One year ago I launched Journeys to the Bandstand.

On Valentine’s Day, 2024, I presented the book at Brentwood Presbyterian in Burnaby, as part of the church’s weekly Jazz Evensong programmed by Rev. Dr. Brian Fraser. It was a wonderful way to release the book into the world, especially because Marcus Mosely – who I interviewed for my chapter on Ron Small – sang beautifully that night for the large audience.

So much has happened since then:

• I presented the book in nine enjoyable events, at jazz venues, festivals, and in one classroom with music students. Another event is coming up – see below. 
• Media coverage – traditional and digital – came from newspapers, radio, podcasts, and other online publications. A review was published recently – see below.
• I met many people who are passionate about jazz, and responded to my book with warmth and generosity. A total stranger even invited me to his home to listen to jazz and have tea. After I arrived at the person’s house, I silently/jokingly prayed that the person wasn’t a serial killer. He wasn’t, and it was another example of a meaningful interaction with a reader. 
• I steadily sold the book, which I self-published. It was incredibly daunting to have 500 books arrive at my house in February 2024. I asked myself: would I be stuck with boxes of books? At the events, through local bookstores (such as Book Warehouse, which featured my tome in their display window on Broadway, shown in the photo), and when meeting folks at cafes and elsewhere, the books gradually sold to the point where I have exactly 33 left. While I don’t have any plans to print more, the book is still available at stores including Neptoon Records and Book Warehouse/Black Bond Books, and on Amazon. See options for buying the book.

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The event coming up, on March 9, 2025 (1:30 pm), will be my first one outside of Metro Vancouver. At 40 Knots Winery in Comox on Vancouver Island, the great bassist Steve Wallace will lead a quartet. I will present the book between sets. I’m grateful that the Georgia Straight Jazz Society and Glen Sanford, Executive Director of the Comox Valley Art Gallery, made this happen. For more information, see my post for the event.

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Alexander Varty, the longtime music journalist, wrote a review published in BC Bookworld of two Vancouver jazz books: Fraser MacPherson: I Don’t Have to Go Anywhere—I’m Already Here by Guy MacPherson (a friend, who passed away just before his sublime book came out) and Journeys to the Bandstand.

What Varty wrote about my book wasn’t glowing. But that’s okay. I appreciate that he took the time to read both books, shine a light on our writing, and share his perspective.