May 17th 2018 at 7:30pm

Bill Coon Trio

Members $10, non-members $12

Last December the Bill Coon trio performed at the Tangent Cafe in Vancouver. This was the first time in 45 years that John Hyde had a chance to play with Buff Allen, who was his mentor in the dark ages at Grant MacEwan college, when John was a student there.

Although the three have common experience playing with many well-known jazz artists including Hugh Fraser and Brad Turner, this will be the only their second time performing together after a very successful foray in Vancouver.

Juno nominated artist Bill Coon is one of Canada's most highly respected musicians and is winner of the 2009 National Jazz Awards, 'Guitarist of the Year'. Performing professionally for over thirty years, he has played with many significant jazz artists including Jimmy Heath, Chuck Israels, Eddie Daniels, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Dee Daniels, and Rebecca Kilgore. Among Bill's more than fifty recordings are Speakeasy, and Scudder's Groove featuring Juno award winners Ross Taggart and Dave Robbins, With Benefits with Cory Weeds, Lewis Nash and Peter Washington. His collaboration with award-winning guitarist Oliver Gannon: Two Much More! was acclaimed as one of the top ten Canadian jazz recordings of 2015 by the CBC. He also appears on award-winning recordings by The Night Crawlers and the Big Band Sound, Down in the Bottom and Calgary guitarist Ralf Buschmeyer's, Jazzspeak.

Bill is busy performing with and composing for the BC Double Quartet featuring Brad Turner, Brasiliera with Jennifer Scott and Rene Worst, Triology, with Miles Black and Jodi Proznick, Oliver Gannon, Laura Crema, and Cory Weeds Quartet. He is also an adjudicator and clinician at music festivals and workshops throughout Canada, including the VSO School of Music and Summer Jazz Workshop and the BC Swing Workshop in Sorrento BC. He is on faculty at Capilano University in North Vancouver, teaching composition, arranging, jazz history, small and large ensembles, and jazz guitar.

Juno nominee and award winner Buff Allen is new to our stage, but very long in his professional drumming career. As he says, "Forty-nine years of professional playing experience (and still can't get it right.)" His career includes 8 years in Toronto with some of Canada's finest jazz musicians, including Ed Bickert, the late Moe Koffman, Rob McConnell, Sam Noto, and Eugene Amaro. This was followed by 20 years back in Vancouver with artists such as Diana Krall, the late Paul Horn, Pat Coleman, Sal Ferreras, Oliver Gannon, Fraser Mcpherson, Ron Johnston, Tom Banks, and Hugh Fraser. We're honoured to welcome Buff to our stage.

Finally, John Hyde - our very own fabulous bass player - who really needs no further introduction to jazz supporters in Comox Valley. We would like to express our thanks to John for bringing together an act of this quality to Thursday Night Jazz.

You're encouraged to get to The Avalanche a little early - this is bound to be a popular show. For more information about the jazz society, please visit www.georgiastraightjazz.com.

GSJS showcases jazz live in the Comox Valley, giving music lovers an opportunity to enjoys local, regional and internationally-known jazz musicians.