Gavin Walker, longtime host of The Jazz Show on CiTR 101.9 FM, conducted a live interview with me about Journeys to the Bandstand for the radio show.

At the beginning of the interview, Gavin introduced me this way: “A wonderful gentleman who has toiled and agonized for many years and now given birth to a very, very important book that is a wonderful document about Vancouver.” Gavin on the book’s unique approach of focusing on individual artists while also conveying history of Vancouver’s jazz scene: “That’s what makes this book particularly unique and worthwhile reading.”

Gavin, a saxophonist who is in his 40th year of hosting The Jazz Show, also played tunes from a rare unreleased live recording of the iconic Art Pepper performing with a great Vancouver rhythm section: pianist Chris Gage, bassist Stan “Cuddles Johnson, and drummer Jimmy Wightman. I received the music, recorded live at Vancouver’s original Cellar jazz club in 1959, from Dave Quarin. When Quarin was the Cellar’s manager, he recorded the music and kept it for himself for years until I arrived at his doorstep.

I wrote about the recording in the book. I also interviewed Gavin extensively for various chapters in the book. Listen to the interview and music that aired on The Jazz Show.  

Photo of Gavin Walker at CiTR, February 26, 2024, by Chris Wong.