Peter Choquette has passed

[Gregg Simpson]

Some of the old guard from Kits in the 60s will remember Peter Choquette, who passed away from liver problems on the 15th of this month. Pete lived for years at the Mudflats, near Maplewood. Though not a musician per se, he thought like a poet and philosopher. He actaually did play percussion with some of my groups in the 70s. He loved jazz, especially the farthest out high energy stuff like Coltrane with Pharaoh Sanders.

He was an avid fan of the Al Neil Trio at the Sound Gallery and Motion Studio (http://www.greggsimpson.com/soundgal...ionstudio.htm). His mom lived a couple of doors away from the Sound Gallery and ten years later, Pete opened the Half Moon Cafe in a storefront next door to the old studio.

There we created the Pan Pacific Cultural Research Society which put on concerts at the old legion at 4th and Traflagar (later Brian's concert venue). There he presented the Vancouver Sound Ensemble, with myself on drums, Bruce Freedman, tenor; Paul Plimley, piano and the late John Giordano, bass.

Peter's mere presence at a concert would raise the psychic energy level to a fever pitch. He was like a devotee of a pagan ecstasy cult and when he listened to your band, you wanted to take him to the stars.

Now he's out in the stars and will be missed, but he was a warrior to the very end. A very special fan and a very dear friend.

Gregg Simpson