 11am-2pm, TowerLight (3601 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park)

Bring your own stand. We're in the basement theater. Bring Real Books if you have them.

Who was there, besides our intrepid listeners?

Bill (drums), Cathy (piano), Raphael (bass), Jerry (guitar), John C (trombone), Steve H (soprano, piano), Ari (trumpet)

What did we play?

Cathy: Blues in the Closet (II)

Raphael: Invitation (I)

Bill: Desafinado (I)

Jerry: Blue Skies (II)

Steve: I've Found A New Baby (II)

Ari: Jordu (II)

Steve: Let's Cool One (II)

Raphael: This I Dig Of You (II)

--SJH

--SJH

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