A leading figure on the Canadian jazz scene trombonist-bandleader Hugh Fraser has died. Cause of death is unknown. But Fraser had been battling cancer since 2017. See the CBC site for more details. Hugh, son of Ken Fraser a percussionist with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra in the 1930s, studied with trombonist Dave Robbins at the Vancouver Community College in 1979-80 and later at the Creative Music Studio in Woodstock, NY. In 1986 he began teaching trombone and arranging at the Banff Jazz Workshop, and in 1991 was appointed head of the jazz program there. He formed the 13 member Vancouver Ensemble of Jazz Improvisation (VEJI) in 1980 and later the Hugh Fraser Quintet which won the Concours de jazz Alcan at the 1987 Montreal Jazz Festival and Looking Up received the Juno award for jazz recording of the year in 1988.