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Tyson Chen is a Celtic and jazz pianist based in Ottawa, Ontario.

He accompanies award-winning fiddlers with his vibrant Cape Breton piano style and performs soothing jazz renditions from the Great American Songbook.

Bio

Tyson Chen is a Celtic and jazz pianist based in Ottawa, Ontario. He accompanies award-winning fiddlers with his vibrant Cape Breton piano style and performs soothing jazz renditions from the Great American Songbook.

His musical adventures range from high-energy shows at international festivals, square dances, and cruise ships to intimate musical gatherings at ceilidhs, house concerts, and local community events.

Growing up in Ottawa, he studied classical and popular music. For eight years he lived and breathed Celtic music in the heart of Cape Breton where he learned Cape Breton piano accompaniment. He returned to Ottawa and received a music degree from Carleton University focusing on Celtic and jazz piano.

Tyson has performed with many award-winning Cape Breton fiddlers, including Ashley MacIsaac, Andrea Beaton, Dawn & Margie Beaton, and Chrissy Crowley. He regularly performed with many local musicians around Mabou, Cape Breton, including Melody & Derrick Cameron and
Kevin LeVesconte, and toured for several years with Ben Miller & Anita MacDonald.

He currently performs with Canadian fiddle champions Jane Cory and Kyle Burghout, award-winning fiddler Anna Ludlow, and jazz saxophonist Peter Woods.

Performance Highlights

Gatineau Hills Fiddle Festival – Chelsea, QC (2021, 2018)
Goderich Celtic Roots Festival – Online (2021), Goderich, ON (2017)
Marvest at CityFolk – Ottawa, ON (2018)
Ottawa Jazz Festival – Ottawa, ON (2018)
Ottawa Bluesfest – Ottawa, ON (2017)
Celtic Colours International Festival – Cape Breton, NS (2017, 2016, 2013)
Folk in the Schools (CityFolk) – Ottawa, ON (2017, 2016)
Tønder Festival – Tønder, Denmark (2016)
Acadia Trad Festival – Maine, USA (2016)
East Coast Music Awards – Sydney, NS (2016)
Holland America Line (Cruises) – Atlantic Provinces (2015, 2014, 2013)
American Folk Festival – Maine, USA (2014)
Cape Breton Square Dances – Cape Breton, NS (2011–2016)
West Mabou, Brook Village, Glencoe Mills, and many more.

Shows

Folk Music Ontario Conference with Jane & Kyle

Thursday, October 12 — Friday, October 13Thu, Oct 12 — Fri, Oct 13

DoubleTree by Hilton London, 300 King St, London ON

Jane & Kyle are Official Showcase Artists at the 2023 FMO Conference!

Official Showcase: Thursday, October 12 @ 9:05pm (Room 200)
Additional Showcase: Friday, October 13 @ 10:35pm (Windsor Club)

For more info, visit folkmusicontario.org/conference

View on Google Maps

View previous events

Request a performance

Media

Recordings

Of Hills and Valleys

Jane & Kyle

Released October 26, 2021

Featuring: Jane Cory (fiddle, vocals), Kyle Burghout (fiddle, viola, piano), Tyson Chen (piano), Kyle Waymouth (guitar), Joe Phillips (double bass), Ben Plotnick (viola), and Kaitlyn Raitz (cello).

Buy from Jane & Kyle

1

Return to the Cape (Lala's Jig / Unknown Reel / Return to the Cape The Girls at Martinfield) 4:33

0:00/4:33
2

Creature Feature (Bur in the Fur / Hazel's Promenade / The Stag in St. Norbert) 5:06

0:00/5:06
3

Brian Pickell Tunes (Steve and Michelle's Waltz Queen of the Tarps / One Track Zach / Princess) 5:34

0:00/5:34
4

Compliments to Calvin (The Country Phair / Clinton P. Boogie) 4:46

0:00/4:46
5

Side of the Road 4:21

0:00/4:21
6

Sunshine Valley (Sunshine Valley / Slippery Seaweed) 3:53

0:00/3:53
7

Boo Babys Lullaby 3:13

0:00/3:13
8

Black Ice (Black Ice / That's The Way The Cookie Crumbles) 3:59

0:00/3:59

View all tracks and buy from Jane & Kyle

The Prism Within (2017)

Kyle Burghout

Debut solo album from award-winning Canadian fiddler and composer, Kyle Burghout, featuring both traditional and newly-composed tunes.

Featuring piano accompaniment by Tyson Chen (tracks 2, 4, 7, 9, 10).

1

Water Lilies: Water Lilies / Pembroke Jig 4:34

0:00/4:34
2

B.C. Jigs: The Kettle Valley Railway / Clouds in the Kootenays 4:07

0:00/4:07
3

Flowers 3:36

0:00/3:36
4

Sweeney's Buttermilk: Sweeney's Buttermilk / Martin Wynne's 3:35

0:00/3:35
5

From Ottawa to Sligo: Jane Smarzik's / Bob Stone's / Lost for Words / Robert Froom's / Anthony Vial's / The Bogard Reel / Algoma Trad / Jim Hunter's 13:09

0:00/13:09

Buy from Jane & Kyle

A Day at the Lake (2015)

Ben Miller & Anita MacDonald

Combining the fiery edge of the Scottish Border pipes with the rich sounds of the Cape Breton fiddle, Ben Miller and Anita MacDonald join together for their debut release.

Featuring Cape Breton-style piano accompaniment by Tyson Chen (tracks 3, 5, 9, 10).

1

Southwest Of Shinness (Preview) 3:08

0:00/3:08
2

Auld Reekie (Preview) 4:38

0:00/4:38
3

An T-Alltan Dubh (Preview) 4:17

0:00/4:17

Cape Breton Strathspey/Reels from Russia to Canada (2015)

KeyReel Raskolenko, Tyson Chen

Fiddle recorded in Karelia, Russia by KeyReel Raskolenko, piano recorded in Ottawa, Canada by Tyson Chen.

1

Cape Breton Strathspey/Reels from Russia to Canada 5:18

0:00/5:18

Contact

Electronic Press Kit (EPK)

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