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A true "pioneer of Vancouver jazz" (qtd in Andrews), Lance Harrison devoted his life to music. Having left high school early in order to pursue a career as a musician, this talented multi-instrumentalist soon attracted attention as a sideman in the bands of Trevor Page, Sandy DeSantis, and Dal Richards. Following a stint playing in the dance and show bands of the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II, he pursued his passion for Dixieland jazz as the leader of his own ensemble, which included players like Stew Barnett and Don Clark on trumpet, Jack Fulton on trombone, Bud Henderson on piano and Stan Johnson on bass. Almost half a century later, he could still be found playing Dixie as a member of the group Red Beans and Rice, a 7-piece combo fronted by multi-instrumentalist Rice Honeywell.

I have always had a big thing for Dixie. It is a happy kind of music. Basic, sure, but it has a complete freedom about it. There is room for imagination, for invention. Instead of playing the way it is written you use the melody and the chord structure as a foundation. Then by building, you play the way you feel about the music. I guess I like it because it just feels good. —Lance Harrison

"One of our local greats who has steadfastly refused to be lured by the glitter of the musical gold mines south of the border."- Phil Matty

Harrison was a Vancouverite, heart and soul. He rarely played outside the city, with two notable exceptions being his participation in the 1971 CBC TV special "Journey to New Orleans: Impressions of a Canadian Jazzman" (see image below) and his performances with U.S. cornetist Wild Bill Davidson in Toronto and Ottawa in 1983. Rumors even spread that, due to his reluctance to leave Vancouver, Lance had at one point turned down an offer to join Louis Armstrong's band, "citing a reluctance to leave Vancouver." When questioned about this bit of community lore by M.R. Carroll, writer for the Georgia Straight, he replied, "That's an old story. He never asked me, but whenever Louis was in town, he'd come over for a spaghetti dinner at my place" (qtd. in Carroll).

AUDIO

Lance Harrison - "Coquette"

FOR MORE INFO

Lance Harrison Dixieland Sextet
(You Tube Video)