Born: May 11, 1969 Primary Instrument: Trombone
Trombonist William Carn has emerged as one of Canada’s leading contemporary jazz composers and performers. He has performed and recorded with jazz artists such as Rob McConnell, Randy Brecker, David Binney, Kenny Wheeler, Barry Harris, Carla Bley, Steve Swallow, Kevin Mahogany, Mike Murley, Hilario Duran, Andrew Downing, Bernie Senensky, Don Thompson, and Phil Dwyer. His debut release, Other Stories, was nominated for a 2007 Juno Award as Traditional Jazz Album of the Year. He has also been nominated for Trombonist of the Year at the National Jazz Awards from 2004 to 2007.
As a bandleader, William currently leads the William Carn Quintet, featuring some of Canada’s finest musicians. The group includes Kelly Jefferson, saxophones; David Braid, piano; Kieran Overs, bass; and Anthony Michelli, drums. The group will be releasing their follow-up recording, Lessons Learned in the spring of 2007 and with the generous support of the Canada Council for the Arts, will be supporting it with a 14-city tour, which will take them across Canada.
The William Carn Quintet’s has performed all across Canada as well as headlining at the Beaches International Jazz Festival in Toronto.
William also enjoys a diverse freelance career in Toronto having worked with classical ensembles like the Niagara Brass Quintet, musicals including The Producers, Frank: A Life in Song and Grease, and also pnumerous studio and concert engagements for commercial artists such as Sarah Slean, Hawksley Workman, Emily Haynes, Kathleen Edwards, Dionne Taylor, Sophie Millman, Jeff Healy, Colin James, Jack Soul, Jarvis Church, Aretha Franklin, Jon Secada, Peabo Bryson, Sheena Easton, Christopher Cross, Sisqo, Frankie Valli, and Don Rickles.
As a clinician and teacher, William has taught throughout Canada for such distinguished institutions as the University of Toronto, Capilano College, Grant MacEwan College, Mohawk College and for the Toronto, York and Etobicoke boards of Education.
Currently William is a member of several ensembles including the the Hilario Duran Big Band, Kieran Overs Dectet, the Bernie Senensky Septet, the Andy Ballantyne Large Ensemble (ABLE), the Paul Read Orchestra (PRO), the Art of Jazz Orchestra, the Heilig Manoeuvre, the Vern Dorge Sextet, the Urban Arts Brass Ensemble, and the Laura Hubert Band.
William is a Rath trombone artist and clinician as well as an instructor for both the University of Toronto Jazz Studies program and Humber College.
“…creative improvisation and honest, well crafted compositions.” - Terry Promane, Director of Jazz Studies, University of Toronto
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Primary Instrument:
Trombone
Willing to teach:
Advanced students only.
Credentials/Background:
Instructor and ensemble coach for the University of Toronto, Jazz Studies program.
Instructor for the Humber College Music Program.
Rate: $70 Cdn per hour for private lessons
Clinic/Workshop Information:
William Carn is a Yamaha Artist and clinician. He has held clinics at universities, colleges and high schools across Canada. Past clinics have included Grant MacKewan College, University of Saskatoon, Capilano College, University of Toronto, and Mohawk College.
