Virtual Jam Session - "St. Thomas"

Ready for something a little easier?  Sonny Rollins popularized the tune "St. Tomas", which is actually an ancient folk melody. 
Normally heard as a calypso tune, we will practice it in a samba style, which is similar, but maybe easier to feel the beats.  Samba is a solid 2-beat, usually with heavy syncopation.
St. Thomas is a simple melody of just 16 bars.  The first 4 bars (as well as the next 4 bars) are all in the C major key center, with the pattern:
                            |   I        |   iii     VI   |    ii    V   |   I         ||
The only chord in that entire sequence that departs from the C major scale is the third chord which is VI (major) instead of the normal vi (minor.)  In other words, that one chord wants a C#.  So basically you can play the first 8 bars using notes from the C major scale.  If you happen to play a C natural on that third chord, it becomes A7(#9) which is plenty cool.
The last 8 bars depart from the C key center a little, but if you play with an "island spirit" nobody will complain if you don't venture beyond the C major notes.
You can simplify even more if you like.  You can think like a steel drum that may have only 3 or 4 notes available.  You can make a hip-sounding solo just playing some combination of C, E, and G.  It doesn't have to be complicated to be fun.

Jam to "St. Thomas" Samba Style

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And here's the same thing in a "soul calypso" style.  A conventional calypso is a rather straight beat.  This "soul calypso" has the spirit of the calypso, but a little bit of funk for good measure.  It is driven by a 2-3 clave throughout.

Jam to "St. Thomas" Soul Calypso Style

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