A couple of cool shows this weekend
I know the weather is going to be nice this weekend but don’t let it stop you from checking out 2 great shows happening at The Cellar. On June 1st and 2nd trumpeter JIM ROTONDI rolls into town to play with a great local quartet of CAM RYGA on alto sax, ROSS TAGGART on piano, [...]
Sam the Record Man shuts down
After 70 years in the record business, Sam the Record Man, founded by Sam Sniderman, is shutting down its flagship Toronto store at the end of June. I believe Sam’s was once the largest record retailer in Canada, with 130 stores across the country, including one next to A&B Sound on Seymour Street. That store [...]
Fraser MacPherson
Our BluesJust A Memory JAM 9163-2 Fraser MacPherson, tenor saxophoneCarse Sneddon, trumpet, valve tromboneChris Gage, pianoStan Johnson, bassJimmy Wightman, drums Our BluesBorn to be BlueWhisper Not‘Round MidnightLouisianaThemeCrazy RhythmSpring Can Really Hang You Up the MostWoody ‘n You‘Round MidnightSpeak Low Recorded in Vancouver BC, July 26, 1962 and January 31, 1963 The late Fraser MacPherson (1928-93) [...]
Mike Allen interview
I’ve enjoyed Mike Allen’s playing for many years, having heard him too many times to count, in the many and varied incarnations of his bands, plus his solo piano performances. I’ve also enjoyed many late-night, after-gig conversations with Mike over coffee or the occasional smoked meat sandwich. Mike’s alway had a lot of interesting things [...]
Fraser MacPherson Quintet release
Due for release next week (May 29), the Fraser MacPherson Quintet’s Our Blues is sure to be one of the best and most important albums to come out in Canada this year. Regular visitors to this site know the high regard, verging on reverence, that we have for MacPherson, who passed away almost fourteen years [...]
