“My work has been described to me as an interesting mix of styles resembling that of artists like Ry Cooder, David Wilcox, Mark Knopfler, Neil Diamond, Johnny Cash, Gordon Lightfoot, Jeff Beck and others. Well,...I'm truly humbled at the mere thought of any such remote comparisons to these musical giants. Personally I just think I sound like me,... whatever that is,... however, all those personalities have certainly influenced my playing and writing.”
Jeff, originally from the Saskatchewan prairies (where he performed with the popular 70's prairie band EDEN), has been involved with the Canadian west coast music scene (writing, recording and performing live) since 1991, prior to his 24 year involvement with the Canadian prairie music scene. As well as being a musician he also graduated from the 'Digital/Analog Automated Recording Arts' program at Columbia Academy in Vancouver, Canada in 1992.
His earliest solo recording project dates back to 1990 with the album 'FLIGHT OF THE HAWK', which was a folksy, bluesy, rootsy compilation of original tunes presented in a simple, uncomplicated fashion.
In 1994 he produced a follow up solo EP entitled 'THE BULLFROG SESSION', which featured Jeff’s acoustic guitar playing skills as he further explored and expanded his acoustic guitar technique using slide and alternate tunings. The Bullfrog Session, also bluesy and rootsy, was recorded with Jeff performing on vocals and a single guitar only,…no additional instrumentation,… leaving it intimate, simple, clean, crisp and acoustically melodic.
In 2005 Jeff co-invented a musical duo with songwriter Barry Greenfield, simply known as 'greenfield and wyatt' (subsequently shortened to 'greenfield wyatt'). Together they rehearsed, wrote, co-wrote, recorded and performed concerts to favorable reviews in and around Vancouver, Canada. Jeff and Barry released their collaborative album 'SONGS FROM THE ROTHSTEIN' in October 2005, which veteran music reviewer Tom Harrison of the Vancouver PROVINCE favorably scrutinized, complimenting Jeff's contribution with...
“Greenfield’s fourth and most atmospheric album thanks to Wyatt’s stately strings and fluid guitar…”.
With the eclectic concept album 'REFLECTIONS AT EVERY CORNER' in 2007, Jeff presents a clever mix of Blues, Pop, Rock, Folk, Jazz, Ethnic, World and Classical music influences in his original and unique acoustic and electric song stylings. You’ll hear interesting and imaginative guitar and piano instrumentals, as well as songs with a moody and thoughtful lyric content that is both personal and reflective. If you like piano, finger-style acoustic guitar, electric and slide guitar in both raw upbeat, and smooth laidback settings delivered along with deep, rich vocals,... you’ll enjoy this disc. The textures of the occasional orchestrated section add color and warmth for your ears, mind and emotions to become carried away with.
Jeff released his 4th solo album 'PEOPLE DO BLUES' in February of 2011. The album’s 14 tracks explore various blues styles that have developed across the United States, including Country Blues, Southern Blues Rock, New Orleans Blues and Chicago Blues. Although each track is not necessarily “strict” blues as such, blues lovers will easily be able to hear and enjoy the inherent blues influences.
PEOPLE DO BLUES Album Reviews:
“Wyatt sings and plays with charm and those who favour a flavourful approach to swampy and slide guitar driven blues-rock to flashy but sterile blues (the curse of most contemporary blues) will like this record.” -Tom Harrison of the Vancouver PROVINCE
“What strikes you from the first time you listen is the crafty, prominent sounding deep slide sounds in all the songs. A sound in the opening song "People do Blues" which resembles Mark Knopfler's "Money for Nothing" and a beautiful instrumental sound midway in the cd "Bodhi Surfing" is a similar approach.” -Ron Bervoets, Rootstime.be, Belgium
“That the man (guitar / slide) knows what he is doing is underlined with bravado on "I Just Got the News", "Chasing My Tail" with its beautiful country blues ode to "Mississippi" RL Burnside and "That's My Mom" (dedicated to his mother on her 80th birthday).” -Francois Braeken, Bealestreet.be, Belgium
2011 also saw Jeff release 2 guitar instrumental singles, entitled 'MAX AND THE SQUIRREL' and 'MIND THE TIME'.
Presently Jeff is working on 2 album projects planned for 2013 release; a blues album (Those Human Factors) and a Christmas album (Another Guitar for Christmas?). He continues to perform regularly, in and around the Vancouver area along with a host of talented musical friends, who include Kevin Rintoul (bass & vocals), Brian Dierks (drums & vocals), Clyde Griffith (congas), Phil Howell (bass & vocals), Stephen Berne (drums) and Vince Iormetti (drums)... in various band combinations.
Jeffwyatt.com