Eight years in, the du Maurier International Jazz Festival was widely regarded as one of the best throughout North America, “an achievement which contributes to the outside perception that this is an exciting musical place with a lot of talented jazz musicians living in a really stimulating environment.” (Where Vancouver) And it was, thanks to year round jazz programming Coastal Jazz produced, in addition to the annual festival.
With the increased awareness, programmers knew they could use the festival as a way to elevate homegrown talents. Co-founder John Orysik explained at the time, “What we’re doing… especially for this year’s festival, is setting up special projects where Vancouver musicians will be playing with other musicians from the States, from Europe.” (Coastal continues to curate collaborative performances between local and international festival musicians today.)
That year featured living legends tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins and jazz vocalist Betty Carter, as well as John Scofield Quartet, Charlie Haden and his Quartet West, Wayne Horvitz, Robin Holcomb, Hard Rubber Orchestra, Paul Plimley, and more including a young Diana Krall, who played a free show on the streets of Gastown.
One name visibly absent from the calendar in 1993 was Vancouver jazz legend Fraser MacPherson, who died a few months later. Tenor and alto saxophonist, flutist, clarinetist, MacPherson moved to Vancouver in 1948 as a local studio and nightclub musician, touring the globe, and regularly appearing at jazz festivals around in the world, including the du Maurier International Jazz Festival. When he passed away, the Vancouver Musicians’ Association noted that in lieu of flowers, donations would be accepted to the Fraser MacPherson Music Scholarship Fund. The response was overwhelming. The fund has been offering financial assistance and educational opportunities for jazz students in British Columbia ever since. The Festival has worked with the Fraser MacPherson Jazz Fund for many years, most recently in partnership with the Vancouver Jazz Orchestra to present Vancouver Youth Jazz Orchestra each year, a unique music residency for high school students in Grades 8 – 12 from Metro Vancouver.
If you’re interested in learning more about this legendary Canadian musician, a new book written by Fraser’s son Guy MacPherson was released earlier this year. Fraser MacPherson: I Don’t Have to Go Anywhere – I’m Already Here reveals a loving portrait of a brilliant musician and a private man, along with stories of the Golden Age of Vancouver nightlife and a bygone era when professional musicians could make a living without having to move away from Vancouver.
Catch up on all our festival flashbacks on our blog. Did you attend one of our early jazz festivals? Share your story with us! Join the conversation on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter X @coastaljazz.
Made it this far? Consider supporting our 40th anniversary.
