“after only 4 bars it’s a given that something wonderful is going on”
(Steve Mcdonnell-Cathedral Arts Festival - Regina, SK - 2006)
NEW NEWS
2008 Toronto Independent Music Award nomination–best pop album
OPENED FOR MEL C (Spice Girls)–TORONTO (summer ’08)
#11 on Proud fm (Toronto) Top 20 chart (summer ’08)
Regular rotation on Z99-fm (Regina) (summer ’08)
(Photo credit:
Pascal Labillois)
If you put a little Elton John, and a little Rufus Wainwright in a blender, tossed in a dash of Mika - then hit puree - you’d get Jeffery Straker. This Canadian singer - songwriter - pianist takes inspiration from pop-rock, folk, & cabaret leanings and blends in his distinct tenor voice. His vocal range runs from the highest falsettos to deep bass notes and is delivered with lively stage flair. Musically, Jeffery is an actual descendant of both Beethoven and Chopin (see below for the full true story!) and the piano-man recently signed a production deal to record his upcoming 2008 release with producer Justin Gray (LA/Toronto). This will help him do more of what he loves - creating something different with piano/vocal music. People are taking note of his tunes and as one New York City reviewer recently put it:
“If Jeff’s songs have elements of whackiness, it’s always inspired whackiness!”
He spent 2006 & 2007 touring his last album “Songs from Highway 15″ - a collection of folk-pop songs inspired by growing up on the Canadian prairies. FACTOR (a national music funding organization) supported the album with generous marketing funding, while CBC radio airplay as well as video airplay at home and in Australia helped grow his fanbase. Having performed over 200 shows, listeners enjoyed what he had to offer whether they attended solo concerts or heard him backed by his full band. He sold almost 2000 CDs - quite a feat for an indie artist in Canada - and reviews said things like:
One of the hottest entertainers on the Canadian prairie music scene”
(Northeast Sun, Ryan Land)
Songwriting aspirations “You blew me away with that song” (Jason Blume, May ‘07)
Jeffery’s songwriting & performing aspirations are frighteningly high - to be able to captivate through song, like his favorite storyteller did through word. That mentor was a neighbour, Carl Krall, who lived near his parents’ farm in rural Saskatchewan when he was growing up. “Carl could tell a story like no one else I’ve ever met - if the story was gripping it took your breath away, if it was funny you fell off your chair laughing”. Incidentally, Carl (related to Canada’s Jazz sensation Dianna Krall) was Jeffery’s first glimpse at the touring life. Carl spent his weekends traveling from town to town playing music at dances, weddings, and the like. The seed of the itinerant musician taking his music on the road was planted at an early age.
The 2008 Album Release
Jeffery is currently putting the finishing touches on his upcoming album, produced by the talented Justin Gray (Joss Stone, Emma Bunton, Ashley MacIsaac, Snow, Jacksoul) in Toronto & Los Angeles. The 2 met at a songwriting workshop in Regina (Canada) in 2007. Liking what he heard, Gray promptly signed Jeffery to a production deal to make an album - with release set for 2008. With this pairing Straker’s artful songs met Gray’s incomparable pop-touch that has helped him sell more than 20 million albums worldwide. With the help of the Steven Rosen Music Corporation (Los Angeles) the recording is now being shared within the industry and Jeffery is looking forward to taking this release on the road.
“You’re a superb performer! . . . your music has great energy”
(Sandra Butel-Artistic Director Regina Folk Festival)
Since the release of his last album Straker penned over 40 new songs and has found his songwriting shifting gears a bit. Gray heard it too. So for this new album they wanted to evolve his sound and have taken his piano-driven compositions into fresh new “alt-pop” territory. Drums are superbly played by Randy Cook (Five for Fighting, Chantal Kreviazuk, Kelly Clarkson), with magic guitar touches by Justin Abedin (Amanda Marshall, Jacksoul). When Straker speaks of the upcoming recording he mentions: “When I perform live I like to create a little world that people can enter into and just be there with me for awhile - and I really wanted to do that with this album”.
