Growing up in Montreal and Moving to Winnipeg early in his career, Ken has had the good fortune to participate in two great Canadian music centres. Ken studied classical saxophone at Jeunesse Musicales du Canada with Claude Brisson, and harmony with Ed Seigneur at CEGEP Dawson in Montreal. He was fortunate to study with Andrew Homzy, Charles Ellison and sax with Dave Turner at Concordia University in Montreal. Ken was active playing gigs in the Montreal area and gained a lot of valuable experience. Highlights of his many Montreal experiences will always be playing with Big Mama Thornton at the Rising Sun (legendary Montreal jazz bar) and being hired by Oliver Jones to do the early set for a week at Biddles Jazz & Ribs. After completing an education certificate at McGill, Ken accepted a teaching position at St Norbert Collegiate in Winnipeg.

In Winnipeg, Ken has been an active member of the music community both as a player and a teacher for the past 36 years. On the education side, he has taught at several high schools and at both University of Manitoba and Brandon University. Ken taught jazz saxophone, pedagogy and ensembles as a sessional instructor at UM from 2003-2010. He has been teaching saxophone at BU this past year.

Ken is a regular member with many of Winnipeg’s musical groups including; The Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra, The Ron Paley Band, Papa Mambo, The Ron Halldorson & Ken Gold Duo, The Danny Kramer Event Band. He has also played many pops concerts with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.

Some of the most memorable learning experiences have been at the Banff School of Fine Arts (1986) with David Liebman and Steve Coleman (sax), Dave Holland, Kenny Wheeler, Richie Beirach, John Abercrombie among others on faculty. More studies with David Liebman followed with both private instruction and the saxophone masterclass in Stroudsberg, PA.

Ken has played many diverse gigs backing up great singers and musicians and while it’s fun to “drop names”, many of these were truly thrilling experiences. Some of the highlights: Big Mama Thornton, Dianne Schuur, Bill Watrous (2x), John Faddis, Paquito D’Rivera (including recording), Arturo Sandoval, Tito Puente, Mary Wilson (The Supremes), The Temptations/The Four Tops, Frankie Avalon/Bobby Rydell, Bobby Vinton, Wayne Newton, and for variety, The Moscow Circus (USSR era) and Bob Newhart!

Ken is especially proud of all the fine musicians he has had the privilege to teach these past 36 years in Manitoba.