More Bobby Hales

Here's the Bobby Hales Big Band again from their 1976 TV special hosted by Monty McFarlane. It's a Hales arrangement of "Watch What Happens" and features Fraser MacPherson on the tenor solo.

Once again, here's the line-up, left to right. Trumpets: Blaine Tringham, Laurie Sayler, Stew Barnett, Carse Sneddon, Don Clark. Trombones: Sharman King, Mike Revely, Bob Hamper, Bill Trussel. Saxes: Al Wold, Wally Snider, Dave Quarin, Jack Stafford, Fraser MacPherson. The rhythm section is: Bobby Doyle (piano), Oliver Gannon (guitar), Tony Clitheroe (bass), George Ursan (drums), percussionist Kenny Moore. Hales is conducting on this number but also plays trumpet and flugelhorn.

Rob McConnell

The recent death of Rob McConnell inspired me to head to the video closet and dig out some old VHS tapes I had. McConnell, of course, is best known for his Grammy Award-winning big band, the Boss Brass. What I've got for you is two clips from a Canadian all-star show at Otter Crest, Oregon, in May of 1989. McConnell, always the funnyman as well as brilliant musician, is in full force here both comedically as well as musically.

The line-up consists of McConnell on valve trombone, Fraser MacPherson on tenor sax, Ed Bickert on guitar, Oliver Jones on piano, Don Thompson on bass, and Terry Clarke on drums.

I've got more footage from that festival from other groups that I'll be putting up in the weeks to come.

"How Deep Is The Ocean?"

"Crazy Rhythm"

Fraser MacPherson Quartet, 1991

Jazz impressario Willi Germann recently gave me a recording he made of Fraser MacPherson at the Vancouver International Jazz Festival, recorded at the BC Pavilion at the Plaza of Nations in 1991. Considering he just sat in the audience and filmed on a little hand-held camera, it's pretty good quality. Here's the quartet, featuring MacPherson on tenor sax, Oliver Gannon on guitar, Torben Oxbol on bass, and Norm Jeffries on drums. The tune is There Is No Greater Love.

"There Is No Greater Love"

Bobby Hales Big Band, 1976

I have great memories of the Bobby Hales Big Band. The Hales band used to play the PNE every day when I was a kid. When visiting my dad, who was in the band, we got to go hang out at the fair and I loved sitting and watching the group. They were the coolest. They also released a great album called One of My Bags, which, unfortunately, has never been re-released on CD. That's okay. I still have the vinyl. In 1976, the CBC put this band on the air. For an hour, yet! Can you imagine that today? At least we've got clips. I hope to get more up from this special soon.

Here's the line-up, left to right. Trumpets: Blaine Tringham, Laurie Sayler, Stew Barnett, Carse Sneddon (solo), Don Clark. Trombones: Sharman King, Mike Revely, Bob Hamper, Bill Trussel. Saxes: Al Wold, Wally Snider (solo), Dave Quarin, Jack Stafford, Fraser MacPherson. The rhythm section is: Bobby Doyle (piano), Oliver Gannon (guitar), Tony Clitheroe (bass), George Ursan (drums), percussionist Kenny Moore. Hales is conducting on this number but also plays trumpet and flugelhorn.

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