[gusecrync]

[Ervntewc]

Considering there's only about ten buildings left in Vancouver that don't look like they were uncrated last week, I'd say that's cause for concern.

I'm looking forward to coming up there to play jazzfest. But I always have to brace myself for that first sight of Vancouver. First, there's the awe-inspiring beauty of the natural setting. Followed immediately by the horror of the butt-ugly architecture that has been inflicted on it by soul-less real estate weasels.

[CindyLavender]

It's funny...I never really knew what the word architecture meant until I started travelling.



The only thing that comes close to Vancouver (with it's endless souless boxes) is pre-2000 East Berlin. And that's not a compliment.

[VIAGRAENLINOBARATOCAMPRAR]

my heart... my heart ....

[gusecrync]

Quote:

[weaddercaps]

That is really too bad about the old Black Swan building and the great mural which remained there after it closed. It's also right across the street from the 1965 Sound Gallery, home of the Al Neil Trio:
http://www.greggsimpson.com/soundgal...tionstudio.htm

Speaking of architectural heritage, when my father's best building, the old Main Library on Robson, which he received a Govenor General's design award for, was torn down and rebuilt as a tacky, retro mockery in 1995, I felt
something had finished for me on the civic cultural level here.

The buildings made since the 1950's Modernist era of my father and his buddies, Berwick & Pratt, C.B.K. Van Norman and others, are mostly a travesty. We were once known for great architecture and now we're known for cheap, knock off post-Modernism. Someone called it the greatest collection of mediocre architecture anywhere.

Thanks for the rant. Since giving up letters to the editor, it's my only place to
address this issue. You can see the work of D.C. Simpson at www.greggsimpson.com/DCSimpson.htm

PS Al Neil used to go to my dad's office parties in the 50's. It was small scene back then.

[VIAGRAENLINOBARATOCAMPRAR]

Quote:

[Nemerov]

Quote:

[weaddercaps]

That's great that you checked out the site, Al. Glad you appreciate my dad's work. It's a bit of a segue from the Swan but any mention of 'heritage' send me into a frenzy.

Yes, the family home was in the Properties. I say 'was' because it was torn down by the idiots who bought it.
They're probably the same people who are 'developing' the 4th Ave block where the Swan was!

There is a small group who think Modernist architecture can also be heritage, but they usually lose out to the weasels who like money more than preserving our history.

Al, did we ever play together, or did our paths not cross during the past 40 years? I sure have heard about you and your music for years. Maybe in the '70's ?

[Nemerov]

Quote:

[weaddercaps]

Al, I have an older brother who went to West Van High, but no younger ones. I went to Hillside and Sentinel.
The house on the highway was designed by Wolfgang Gerson. His son Martin went to school with some of my friends at West Van High. He hung out with some friends who I later played music with.

Somehow everyone seemed to know everyone else back then. Like our French teacher at Sentinel, Tom Taylor, played jazz records for us at lunch hour. He had worked at the Post Office with Al Neil and knew his music from the Cellar. I joined Al at the end of my graduating year 1965.

I am sure we all have these interwoven stories in what was then a little village by the sea. It's a small world after all!

[VIAGRAENLINOBARATOCAMPRAR]

Quote:

[Solo3uc4]

Hey Nou ,

The neverly brothers? Please explain.

dc

[VIAGRAENLINOBARATOCAMPRAR]

Quote:

[gusecrync]

Quote: