Biography

Being a guitarist and songwriter since 1967, Jeff Wyatt has been affected by many musical influences that inevitably rear their heads in his music. But when it comes to overall preference of musical styles, he often falls back onto composition that includes some type of blues or blues/rock influence, although he would not strictly try to label himself a blues-man. Even though he tinkers with a variety of instruments, guitar is by far his specialty (electric, finger-style acoustic in standard and open tunings, and slide which he uses on both electric and acoustic guitar). Since his work is both instrumental and lyrical, electric and acoustic, it is difficult at times to strictly categorize. But since it is listener friendly, it is always a refreshing discovery. People compare his guitar work and vocal style to a combination of Ry Cooder, David Wilcox, Mark Knopfler, Neil Diamond, Johnny Cash, Gordon Lightfoot, Jeff Beck and others.

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 of his own music 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 CD 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. [Note: As of November 2011 this EP has been digitally re-mastered and re-released].

In 2005 Jeff co-invented a creative musical duo with songwriter Barry Greenfield, simply known as 'greenfield and wyatt' (subsequently shortened to 'greenfield wyatt'). 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…”.
A 'greenfield wyatt' follow up album was almost entirely completed, but never released.

With the eclectic concept album 'REFLECTIONS AT EVERY CORNER' release in 2008, Jeff presented 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.

On January 31st, 2011 Jeff released his 14 track blues influenced album ‘PEOPLE DO BLUES’, which has been receiving much interest worldwide. Below are snippets of some 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, 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]

The year 2011 also saw Wyatt release 2 guitar instrumental singles; MAX AND THE SQUIRREL and MIND THE TIME. Both were used for video soundtracks by Mike Freda Productions and viewable on YouTube. These video titles are "Bike Frame Building School 101" and "EXCELSIOR #004", respectively.