Early Music/Early Years “Thank God that my grandparents gave their old upright piano to my mom when she moved out” sometimes I think she gave birth to me under it, because I’ve been glued to a piano my whole life.” In his early days growing up in rural Saskatchewan (near his hometown of Punnichy), Jeff was in front of audiences at concerts, on local TV productions, and in music festivals. Picking out Fats Domino and Frank Mills tunes on the piano by ear at a very early age, his mom saw his talent and put him in piano lessons when he was 7. Soon he was writing music (mostly grand endings to imaginary sonatas) and banging it out on the keys with great gusto. From the get go he was ‘pretty serious’ about his piano studies and actually enjoyed practicing and performing with the help of two local piano teachers “Mrs. Young and Mrs. Mctavish who helped him along with heaps of encouragement. He remembers the autumn day when there weren’t enough local boys to make up a 14-&-under hockey team that season, which allowed him to quit hockey and move on to study at the conservatory of music at the University of Regina while still in high school. A few years later he won the conservatory’s Directors’ Silver Medal for performance.
A Bizarre Musical Pedigree Jeffery|Beethoven|Chopin| huh? While studying at the conservatory Jeffery worked with Frank Crumly who tied Jeff to the grand musical lineage of both Beethoven and Chopin. What on earth are you talking about, you ask? You classical piano buffs will want to check this out: Beethoven taught Czerny, who taught Leschetizky (the greatest teacher of all time), who taught Howard Wells, who taught Thomas Manshardt, who taught Frank Crumly who taught Jeff (6 degrees of separation). Also if that’s not enough: Chopin taught George Matthias, who taught Cortot, who taught Thomas Manshardt who taught Crumly who taught Jeffery (5 degrees of separation). We’re sure Kevin Bacon fits in here somewhere. It’s inevitable.
Losing the music, and finding it again A bit burnt out on classical piano, he tossed music aside and shifted gears completely to study biology and biochemistry at university. However a short job stint in a lab with the National Research Council saw him wanting to poke his eyes out with a test tube due to absolute boredom. Later, while working at an office job (with the Procter and Gamble company) he started playing in bands at night “and then writing the odd song of his own to toss into the set lists. Fellow writers encouraged him and he received the first of what evolved into many demo development awards from FACTOR (the Foundation to Assist Canadian Talent on Records). With time he re-found his love of music, thankfully, in smoky bars. As the smoke clears we’re now able to see and hear what he has to offer.
Other stuff that’s been going on Some of his newest songs were debuted in 2007 on tour in the USA and subsequently some interesting things happened:
- The song “FLAT LINES” was chosen for the Saskatchewan 2007 JUNO Compilation CD representing the best in new music from the province.
- He landed performances at JUNOfest ‘07 and Ness Creek Music Festival ‘07 gaining exposure to many new fans.
- He licensed 2 new songs to operatic tenor Derrick Miller (Canadian Opera Company) for release in 2007.
- Co-writes with artists in Sweden, the UK and Los Angeles were released.
- And of course he signed his production deal with Justin Gray/Big Boom Entertainment to record his 2008 release.
Praise for Jeffery’s writing has recently included both the UNISONG and International Songwriting Competitions placing him in final rounds with comments like:
“A smash hit…fresh…killer chorus…poetic and clever” (Unisong)
Straker has also had the chance to share his songs abroad with his active touring schedule taking him to places like China (2005), Ireland (2004), and Panama (2006-on tour with the Canadian Embassy). June ‘06 took him to his debut in New York City where his album was nominated for “Recording of the Year” at the Outmusic awards. In addition to his songs Jeffery’s engaging audience rapport has helped him gain growing popularity. The experience he delivers when on stage caught the attention of the CBC who recorded a performance (with live audience) at their studios in May ‘06.
