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Liner Notes from “IN THE MEAN TIME” The Hugh Fraser Quintet:
“I regard Hugh Fraser as a genius. Anything that he’s involved in has to be
good. If you want a really great musical experience, buy this CD”
Slide Hampton
New York, 1997

Liner Notes from “Red & Blue” The Hugh Fraser Quintet:
Throughout my years in the beautiful world called music, it has been my good
fortune and pleasure to have associated with some of the most talented musicians in the
world. Musicians who through the sheer power of their dedication to good taste, truth
and honesty, were able to inspire others to great heights.

Without hesitation I consider Hugh Fraser (trombonist/pianist/composer per
excellence) to be one of these musicians. Whether as a performer and/or a composer I
am always pleasantly surprised and inspired by Hugh’s original approach to his music.
Muhal Richard Abrams
New York, 1995

Liner Notes from “PAS DE PROBLEMES” The Hugh Fraser Quintet:
It”s early evening on a summer Sunday here at the Banff Centre in Banff,
Alberta and as I watch the day come to a close in this beautiful part of the world I listen
to a tape of Hugh’s quintet, and the passion and sincerity of his music fill the room.
I first met Hugh here in the middle of the winter of 1983 when he and his group
were taking a residency at the Centre, rehearsing and developing music. Since then it’s
given me great joy to watch his music grow and blossom and be shared with audiences
in many parts of the world.

Hugh’s optimism and enthusiasm combined with his exceptional talent both as a
composer/arranger and performer have made him a rallying point and focus around
which many talented players have gathered. He has that rare ability for leadership
which gives direction without restricting the individual expression of the people who
work with him.

This present group combines the talents of some of Canada’s most gifted
musicians and together they evoke a full range of emotions from the listener. Enjoy
Dave HollandLiner Notes from “Red & Blue” The Hugh Fraser Quintet
Throughout my years in the beautiful world called music, it has been my good
fortune and pleasure to have associated with some of the most talented musicians in the
world. Musicians who through the sheer power of their dedication to good taste, truth
and honesty, were able to inspire others to great heights.
Without hesitation I consider Hugh Fraser (trombonist/pianist/composer per
excellence) to be one of these musicians. Whether as a performer and/or a composer I
am always pleasantly surprised and inspired by Hugh’s original approach to his music.
Muhal Richard Abrams
New York, 1995

Liner Notes from ”Looking Up”, The Hugh Fraser Quintet:
In the fall of 1981, I received a call from Michael Century of the Banff Centre
asking me to spend a week coaching a student jazz band from Vancouver called “The
Vancouver Ensemble of Jazz Improvisation” (VEJI for short). I was told that the band
was led by a person named Hugh Fraser, who was a fine pianist, trombonist and
composer. Michael went on to try and describe the music and finally said, “You might
want to hear a tape.” The tape arrived and I was knocked out. They were all definitely
fine musicians, but what really struck me was the spirit of the music. It was free, far
out, humorous, serious, exciting, swinging, sometimes gentle, sometimes explosively
chaotic, but always positive and always beautiful.

When I arrived in Banff to meet the band and Hugh, I began to understand
where all this music was coming from. Hugh Fraser is much more than a gifted
musician who plays piano and trombone and writes tunes. He is a person who is so
passionately obsessed with music, it’s as though he’s in love with it. He simply has to
know all there is to know about it. He has to experience all kinds of music - jazz,
classical music, church music - it’s all of great importance to him. In addition to this,
Hugh is a person possessed with an endless supply of positive energy and he seems to
energize anyone who is lucky enough to be around him.

On this recording, the people around him need very little energizing. Campbell
Ryga and Phil Dwyer are two of the most exciting saxophonists on the West Coast, and
with Phil we get the added bonus of his piano playing which allows Hugh to play
trombone. The band is rounded out by the first class rhythm team of Chris Nelson on
bass and Buff Allen on drums.

This exciting music played by some of Canada’s finest musicians. Vancouver’s
jazz community should be very proud of Hugh Fraser and his band.
They are indeed, a positive force.
Don Thompson
Toronto, Ontario 1988