Fisherman's Wharf 3

Fisherman's Wharf is a multi-media experience and part of that is the music. There's almost always one of our local musicians performing somewhere on the wharf. I was lucky to catch Jean Bedard's cool guitar stylings when I was last down there. (As a photographer I was also lucky to catch him without the crowd that is usually surrounding him.)

Jean Bedard

Here's another Causeway veteran, guitarist Jean Bedard. He's pictured here on the Causeway though he is more often found on Fisherman's Wharf. Jean specializes in intricate, jazzy arrangements of popular music. His thoughtful, accomplished playing makes for easy listening.

Victoria in Black and White 3 - Fisherman's Wharf

Here's a bunch of people enjoying their lunch on Fisherman's Wharf and not realizing they are being entertained by a truly amazing guitarist, Jean Bedard. Next time you pass a street performer, stop and listen, really listen - chances are you will be surprised at the quality of what you are hearing. Don't feel shy to leave a tip. Even superb musicians have to eat.

Swan Song

			The musicians pictured here gathered together on Thursday afternoon to hold a concert on Victoria's Inner Harbour Causeway. The concert was to bid farewell to a long-time musician on the Causeway, Swan Walker. Swan is moving to Toronto and the proceeds of the concert were aimed at helping to defray his moving expenses. Swan's energetic reggae and calypso influenced music will be much missed here.

The video below captures some of the session, which ran for two hours.

Jean Bedard

There's a wide variety of musicians performing in the streets and downtown tourist venues. Generally, however, the best are those who live here and who scrape a living doing what they love to do, performing for the public in the open air. I haven't met a rich busker yet but none of them are beggars. In fact, most of them give far more than they receive. Jean Bedard (above) is a good example. Here he is performing on the Inner Harbour Causeway. When I sit down and listen to Jean I'm always amazed that such artistry is so freely given away to casual passersby. Take a listen to "Lay Down by the Water" and you'll hear what I mean. You can find out more about Jean HERE
"Lay Down by the Water" was written by Jack Williams.

Concentration

On Sunday while Dean Lewis was drawing my caricature (see previous post) I was also able to listen to some musical artistry from a little further up the causeway, the superb guitar stylings of Jean Bedard. He's another example of an artist whose performances you should plan to catch if you're visiting (or living) in Victoria. Jean's a quiet performer but if you slow down, stop, sit down, tune out the traffic noises and listen, you will be amply rewarded by his immaculate technique and sensitive interpretations. Buy one of his CDs to remind you of summer when next winter comes. Jean's not always on the Inner Harbour Causeway - often he plays at Fisherman's Wharf. To find out when and where he (or any other Causeway Artist) is playing, check the playlist schedule on the Causeway Artists website by clicking here. Below is a sample of Jean's playing and singing. "Lay Down by the Water" played by Jean Bedard

Juan Francisco Bodega y Quadra

On Belleville Street overlooking the Inner Harbour just west of the Legislative Assembly Buildings is a small park called Quadra Park. It commemorates the Spanish-American explorer and administrator whose bust is pictured above, Juan Francicsco Bodega y Quadra. The park and bust are a recognition that this island when first named by Europeans (Vancouver and Quadra, in agreement) was called Quadra's and Vancouver's Island. As British power and presence in the area increased and Spanish influence lessened the name became shortened to Vancouver Island. The Nuu-chah-nulth, long-time inhabitants of the area of greatest concern to Europeans at the time, Nootka Sound, don't appear to have been consulted.

Quadra is pictured above because he explored the western coastline of Vancouver Island in 1775, several years before the voyages of Captains Cook and Vancouver. He is thus one of the earliest captains of a tall-masted sailing ship to visit these shores and brings us one step closer to the Tall Ships Festival, coming to Victoria and this blog during the next week.

UPDATE: Jean Bedard
Yesterday when I was down at Fisherman's Wharf searching for some nautical subjects I met again Jean Bedard, who was featured earlier this year on this blog when he was auditioning for a license to busk in Victoria. He now performs regularly on Fisherman's Wharf. With his sound system set up he is now even more of a pleasure to listen to than when he was auditioning. He tells me that there is a CD in preparation so I may soon be able to share a little more of his song stylings with visitors to this blog.

Jean Bedard - Musician

The Inner Harbour Causeway has become such popular (and lucrative) venue for buskers and musicians that performers must now audition before they are granted licenses. This musician's name is Jean Bedard. You can get some idea of his music from the video below, although the sound quality is poor (I'm working on it!) I take this opportunity to thank Jean for his permission to use this photo. I hope he gets his license because I'd like to hear more.