Chris Tyle is a multi-instrumentalist playing drums, cornet and clarinet. A second-generation jazz musician, he grew up in Portland Oregon and formed his first band there, Wholly Cats, in 1979. In 1989, he moved to New Orleans, where he freelanced with a number of groups until 1992, when he formed another group, the Silver Leaf Jazz Band. The group performed a steady engagement at the Royal Sonesta Hotel until 2002, when Tyle returned to his hometown. He can be heard on a number of recordings with both his own and other groups, some of which have gotten superlative critical notices. He currently performs with a number of national and internationally known jazz groups, and is involved with jazz education, teaching and writing.
