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Residency

Bill Coon

Courtesy of Bill Coon.

Bill Coon was the recipient of the 2009 National Jazz Awards, Guitarist of the Year. He leads several of his own groups including the BC Double Quartet whose recording, Departure with Brad Turner on trumpet and violinist Cameron Wilson was nominated for a 2019 Western Canadian Music Award. He is featured on three Western Canadian Music Award winning recordings, most recently the recording Jasmine Jazz, winner of the Best Instrumental Recording of 2023. He has performed with Jimmy Heath, Peter Bernstein, Eddie Daniels, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Lewis Nash, Peter Washington, Lorne Lofsky, Sheila Jordan, Jiggs Whigham, Hugh Fraser, P.J. Perry, Grant Stewart, Pat Bianchi, and Rebecca Kilgore.

Coon is well-known for his many collaborations, most recently recordings with vocalist Sienna Dahlen Balladextrous (Cellar Music), and Laura Crema, StringSongs, featuring Peggy Lee and Jon Bentley. Upcoming recordings include a solo guitar album in late 2024 on Cellar Music. He performs regularly with Triology (Miles Black and Jodi Proznick), Oliver Gannon, Campbell Ryga, Cory Weeds, Steve Kaldestad, John Gross, Tom Keenlyside, and Sharon Minemoto.

His compositions and arrangements for large ensembles include Jill Townsend Jazz Orchestra, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, National Arts Centre Orchestra, Cory Weeds 11-piece ensemble, and Altsys Jazz Orchestra. Coon has collaborated with jazz vocalist Denzal Sinclaire on the Juno nominated CD, I Found Love, and with hip-hop artist K-os on his Juno award-winning CD Joyful Rebellion.

Among his many grants and commissions, Coon has received Canada Council Arts Awards to study with guitarists Jim Hall, Dr. Louis Stewart, and arranger-composers Neil Chotem, Rick Wilkins. He is a faculty member of the Jazz Studies department at Capilano University in North Vancouver, teaching composition, large ensemble arranging, improvisation, jazz ensembles, jazz history and private guitar lessons.