Fraser MacPherson, jazz legend, honoured at 40th anniversary concert

Guitarist Oliver Gannon remembers vividly the night he performed with Vancouver jazz legend and saxophonist Fraser MacPherson at the 1975 concert, Live at the Planetarium.

"We were supposed to start at eight at the Planetarium, and there was no Wyatt Ruther — our bass player hadn't shown up," Gannon said in an interview with Hot Air's Margaret Gallagher.

"Fraser said to me, 'It might just be you and me, kid, tonight.' Around that time, Wyatt came in and we managed to do it."

The concert was released as the album, Live at the Planetarium. The album gained international attention and propelled MacPherson's band, the Fraser MacPherson Trio, onto the world stage.

Now, 40 years later, the HR MacMillan Space Centre will celebrate the anniversary of the release of the album with a special concert featuring some of British Columbia's finest jazz musicians. Proceeds from the concert will go towards a scholarship fund established in MacPherson's name.

Gannon and others will play selections from the 1975 recording not only to honour the album, but to pay tribute to MacPherson, who was known in Vancouver as a resident band leader at local nightclubs. He had worked with world renowned musicians such as Tony Bennett and Ella Fitzgerald before he died in 1993.

"[MacPherson] never had a bad day — it was like watching a golfer who was just on all the time," said Gannon. "Wyatt and myself would have our ups and downs, but he was really consistent and he played really melodically."

The concert will take place at 7 p.m. PT at  the HR MacMillan Space Centre on Mar. 20.