Historical Footnote After his first piano lessons in his hometown of Punnichy, Saskatchewan Jeffery was accepted into the Conservatory of Music at the University of Regina at age 15. He completed his Licentiate Diploma in Performance from Trinity College of Music, London England at age 19, having performed major works to strong acclaim. Over recent years, Jeff has merged his classical training with pop influences and further vocal training with the talented Elizabeth Davidson (Toronto) to create his signature sound. His first band experience was in his parents’ farmhouse basement playing piano & bass along with various traditional musicians from that ‘neck of the woods’. He’s also been known to be a mean fiddle player when you get a few drinks in him…..which doesn’t take much…
DiscographyMiddle of Somewhere (2002) (2-song single)
Petrified (2003)
Songs from Highway 15 (2006)
Step Right Up (2008)
(Steve Mcdonnell-Cathedral Arts Festival - Regina, SK - 2006)
NEW NEWS2008 Toronto Independent Music Award nomination–best pop album
OPENED FOR MEL C (Spice Girls)–TORONTO (summer ’08)
#11 on Proud fm (Toronto) Top 20 chart (summer ’08)
Regular rotation on Z99-fm (Regina) (summer ’08)
(Photo credit: Pascal Labillois)
If you put a little Elton John, and a little Rufus Wainwright in a blender, tossed in a dash of Mika - then hit puree - you’d get Jeffery Straker. This Canadian singer - songwriter - pianist takes inspiration from pop-rock, folk, & cabaret leanings and blends in his distinct tenor voice. His vocal range runs from the highest falsettos to deep bass notes and is delivered with lively stage flair. Musically, Jeffery is an actual descendant of both Beethoven and Chopin (see below for the full true story!) and the piano-man recently signed a production deal to record his upcoming 2008 release with producer Justin Gray (LA/Toronto). This will help him do more of what he loves - creating something different with piano/vocal music. People are taking note of his tunes and as one New York City reviewer recently put it:
“If Jeff’s songs have elements of whackiness, it’s always inspired whackiness!”
He spent 2006 & 2007 touring his last album “Songs from Highway 15″ - a collection of folk-pop songs inspired by growing up on the Canadian prairies. FACTOR (a national music funding organization) supported the album with generous marketing funding, while CBC radio airplay as well as video airplay at home and in Australia helped grow his fanbase. Having performed over 200 shows, listeners enjoyed what he had to offer whether they attended solo concerts or heard him backed by his full band. He sold almost 2000 CDs - quite a feat for an indie artist in Canada - and reviews said things like:
One of the hottest entertainers on the Canadian prairie music scene”
(Northeast Sun, Ryan Land)
Songwriting aspirations “You blew me away with that song” (Jason Blume, May ‘07)
Jeffery’s songwriting & performing aspirations are frighteningly high - to be able to captivate through song, like his favorite storyteller did through word. That mentor was a neighbour, Carl Krall, who lived near his parents’ farm in rural Saskatchewan when he was growing up. “Carl could tell a story like no one else I’ve ever met - if the story was gripping it took your breath away, if it was funny you fell off your chair laughing”. Incidentally, Carl (related to Canada’s Jazz sensation Dianna Krall) was Jeffery’s first glimpse at the touring life. Carl spent his weekends traveling from town to town playing music at dances, weddings, and the like. The seed of the itinerant musician taking his music on the road was planted at an early age.
The 2008 Album Release
Jeffery is currently putting the finishing touches on his upcoming album, produced by the talented Justin Gray (Joss Stone, Emma Bunton, Ashley MacIsaac, Snow, Jacksoul) in Toronto & Los Angeles. The 2 met at a songwriting workshop in Regina (Canada) in 2007. Liking what he heard, Gray promptly signed Jeffery to a production deal to make an album - with release set for 2008. With this pairing Straker’s artful songs met Gray’s incomparable pop-touch that has helped him sell more than 20 million albums worldwide. With the help of the Steven Rosen Music Corporation (Los Angeles) the recording is now being shared within the industry and Jeffery is looking forward to taking this release on the road.
“You’re a superb performer! . . . your music has great energy”
(Sandra Butel-Artistic Director Regina Folk Festival)
Since the release of his last album Straker penned over 40 new songs and has found his songwriting shifting gears a bit. Gray heard it too. So for this new album they wanted to evolve his sound and have taken his piano-driven compositions into fresh new “alt-pop” territory. Drums are superbly played by Randy Cook (Five for Fighting, Chantal Kreviazuk, Kelly Clarkson), with magic guitar touches by Justin Abedin (Amanda Marshall, Jacksoul). When Straker speaks of the upcoming recording he mentions: “When I perform live I like to create a little world that people can enter into and just be there with me for awhile - and I really wanted to do that with this album”.
