Acrpost: A Project of the Pacific Association of Artist Run Centres

Event Description

Interplay and communication is what Oliver Gannon and Bill Coon are all about as they play off each other and have a great time doing it!

The band’s critically acclaimed debut CD Two Much Guitar showcases the sparks that fly between these two guitarists and the conversational quality and intimacy the duo achieves in a live setting. Recently Two Much More! (Cellar Live June 2015) has received even more favourable reviews as the band just keeps evolving.

Bill Coon, a Juno nominated was awarded Jazz Guitarist of the Year in 2009 while Juno award winner Oliver Gannon was chosen Jazz Guitarist of the Year in 2003.

While the group showcases the two virtuoso guitarists, acoustic bassist Darren Radtke and drummer Dave Robbins round out the quartet and add their own incredible supportive and soloing talents to the powerful combination of talent.

A mixture of classic standards and originals from Coon and Gannon are performed with verve, wit and spontaneity. Although you will hear influences Wes Montgomery, Jim Hall, and Grant Green, this band has a sound all its own.

BILL COON
Leader, Guitarist, Composer, Arranger
Website: billcoon.com
Facebook: Bill Coon

BIO
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’.

He has been performing professionally for over thirty years and has performed with numerous significant jazz artists including Jimmy Heath, Chuck Israels, Eddie Daniels, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Bucky Pizzarelli, Sheila Jordan, Hugh Fraser, P.J. Perry, Campbell Ryga, Ian McDougall, Phil Dwyer, Dave Restivo, Carol Welsman, Fred Stride, and Dee Daniels.

Among Bill’s more than fifty recordings are Scudder’s Groove featuring Juno award winners Ross Taggart and Dave Robbins, and With Benefits with Cory Weeds, Lewis Nash and Peter Washington. A recording 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, as was Jill Townsend Big Band’s Legacy, The Music of Ross Taggart, a tribute to the great Ross Taggart that features Bill’s playing and large ensemble writing. Bill’s most recent collaborations are with LA-based singer-songwriter Kristina Olsen, Sweet Stillness and Arrival a trio recording with vocalist Jennifer Scott and bassist Rene Worst. His newest recording as a leader is Departure (Cellar Live) by the BC Double Quartet featuring Brad Turner and Cameron Wilson and has received funding from The Canada Council for the Arts.

Bill is busy performing with and composing for Brasiliera, Triology, (with Miles Black and Jodi Proznick), Laura Crema, Tony Wilson-Bill Coon Quartet, Kate Hammett-Vaughan, Steve Maddock, Michael Creber, Mike Allen, Kevin Elaschuk, and the Minemoto/Coon/Danderfer Trio, as well as many others!

Bill is also a nationally renowned composer-arranger. His arrangements for symphony orchestra appear on the new epic double CD recording True North: The Canadian Songbook with Eleanor McCain. He has been commissioned to write for The National Arts Centre Orchestra, the Norwegian Radio Orchestra, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, the Woody Herman Jazz Band, Jill Townsend Jazz Orchestra, and John Korsrud’s Hard Rubber Orchestra. Bill's musical partnership with jazz vocalist Denzal Sinclaire created the Juno nominated CD, I Found Love. Bill’s association with hip-hop artist K-os resulted in a collaboration with the CBC Radio Orchestra documented in the CBC television show Burning to Shine, and his arranging is featured on the Juno award winning CD Joyful Rebellion.

He has won awards and commissions from the BC Arts Council, the Socan Foundation, and has received several Canada Council Arts Awards enabling him to study with Jim Hall, Dr. Louis Stewart, Neil Chotem and Rick Wilkins.

Bill is an adjudicator and clinician at music festivals and workshops throughout Canada, including the VSO School of Music Summer Jazz Workshop and the BC Swing Workshop in Sorrento, BC. He is on faculty at Capilano University in North Vancouver, teaching arranging, composition, jazz history, small and large ensembles, and jazz guitar.

