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Why did God make boogie-woogie? So Tyler Yarema could play it with uncommon bravado of course. That question may seem like an impromptu quiz in Yarema’s home town of Thunder Bay. But for the thousands of Torontonians who have packed the venerable Reservoir Lounge to catch his long-standing Tuesday and Saturday night house gigs there, the answer is a no-brainer.
Born in Thunder Bay on October 27, 1972, Yarema started to play the piano when he was 16. Early explorations of contemporary styles piqued his interest in the instrument’s storied history. That led to the discovery of blues legends like Otis Spann and stride giants like Pete Johnson, Meade Lux Lewis, Albert Ammons and Fats Waller. Add the sophisticated composition and arranging influences of Duke Ellington and you have the foundational elements of Yarema’s tantalizing buffet of blues, jump-blues, swing-jazz and barrelhouse keyboards.
In 1994, Yarema moved from Thunder Bay to Toronto where the “Wizard of Ahs” got the kind of training that musical dreams are made of as the first-call side man for Jeff Healey, the Downchild Blues Band, King Biscuit Boy (Richard Newell), Chris Whitely and Doug “Dr. Music” Riley in night clubs like the Warehouse and Water’s Edge Café at Harbourfront.
Four years later, he was high-stepping in front of a 7-piece ensemble, Tyler Yarema and His Rhythm winning Maple Blues Awards for New Artist of the Year (1998) and Piano player of the Year (1999) as well as Now Magazine’s Best Keyboard Player (2002). A percussive left hand growling like a hound dog at a harvest moon, a right hand prancing lithely over an ever-evolving melody, a water-tight rhythm section and splashing horns, Yarema and His Rhythm’s following grew exponentially. Now standing astride the peak of Canada’s jazz/blues world, they are a smash hit at clubs, festivals and galas wherever they perform.
Yarema was in residence at Ontario House at the Concord Pacific pavilion throughout the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. He has played, produced, arranged and sung on over 40 albums. Among his standout achievements on record are his collaboration with Doug Riley and John Roby on Stride (Marshmellow Records, 2006) and his debut CD, Gotta Bran’ New Suit for Radioland. Yarema is currently engaged in a new recording exploit giving a sharp tweak to the sound of adult pop music with his band Empire Avenue. www.tyleryarema.com
Ken Wright
