Chris Gage

Chris (Christian Giesinger) Gage was born in Regina on December 12,1927. He began his career at seven as the pianist in a dance band, travelling in mid western Canada for some 15 years. He was heard on CKCK radio from Regina, and on the CBC from Winnipeg. Settling in Vancouver in 1949 Gage quickly became the city’s leading jazz pianist. Reportedly declining offers to tour with Louis Armstrong, Gerry Mulligan, and Peggy Lee, Gage remained in Vancouver until his death. He led the house band 1961-3 at the nightclub the Cave, starred on ‘Blues and a Ballad’ (1960), and appeared in such CBC TV series as ‘Meet Lorraine’ (1958, with Lorraine McAllister) and ‘Quintet’ and ‘Eleanor’ (1962 and 1964, both with Eleanor Collins). Although Gage did not record commercially, he appeared in 1951 on RCI transcriptions 57 and 58 with the guitarist Ray Norris and made CBC RM broadcast recordings (listed in the Canadian Jazz Discography) in the early 1960s with his own group and as a sideman Fraser MacPherson and Dave Robbins. These LPs, and air checks from CBC radio’s ‘Jazz Workshop,’ reveal a master jazz pianist whose percussive, rhythmically and harmonically advanced style was well ahead of its time. Gage was considered in his day to have been the only pianist in Canada to rival Oscar Peterson in technical proficiency. Gage is remembered especially for his sensitivity as an accompanist. Around the time of his death, he was playing piano and organ at the Quadra Club. Don (W.) Thompson, one of his sidemen for the engagement, later wrote For Chris Gage in his honour. Chris Gage died in North Vancouver on December 27 in 1964.