Jay Aymar
Jay Aymar is a Canadian singer-songwriter born and raised in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. He performs (often with his band [1]) over 120 shows per year at clubs, theatres and festivals primarily throughout Canada (occasionally throughout the United States).
Jay Aymar | |
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Background information | |
Born | Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario |
Genres | Singer-Songwriter |
Instruments | Guitar |
Years active | 1993–present |
Labels | Fallen Tree Records |
Website | www.jayaymar.com |
As an acoustic guitar player and singer, he is known for his storytelling through music. His songs cover themes central to everyday life, love, spirituality and the human condition. An English literature graduate from Carleton University in Ottawa,[2] his songs are influenced by classic literary themes. A 2010 Canadian Folk Music Award Emerging Artist nominee,[3]
In 2008, Canadian musician Ian Tyson recorded Aymar's composition "My Cherry Coloured Rose"[4]— for his album ‘From Yellowhead to Yellowstone and other Love Stories'.[5] The album received high critical praise. (Tyson was nominated for a 2009 Canadian Folk Music Awards for Solo Artist of the Year).
Life and career
Aymar grew up as the youngest of a family of eight children in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. He attended Sir James Dunn Secondary School before majoring in English literature at Carleton University in Ottawa, where he "became drunk on language and storytellers like Mark Twain and Stephen Leacock."[6]
After graduating, he began a series of jobs which included freelance writing and various sales positions.
Once discovered, the CBC produced his very first demos in 1993.[7]
He released his first studio album Howling at the Moon in 1996 (now out of print) and has since released five more studio albums and one live album.[8]
In 2008 Aymar's song "My Cherry Coloured Rose" was recorded by Ian Tyson.[9]
Aymar released his sixth studio album, Your Perfect Matador, with producer Michael Phillip Wojewoda on October 12, 2018.[10] The album took inspiration from a woman Aymar dated from New Brunswick, who he called the "Fundy Maiden." He described the 9-tracks as if "You're kind of eavesdropping on a conversation between a man and a woman. It's thematically cohesive from start to finish. It plays out like a story."[11]
Discography
Album Title | Release Date | Details |
---|---|---|
Cashing in on Peace | 2000 | Produced and recorded live in one session by Chris Hess and Jevon Rudder. Includes Kevin Quain, Tony Bennetar and Tom Parker. (Out of print) |
Halfway Home[12] | 2008 | Garnered Aymar a 2010 Emerging Artist nomination from the Canadian
Folk Music Awards.[13] Producer: Chris Hess. |
Passing Through[14] | 2011 | Blues and folk hybrid album. Recorded live off the floor over three days in Parry Sound Ontario.[15] |
Overtime[16] | 2013 | Produced by Toronto roots music producer David Gavin Baxter.[17] |
The Chicken Came First[18] | 2015 | Work includes an album and accompanying book. Songs for live disc selected by fans. |
Your Perfect Matador | October 2018 | Released October 2018. Producer: Michael Phillip Wojewoda. Reissued January 17, 2019, on Fallen Tree Records. |
References
- "'It's interesting playing to your hometown'". SooToday.com. Retrieved 2016-12-08.
- "Jay Aymar "Jay" - folk music genre ...singer/songwriter, from Toronto Ontario". livevan.com. Retrieved 2016-12-02.
- "Canadian Folk Music Award Nominee Jay Aymar in concert here on April 9: Revelstoke Current". Retrieved 2016-12-02.
- "My Cherry Colored Rose - Ian Tyson | Song Info | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-12-02.
- "The end of love and a famous voice - Macleans.ca". Macleans.ca. 2008-11-24. Retrieved 2016-12-08.
- "JAY AYMAR LIVE AT THE SEA DOG | South Coast Today". www.southcoasttoday.ca. Retrieved 2016-12-08.
- "'It's interesting playing to your hometown'". SooToday.com. Retrieved 2016-12-08.
- nurun.com. "Sault musician gets award nomination". Sault Star. Retrieved 2016-12-02.
- "My Cherry Colored Rose - Ian Tyson | Song Info". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
- nurun.com. "Aymar makes future plans". Sault Star. Retrieved 2016-12-02.
- "Aymar's new CD 'plays out like a story'". Sault Star. Retrieved 2019-11-29.
- Halfway Home, retrieved 2016-12-02
- nurun.com. "Sault musician gets award nomination". Sault Star. Retrieved 2016-12-02.
- Jay Aymar, Passing Through, retrieved 2016-12-02
- "Lyrics create strong emotions". Yorkton This Week. Retrieved 2016-12-02.
- "Jay Aymar - Music". jayaymar.com. Retrieved 2016-12-02.
- "Overtime". New Canadian Music. Retrieved 2016-12-02.
- Jay Aymar, The Chicken Came First, retrieved 2016-12-02