Oliver Gannon________________


Jazz guitarist, Oliver Gannon, has been very active in the Vancouver and Canadian jazz scenes since the early 1970's. In 2003, Oliver was elected ‘Jazz Guitarist of the Year’ by the Canadian Jazz Awards. He has performed at many of the major jazz festivals in Europe and North America and has made three concert tours of the former USSR. He has performed on many jazz records, including four on the Concord label. A duo album recorded in 1982 with long standing colleague, tenor saxophonist Fraser MacPherson, won the Juno Award (the Canadian Grammy) for best jazz album.
He currently performs with the following groups: The Oliver Gannon Quartet (with Miles Black, Miles Hill and Blaine Wikjord). The Oliver Gannon/Patty Hervey Quartet (with Al Wold and John Nolan), The Ian McDougall Sextet and the Oliver Gannon and Bill Coon Qt.

He has performed at the following Jazz Festivals in Europe and North America:
MONTREAUX Jazz Festival, Switzerland, 1979, NORTH SEA Jazz Festival, Holland, 1979
CONCORD Jazz Festival, California, 1981, MONTREAL Jazz Festival, Canada 1982, 1984, 1995, 1997
TORONTO, Jazz Festival, Canada 1986, 1989, 1995, 1998, and other Canadian Jazz Festivals.
3 Tours of RUSSIA with the Fraser MacPherson Quartet, 1978, 1984 & 1986

Records/ CDs:
“Two Much Guitar”, The Oliver Gannon and Bill Coon Qt. with Darren Radke and Dave Robbins, Cellar Live (2006)
“That’s What”, The Oliver Gannon Qt. with Miles Black, Miles Hill and Blaine Wikjord, Cellar Live (2005)
“Live at the Cellar”, The Oliver Gannon Qt. with Miles Black, Miles Hill and Blaine Wikjord, Cellar Live (2002)
(available from www.cellarlive.com )
* with others:
“In a Sentimental Mood”, The Ian McDougall Sextet, Barbarian Records (2005)
“Nights in Vancouver”, The Ian McDougall Sextet, Celllar Live (2003)
“To Swing or not to Swing”, The Donnie Clark Quintet, Silver Lake Records (2002)
“Burning the House Down”, The Ian McDougall Sextet (2001) (Ph. 250 – 477-9565)
"Jazz Vancouver", (with various groups, including The OG Quartet) Justin Time Records, 1999
"Dry With a Twist", The Ian McDougall Sextet, Fusion III Records, 1999
"Ross Taggart & Co", Boathouse Records, 1998
“The Warmth of the Horn”, Concord Records, 1996 with the Ian McDougall Quartet
“The Guitar Mastery of Ed Bickert, DSM2–3004, 1996 with Ed Bickert
“Tribute”, Focus Records, 1994 with the George Robert Quintet
"Oliver Gannon and Company", What It Be Records, 1989 with Campbell Ryga
"Good Stuff", Unison Records, 1988 (with Charles Mountford)
"RIO", 1988 and "Three", Innovation Records, 1976 (with Ian McDougall and Ron Johnston)
and other jazz recordings
* with Fraser MacPherson:
"Live at the Planetarium", Concord Records 1978 (Stereo Review pick of the month)
"Live from Montreaux", CBC Records, 1979 (on 'Jazz Canada-Europe '79 record set)
“I Didn’t Know About You", Sackville Records (Juno Award winner for 1982)
“Indian Summer", Concord Records, 1983 (with Steve Wallace and Jake Hanna)
"Honey and Spice", Justin Time Records, 1987 (with Steve Wallace and John Sumner)
"Encore", 1990 Justin Time Records (with Steve Wallace and John Sumner)
"In the Tradition", 1992 Concord Records (with Steve Wallace and John Sumner)
“Someday You’ll Be Sorry” DSM 3003, 1996 with the Fraser MacPherson Trio

Email: ogannon@shaw.ca
Web page: www.olivergannon.com other links: www.cellarlive.com www.vancouverjazz.com
Phone: 604-535-4618. FAX 604-535-4620. 2781 McKenzie Ave. White Rock, BC, Canada V4A 3H5