BIO – Christopher Schiller
Chris brings wide range of experience playing in Toronto-based bands over the past few decades, performing original songs and music from artists such as Bob Dylan and the Band, Brian Ferry, Joe Jackson, Steely Dan and Herbie Hancock. His musical influences include drummers such as Bill Bruford, Elvin Jones, Steve Gadd and Gavin Harrison. He has also played in Macedonian and African ensembles and was the drummer for Sensible Shoes in the 80s and 90s, a group noted for their composition and performance of original scores for amateur and professional theatre productions. Chris is delighted to bring these skills to the music of Far from the Tree.
BIO – Sam Kerzner
Sam picked up the bass at age 11 when his friends needed a bass player to perform “Seven Nation Army” at their Elementary School talent show. A couple years later, he joined rock band “The Crunch” who went on to perform in several rounds of the Emergenza Music Festival and record an EP at the Tragically Hip’s legendary “Bathouse Recording Studio”. Sam’s high school pop/ rock band “Earth to Meekus” was featured on Global TV’s reality show “Can Your School Rock” and made it to the semi-finals. While in University, Sam created a pop/ folk group “The Royal Thymes” who competed in and won Dalhousie’s 2012 “Dal’s Got Talent” competition. Sam has since played with several groups with a broad range of styles including pop, rock, soul, funk, jazz & fusion, which positions him perfectly for his role in Far from the Tree.
BIO – John Glover
John played folk festivals across Canada with the influential bluegrass and old-time band Humber River Valley Boys and recorded two albums with producer David Essig. He was sidetracked by a love of science and had a career a research faculty member at the University of Toronto. He returned to his love of song-writing and formed a songwriting-driven acoustic band called BanjoGoBoom! whose performing career was cut short by the pandemic. Post-pandemic saw John forming a partnership with Eric Walker to write and perform original songs. A desire to hear a full-on band sound lead to formation of Far from the Tree and challenging him to hone a new set of electric guitar skills after a life of being a “folky.”
BIO – Eric Walker
Eric started playing guitar and ukulele and then began with piano. In high school, Eric played guitar and sang in a Beatles cover band and played piano and sang in a ‘The Band’ cover band :-). In the 80s and 90s, he started original pop rock bands, mentlbloc and Universal Tongue, playing venues like the CNE bandshell, Breakfast Television and various venues across Toronto. In 2000, Eric co-founded the Toronto Songwriters Association (TSA) which still meets monthly and is a great forum for creative songwriting. Also in 2000, Eric partnered with Sandy Blakeley and formed the Blakeley Walker Band, performing original pop-rock songs for 20 years. Through the TSA, Eric met John Glover and was drawn to his songwriting. In 2022, Far from the Tree was formed, an original 4-piece pop, rock, blues band.
Band Bio:
Far from the Tree is a musical collective founded on the original compositions of two Toronto-based songwriters, offering a unique musical amalgam of pop, rock, folk, jazz and country. The band is Eric Walker on keyboards and vocals, John Glover on electric / acoustic guitar and vocals, Sam Kerzner on 5 string electric bass and Christopher Schiller on drums and percussion. You’ll hear lonesome heart country, straight-up rock, anthemic folk ballads, new age electro pop, dark driving blues, jazz grooves and cool atmospheric laments. Join us for an evening of compelling music and song. Website: www.farfromthetree.ca
