Having had first-hand access to French culture, JP describes how he was raised similarly to the way people in the United States were raised, with the only difference being that he was raised speaking French. For JP, it was hard to miss the American influence on the Canadian way of life. Like the United States, Canada also developed an obsession with consumerism as large shopping centers and Walmart-like spaces began to emerge. Deriving out of America’s desire for comfort, stores in Quebec City stayed open late during the night. The United States’ work ethic had also reached Canada, as JP began working at the young age of 12, mowing lawns and working at a record store to learn the value of hard-earned money. JP’s 40% employee discount at the record store had helped him start a small music collection, that of course, included jazz.
The 70s and 80s, JP recalls, were eras that exuded freedom, calmness, and rock. As his nostalgia puts it, these two decades “were a totally different time.” In fact, it was in the 1980s, when JP first discovered jazz over the radio on a Spring Sunday morning. French-Italian jazz violinist, Stephane Grappelli (1908-1997) captured his attention at that particular moment in time. It was the right time, right place, right jazz station sort of scenario. Unsurprisingly from witnessing how passionate JP is about jazz in class, he tells me that he goes all in when he becomes interested in a topic; JP became crazy about jazz. Soon, JP was asking his fellow jazz-loving uncle to lend him some records to listen to. And when Stephane Grappelli came to perform in Quebec City, JP attended the concert with his dad. JP even wrote to the radio station host:
Dear radio station host,
I love your program.Pages
