Hugh Fraser (musician)

For other people named Hugh Fraser, see Hugh Fraser (disambiguation).

Hugh Alexander Fraser (born 1958) is a Canadian jazz musician known for his work as a pianist, trombonist and composer.[1]

Life and work

Born in Victoria, British Columbia, Fraser studied with Dave Robbins in Vancouver, Slide Hampton in New York, and Kenny Wheeler in London. After attending the Banff Centre as a student he began teaching there in 1986 and was appointed head of the jazz program in 1991. Fraser has held teaching appointments in jazz education at the Royal Academy of Music, the University of Ulster, University of Victoria, and the Victoria Conservatory of Music.

Performances

Early in his career, Fraser formed the Vancouver Ensemble of Jazz Improvisation (VEJI), a big band that went on to win the open class at the Canadian Stage Band Festival in 1981. The Hugh Fraser Quintet, a hard-bop band which drew members from VEJI, has toured widely and appeared frequently at Canadian and International jazz festivals. Fraser has performed with Jaki Byard, Clark Terry, Dizzy Gillespie, Maynard Ferguson, Billy Eckstine and many other well known jazz musicians.

Recordings

As leader, Fraser has recorded 17 albums. Recordings of the quintet won Juno Awards in 1989 (Looking Up) and 1998 (In the Mean Time). Fraser has appeared as a sideman on over 20 albums.

Compositions

Fraser has composed over 200 jazz works. Over 100 of his compositions have been recorded.

References

  1. ↑ King, B. N. (2008). Fraser, Hugh. Encyclopedia of Music in Canada. Historica Foundation of Canada.

External links


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