It’s been claimed to be North America’s first International Jazz Festival. In a city of only half a million. Festival founder Marc Vasey talks about how Edmonton, Alberta, Canada became known as ‘jazz city’. And he talks about some of the challenges and inspiring moments from those early years of 1980 to 1983.

Some of the stories include:

-How Chet Baker had to be locked into his hotel room.

-How an opening night disaster was transformed into an amazing beginning for the festival.

-How playing in a circus tent affected John McLaughlin’s mood.

-A surprise from Etta James.

I also play some great music by some of the the amazing artists who came to that festival. You’ll hear Sonny Rollins, James Blood Ulmer, Joe Pass, John McLaughlin, Chet Baker, Kenny Wheeler, McCoy Tyner, and Etta James.

And the photo? Could be entitled “LarryTheRadioGuy gives John McLaughlin some guitar tuning tips :). Photo by Patrick Hinely., 1982.

IMPORTANT NOTE: A couple corrections:

(1) Marc advised that Joe Pass did NOT put together the ensemble who replaced Oscar Peterson due to his cancellation….although he was a part of it. More information on that concert and the first Jazz City festival in Episode 252.

(2) The piano player who was part of the band that was abandoned and ripped off by Stan Getz at the 1984 festival was NOT Jim McNeeley. Marc remembers it being a man named George from Chicago.