“You can tell immediately that John’s approach to jazz is both new and refreshing; showing great respect for both the melody and the lyric — a rare thing among jazz vocalists. I’ll bet that Chet Baker is looking down on John saying, ‘Yeah, John, go for it’.”
-- William Claxton (Jazz photographer)
“This introduction to young, talented John Proulx does a great job of showing us what he is about: Strong musicianship, great intonation, mellow swing and a soothing, almost vibrato- less Chet Baker like tone quality. Bravo, John!”
-- John Clayton (3-time grammy nominated bassist, composer, and conductor)
"It's takes a lot of imagination as well as natural talent to make jazz standards sound fresh and vital. John sings and plays so beautifully and is an outstanding songwriter as well. He's simply a joy to hear"
-- Michael Feinstein
John's latest CD on MAXJAZZ, "Baker’s Dozen-Remembering Chet
Baker” is a tribute to the late trumpet player and vocalist. It features
legendary musicians Chuck Berghofer, Joe LaBarbera, and special
guest, Dominick Farinacci on trumpet. John’s 2006 debut CD, “Moon
and Sand”, has garnered national and international acclaim, and his
fan base is quickly growing. In addition to his own trio, John has
performed with the likes of Anita O'Day, Natalie Cole, and Marian
McPartland.
John is also a Grammy-winning composer. Jazz legend, Nancy Wilson,
recorded "These Golden Years", a song that John co-wrote with lyricist
D. Channsin Berry, for her 2006 Grammy-winning CD, Turned to Blue.
Jazz singer, Mary Stallings, also recorded "Stuck in a Dream", a tune
John co-wrote with lyricist K. Lawrence Dunham, on her 2005 release,
Remember Love.
John began his formal musical education at the age of 3 in Grand
Rapids, MI on Suzuki violin, but quickly switched to classical piano
lessons. His grandfather, Clyde Proulx, was a jazz guitarist who
introduced him to the world of jazz. Hooked on the freedom of
improvisation, his education took him to Chicago to study at Roosevelt
University’s Chicago School of Performing Arts. In 2001, John moved
to Los Angeles to further his musical pursuits. He has emerged as a
young talent on the Los Angeles jazz scene and loves the wide-range
of opportunities the city has to offer.
