Vancouver Guitarist Bill Coon will perform as guest artist for the Jazz Is Society of Alberta with the Resident Artists Ensemble of the Jazz Is Society (RAEJIS) Friday and Saturday March 26 and 27, 2010. Mr. Coon was elected Guitarist of the Year in Canada at the 2009 National Jazz Awards.
 
Members of RAEJIS that will be accompanying Mr. Coon are: Allistair Elliott, trumpet; Pat Belliveau, saxophone; John Hyde, bass; John De Waal, drums.

Juno nominated guitarist / composer /arranger Bill Coon is one of Canada’s most highly respected and sought after musicians. He has been performing professionally for over twenty-five years and has worked with numerous jazz artists including Jimmy Heath, Louis Stewart, Chuck Israels, Eddie Daniels, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Campbell Ryga, Brad Turner, PJ Perry, Fred Stride, Denzal Sinclaire, Karin Plato and Dee Daniels. His quartet performed at the Orpheum, opening for Dave Brubeck during the Vancouver International Jazz Festival.
 
He is a member of the Jill Townsend Big Band <http://www.jilltownsend.com/> , Wow Jazz Orchestra and the Brazilian Choro group Gostosinho. Bill released the critically acclaimed CD, Speakeasy with his quartet featuring Juno award winners Ross Taggart and Dave Robbins and more recently teamed up with legendary guitarist Oliver Gannon on a Cellar Live release entitled Two Much Guitar.