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The Fraser MacPherson Quintet
Jazz Prose
Concord Jazz - 1985
Mike Milner
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This delightful record was a live recording from the Concord Pavilion in - naturally - Concord, California. Fraser MacPherson, a tenor saxophone player from Vancouver BC, eventually found a home on the Concord Jazz label and released a small number of albums there (in addition to many on other labels like CBC Radio Canada and Sackville Recordings).
Jazz Prose features three Canadian jazz luminaries (MacPherson, along with guitarist Ed Bickert and bassist Steve Wallace) plus two well-known American jazz musicians (Dave McKenna on piano and Jake Hanna on drums). The music is classic Concord Jazz - that is, inspired renditions of jazz standards both well known and obscure. The quality of the recording is excellent, with a distinct balance between all of the instruments. MacPherson's style, based more on swing than bop, is reminiscent of Zoot Sims or, more recently, Scott Hamilton. Never in a hurry, he negotiates melodies adroitly and solos with aplomb. As an added treat, Bickert's skills are featured prominently on a cut called 'Happy Man', with MacPherson laying out, while McKenna displays his solo piano stylings on 'I'll Never Be the Same'.
The recording took place in August of 1984 at the Concord Jazz Festival. Jazz Prose was only ever released on vinyl (with pressings in Canada, the US and Germany). I picked up my used copy at Alleycats Music and Art in Orillia ON, but the whole album has been uploaded to YouTube.
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