Jazz musician Hugh Fraser to be remembered in celebration of life October 17
Gathering at the Vogue pays postpandemic tribute to the master pianist, trombonist, composer, and educator
WELL-KNOWN BC MUSICIAN Hugh Fraser, who died last summer at 62 after a long battle with cancer, made a huge impact on the jazz scene. And now family, friends, and fans of his work will finally be able to gather in a musical celebration of his life, October 17 at 1:30 pm at the Vogue Theatre. (Doors open at 12:30 pm.)
The memorial will include performances by PJ Perry, Phil Dwyer, Perry White, Mike Herriott, and many others from his own ever-shifting, Juno Award-winning Hugh Fraser Quintet and VEJI (Vancouver Ensemble of Jazz Improvisation).
Fraser made his mark as a pianist, trombonist, bandleader, composer, and educator. Not only did he lead his own groups, but took part in ensembles and recordings by the likes of Clark Terry, Dizzy Gillespie, Maynard Ferguson, Clifford Jordan, Kenny Wheeler, Peter Erskine, Dave Holland, Chucho Valdes, and more.
Born in Victoria, Fraser studied and then taught at the Banff Centre of Fine Arts, eventually heading its jazz program starting in 1991. He also held teaching appointments in jazz education at the Royal Academy of Music, the University of Ulster, the University of Victoria, and the Victoria Conservatory of Music.
He also leaves behind more than 200 compositions.
You can register for the celebration here. (Note that a portion of seating is available for the general public, at current 50-percent-capacity rules, and as per health orders, attendees will have to wear masks and to provide proof of vaccination.)
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