Biography
Bill Prouten is now into his sixth year as Woodwind Instructor at Keyano College. He is the Director of the Keyano Jazz Festival, held annually since 2003.
He holds a Masters Degree in Jazz Performance from the University of Southern California, a Bachelor of Music from McGill, and a Diploma in Jazz Studies from St. Francis Xavier University. He has studied saxophone and improvisation in a variety of educational settings with Bob Sheppard, David Liebman, Pat LaBarbera, Shelton Berg, Kevin Dean, Janis Steprans, and Gordon Foote.
Bill worked as a freelance musician and composer in Winnipeg, Montreal, Los Angeles, and Vancouver prior to moving to Fort McMurray in August of 2002. He has shared the stage in various contexts, with Bill Watrous, Dianne Shuur, Paquito D’Rivera, The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, David Liebman, Marvin Stamm, Jack Sheldon, Lanny Morgan, Louis Bellson, Buddy Childers, Carmine Bradford, Gerald Wilson, Ed Shaughnessy, Mike Vax, Qunicy Jones, Carl Fontana, Ira Nepus, Steve Turre, Bunky Green, Gabe Balthazar, and others.
He has twice been a member of Saxology Canada, a sax quartet based out of Winnipeg, and has written and arranged for that group.
His new cd, Low-down, No-good… is his first release, and a good introduction to his style of jazz. Please take some time and have a listen online. Then buy a copy for all your friends; they make great stocking stuffers!