Early Music/Early Years “Thank God that my grandparents gave their old upright piano to my mom when she moved out” sometimes I think she gave birth to me under it, because I’ve been glued to a piano my whole life.” In his early days growing up in rural Saskatchewan (near his hometown of Punnichy), Jeff was in front of audiences at concerts, on local TV productions, and in music festivals. Picking out Fats Domino and Frank Mills tunes on the piano by ear at a very early age, his mom saw his talent and put him in piano lessons when he was 7. Soon he was writing music (mostly grand endings to imaginary sonatas) and banging it out on the keys with great gusto. From the get go he was ‘pretty serious’ about his piano studies and actually enjoyed practicing and performing with the help of two local piano teachers “Mrs. Young and Mrs. Mctavish who helped him along with heaps of encouragement. He remembers the autumn day when there weren’t enough local boys to make up a 14-&-under hockey team that season, which allowed him to quit hockey and move on to study at the conservatory of music at the University of Regina while still in high school. A few years later he won the conservatory’s Directors’ Silver Medal for performance.
A Bizarre Musical Pedigree Jeffery|Beethoven|Chopin| huh? While studying at the conservatory Jeffery worked with Frank Crumly who tied Jeff to the grand musical lineage of both Beethoven and Chopin. What on earth are you talking about, you ask? You classical piano buffs will want to check this out: Beethoven taught Czerny, who taught Leschetizky (the greatest teacher of all time), who taught Howard Wells, who taught Thomas Manshardt, who taught Frank Crumly who taught Jeff (6 degrees of separation). Also if that’s not enough: Chopin taught George Matthias, who taught Cortot, who taught Thomas Manshardt who taught Crumly who taught Jeffery (5 degrees of separation). We’re sure Kevin Bacon fits in here somewhere. It’s inevitable.
Losing the music, and finding it again A bit burnt out on classical piano, he tossed music aside and shifted gears completely to study biology and biochemistry at university. However a short job stint in a lab with the National Research Council saw him wanting to poke his eyes out with a test tube due to absolute boredom. Later, while working at an office job (with the Procter and Gamble company) he started playing in bands at night “and then writing the odd song of his own to toss into the set lists. Fellow writers encouraged him and he received the first of what evolved into many demo development awards from FACTOR (the Foundation to Assist Canadian Talent on Records). With time he re-found his love of music, thankfully, in smoky bars. As the smoke clears we’re now able to see and hear what he has to offer.
Other stuff that’s been going on Some of his newest songs were debuted in 2007 on tour in the USA and subsequently some interesting things happened:
- The song “FLAT LINES” was chosen for the Saskatchewan 2007 JUNO Compilation CD representing the best in new music from the province.
- He landed performances at JUNOfest ‘07 and Ness Creek Music Festival ‘07 gaining exposure to many new fans.
- He licensed 2 new songs to operatic tenor Derrick Miller (Canadian Opera Company) for release in 2007.
- Co-writes with artists in Sweden, the UK and Los Angeles were released.
- And of course he signed his production deal with Justin Gray/Big Boom Entertainment to record his 2008 release.
Praise for Jeffery’s writing has recently included both the UNISONG and International Songwriting Competitions placing him in final rounds with comments like:
“A smash hit…fresh…killer chorus…poetic and clever” (Unisong)
Straker has also had the chance to share his songs abroad with his active touring schedule taking him to places like China (2005), Ireland (2004), and Panama (2006-on tour with the Canadian Embassy). June ‘06 took him to his debut in New York City where his album was nominated for “Recording of the Year” at the Outmusic awards. In addition to his songs Jeffery’s engaging audience rapport has helped him gain growing popularity. The experience he delivers when on stage caught the attention of the CBC who recorded a performance (with live audience) at their studios in May ‘06.
Historical Footnote After his first piano lessons in his hometown of Punnichy, Saskatchewan Jeffery was accepted into the Conservatory of Music at the University of Regina at age 15. He completed his Licentiate Diploma in Performance from Trinity College of Music, London England at age 19, having performed major works to strong acclaim. Over recent years, Jeff has merged his classical training with pop influences and further vocal training with the talented Elizabeth Davidson (Toronto) to create his signature sound. His first band experience was in his parents’ farmhouse basement playing piano & bass along with various traditional musicians from that ‘neck of the woods’. He’s also been known to be a mean fiddle player when you get a few drinks in him…..which doesn’t take much…
DiscographyMiddle of Somewhere (2002) (2-song single)
Petrified (2003)
Songs from Highway 15 (2006)
Step Right Up (2008)
*JeffStraker.com
Here is the video that is now in the top 10 on MuchMoreMusic:
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