Many of you won't know who he is, but in Canada, he is probably the most highly regarded jazz musician. He played the trombone, the piano and drums, was the leader of a number of jazz groups, and a prolific composer.
But this is a personal story. Some of you know that David played the trombone. He played in the Salt Spring Island Orchestra, but his joy was playing in Swing Shift, the jazz group on the Island. Hugh Fraser was out of Victoria, but came to Salt Spring one summer to give master classes to Swing Shift. David was thrilled at the prospect of learning to improvise, something he had never done. They all loved Hugh, and felt like they learned so much.
By this time, David was already sick with the cancer which would shortly kill him. But he desparately wanted to do his trombone solo in the upcoming concert. And he did. I saw Hugh with his hands on his trombone, ready to take over if needs be. But he didn't have to, and David was brilliant.
It was his last concert.
I went to one of Hugh's concerts in Victoria several years after David's death. I went back stage to tell him how much his time on Salt Spring had meant to David. When he asked after David's health, and I told him that he had died, Hugh burst into tears - as, of course, did I.
Hugh Fraser died on Wednesday of cancer. He was 62. I am hugely saddened, but grateful to have this wonderful memory of his musicality and his generosity of spirit.
But this is a personal story. Some of you know that David played the trombone. He played in the Salt Spring Island Orchestra, but his joy was playing in Swing Shift, the jazz group on the Island. Hugh Fraser was out of Victoria, but came to Salt Spring one summer to give master classes to Swing Shift. David was thrilled at the prospect of learning to improvise, something he had never done. They all loved Hugh, and felt like they learned so much.
By this time, David was already sick with the cancer which would shortly kill him. But he desparately wanted to do his trombone solo in the upcoming concert. And he did. I saw Hugh with his hands on his trombone, ready to take over if needs be. But he didn't have to, and David was brilliant.
It was his last concert.
I went to one of Hugh's concerts in Victoria several years after David's death. I went back stage to tell him how much his time on Salt Spring had meant to David. When he asked after David's health, and I told him that he had died, Hugh burst into tears - as, of course, did I.
Hugh Fraser died on Wednesday of cancer. He was 62. I am hugely saddened, but grateful to have this wonderful memory of his musicality and his generosity of spirit.
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