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Fraser MacPherson: From The Pen Of...

By Pierre Giroux
October 15, 2022
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Tenor saxophonist

Fraser MacPherson

saxophone, tenor
b.1928

" data-original-title="" title="">Fraser MacPherson was an original. Although he was raised in Victoria, British Columbia, he moved to Vancouver early in his career where he remained throughout his working life. He began to build his reputation as a Lester Young-influenced player, and in the mid '70s recorded his first trio album for West End Records with guitarist

Oliver Gannon

" data-original-title="" title="">Oliver Gannon and bassist

Wyatt Ruther

b.1923

" data-original-title="" title="">Wyatt Ruther. This album was picked up by Concord Records in the late '70s and released in the U.S. as Live at The Planetarium thereby giving MacPherson the distinction of being the first Canadian artist to be attached to the label. The wider distribution and broader acclaim that this label presented through this and other subsequent recordings was no doubt attributed to his composed and polished tenor style.

The idea behind this tribute album of MacPherson's compositions came from his son Guy. However the realization of the concept fell to the stellar tenor saxophonist

Cory Weeds

saxophone, alto
b.1973

" data-original-title="" title="">Cory Weeds who is not only the owner of the the Cellar Music Group of labels, and consequently had numerous well-known contacts in the music world, but had also recently become president of the Fraser MacPherson Jazz Fund.

The eminent tenor saxophonist

Scott Hamilton

saxophone, tenor
b.1954

" data-original-title="" title="">Scott Hamilton shared a bill with MacPherson at the Vancouver Playhouse in 1990 at which they learned that the Selmer Super Action tenor they each played was manufactured at the same time. Hamilton uses his to full effect on a swinging rendition of the composition "Night Spot." Another traditionalist tenor saxophonist in the manner of Scott Hamilton is

Harry Allen

saxophone
b.1966

" data-original-title="" title="">Harry Allen. For this release he brought together guitarist

Dave Blenkhorn

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Dave Blenkhorn and bassist

Mike Karn

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Mike Karn, which is a similar iteration as MacPherson's original trio, to bring to life the tune "Waltz For Willi." The trio gives a beautifully integrated version of the number.

There is no shortage of talented Canadian tenor players represented on this recording including

Steve Kaldestad

saxophone, tenor

" data-original-title="" title="">Steve Kaldestad on a

Johnny Hodges

saxophone, alto
1907 - 1970

" data-original-title="" title="">Johnny Hodges-influenced number "Rabbit's Habit," New York-based

Grant Stewart

saxophone, tenor
b.1971

" data-original-title="" title="">Grant Stewart with a playful romp on "Up In Steve's Room" and

Ryan Oliver

saxophone, tenor

" data-original-title="" title="">Ryan Oliver backed by an all-star trio of pianist

Bernie Senensky

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Bernie Senensky, bassist

Neil Swainson

bass, acoustic
b.1955

" data-original-title="" title="">Neil Swainson and drummer

Terry Clarke

drums
b.1944

" data-original-title="" title="">Terry Clarke as they all crackle on the tune "Our Blues." The final tenor player in this category is Cory Weeds. In the group he put together for the composition "Ol' Bill's Blues," he brought back guitarist Oliver Gannon from MacPherson's original trio, and for his own satisfaction he used MacPherson's original Selmer Super Action tenor sax. Weeds' description of MacPherson provides a perfect closure to this album: "He was a tall man with dark rimmed glasses and a deep voice. Although he was intimidating, the music that came from his horn was unbelievably joyous."

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Track Listing

Night Spot; Queen's Pawn; It's A Human Race; Rabbit's Habit; Up In Steve's Room; Why Am I Blue?; Waltz For Willi; Our Blues; For Your Love; Ol' Bill's Blues; Theme.

Personnel

Scott Hamilton

saxophone, tenor

Virginia MacDonald

clarinet

Jocelyn Gould

guitar

Steve Kaldestad

saxophone, tenor

Grant Stewart

saxophone, tenor

Harry Allen

saxophone

Ryan Oliver

saxophone, tenor

Cory Weeds

saxophone, alto

James Danderfer

clarinet

Evan Arntzen

saxophone

Joani Taylor

vocals

Album information

Title: From The Pen Of... | Year Released: 2022 | Record Label: Cellar Music Group

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