Jeffery Straker

Artist Information

Biography

Recent Highlights:
- Oct 1 2011 - Orchestral debut with Regina Symphony Orchestra
- Aug 2011 - Regina Folk Festival appearance
- May 2011 - Debut at Canada's National Arts Centre
- New album released June 2011
- national broadcast on CBC Radio Canada Live (April 2010)
- Canada-wide distribution - Acronym EMI
- Top 10 Video (#6) on MUCH MORE MUSIC Canada ('10)

BOOKINGS:
Canada/US: Paquin Entertainment
agent: Grant Paley 204-988-1125
grant@paquinentertainment.com

Publicity/Media:
Holly Cybulski
647-348-3468
hcconsulting@rogers.com

“Rufus Wainwright, as well as k.d. lang, are among Canadians making essential and beautiful music. Add the name Jeffery Straker to that list." Chicago Free Press (Jan 2009)

“Witty pop…energetic & emotional. A comet of energy bursting off the stage”. Saskatoon Star Phoenix (Aug 2011)

“Straker’s infectious grooves blend his mastery of the ebony and ivory with a strong sensibility for writing sunny hooks. It’s hard to pin down his unique sound, but it reminds me of old school Elton John, or even better yet, some of the more piano based Queen songs. His fearless, yet smooth vocals even remind me of Freddie Mercury, one of the best singers of all time.” Craig Silliphant (Planet S Magazine, Thoughtlab Media, Polaris Music Prize Juror - July 2011)

"Straker is very much an artist to watch." (Canadian Musician Feb 2009)

BIO

Singer-songwriter-pianist Jeffery Straker performs over 100 shows per year across Canada. He recently recorded for CBC radio’s ‘Canada Live’, and had a music video rise to the top 10 (#6) on Canada’s Much More Music. His previous album ‘Step Right Up’ was the #5 selling album in his home-land of Saskatchewan in August 2010, ahead of both Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga. He’s sure neither of them cared. But he is sure that he, in fact, did. He’s just launched a new album, ‘under the soles of my shoes’ (June 2011), and is touring Canada in support of it with shows ranging from intimate house concerts to a show with the full Regina Symphony Orchestra (Oct 2011). Canadian Musician Magazine has written of Straker’s folk-pop-cabaret music: “Very much an artist to watch” while the Chicago Free Press has written: “Rufus Wainwright as well as k.d. lang are among the Canadians making essential and beautiful music…add the name Jeffery Straker to that list”.

Jeffery and his piano-pop music are most often compared to a mixture of early Elton John, Ben Folds, & Sarah Slean and Canadian Musician Magazine recently said, “Very much an artist to watch”. Originally from small town Saskatchewan, the classically trained pianist was raised by a church organist mother and an auctioneer father. He swears he was born under the piano on the family farm. All this might explain his ability to share songs with audiences. His recent touring has seen him share songs at: a debut performance at the National Arts Centre (Ottawa), a return to the Breakout West Festival (Whitehorse, Yukon), Regina Folk Festival, and Canadian Music Week (Toronto). He has also performed at JunoFest and NXNE and recently toured in Ghana (Africa).

His songwriting has seen him become a national top 10 finalist in the Canadian Radiostar Songwriting Competition and a top 20 finalist in the global Unisong Competition. In September 2010 he was honored to be short-listed for the Sask. Lieutenant Governor’s Arts Award. Not at all sure if he would actually win it, he was delighted to attend the gala as he was sure the cake would be amazing. It was.

Straker has already completed recording new songs for his next release. This time out he used Glenn Gould’s famed ‘practice’ grand piano (at the CBC studios in Toronto) with Danny Michel as producer. The album will launch in 2012.

Jeffery is a musical descendant of Beethoven through teacher-student lineage (seriously...see his website for the full story). He was a student of the Royal Conservatory of Music and received his licentiate diploma in piano performance from Trinity College, London when he was 19.

Jeffery thanks the Saskatchewan Arts Board and FACTOR for their on-going support of his music.

Watch for the new album late 2012.

For Tour dates, Music + Videos: www.jeffstraker.com
e-mail: jeffstraker88@rogers.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/jefferystraker
Facebook: www.facebook.com/jeffery.straker.music
Jeffery is represented by Paquin entertainment

Instrumentation

Jeff Straker - Piano & Vocals for solo shows

In full band show:
Bass, drums, backing vocals & cello, and sometimes... Sousaphone

(Solo performances work well in the right venue)

Discography

under the soles of my shoes - 2011 - Acronym/MDM EMI Canada
- singles 'brand new ocean' & 'gone' receiving airplay in Canada

Step Right Up - 2008 independent release/2010 re-release on Universal Canada/Conveyor
- single: Hypnotized reached #6 on Much More Music (Canada)
- Hypnotized & Somewhere Between received radio play in Canada

Songs from Highway 15 (full length CD) - Jan 2006.

Petrified (full length CD release) - March 2003.

Links

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Website
• MySpace
• Youtube Channel

Audio

• gone
  Listen  
• fall from grace
  Listen  
• Somewhere Between
  Listen  
• slings and arrows
  Listen  
• the stars played tricks
  Listen  
• Hypnotized
  Listen  
• Snowflake
  Listen  
• The Storm
  Listen  
• oh god i'm cinderella
  Listen  
• brand new ocean
  Listen  

Lyrics

• Hypnotized
• Sad Song
• Snowflake
• Somewhere Between
• Flat Lines
• Fall From Grace

Video

Hypnotized Music Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• Album review - (Step Right Up) [+ Show ]
  

  “Rufus Wainwright, as well as k.d. lang are among the Canadians making essential and beautiful music...“Rufus Wainwright, as well as k.d. lang are among the Canadians making essential and beautiful music. Add the name Jeffery Straker to that list. Straker’s strong and playful vocals combined with his considerable songwriting talents make his debut album “Step Right Up” (jeffstraker.com) an invitation that’s nearly impossible to resist."
  Jan 09

• Album Review (Step Right Up) [+ Show ]
  

  "Cycling through that Justin Gray-produced record I could not help but wonder why he’s not already a..."Cycling through that Justin Gray-produced record I could not help but wonder why he’s not already a star in this country. Over time, he’s evolved into a fine songwriter with great lyrical sensibilities...His music is a marvelous marriage of style and substance. Straker is very much an artist to watch." (Jan-Feb 09)

• Performance Review [+ Show ]
  

  I was enthralled by your performance, as was the audience. Never have I seen a crowd erupt with such...I was enthralled by your performance, as was the audience. Never have I seen a crowd erupt with such applause, appreciation and enthusiasm’- Marilyn Sigda CJTR 91.3fm (June ‘08)
  

• Album Review (Step Right Up) [+ Show ]
  

  “Another great disc of music!! I am always happy to spin good tunes, thanks for continuing to make t...“Another great disc of music!! I am always happy to spin good tunes, thanks for continuing to make them!”
  - Dan Reynish - Host/Producer, Saskatchewan Weekend CBC Radio
  

• Performance Review
  

  “. . .your music has great energy. . . you are a superb performer. ” (July ‘08)

• Performance Review [+ Show ]
  

  "Straker was on the piano and had a bright, whimsical, cabaret sound, accompanied by a barrel of lyr..."Straker was on the piano and had a bright, whimsical, cabaret sound, accompanied by a barrel of lyrics based mostly on personal experiences. With Elton John ala Tiny Dancer inspired pianos and MIKA vocals, you can’t help but sit up and take a listen."
  www.spotthegroove.com Sept 08
  

• Album Review (Step Right Up)
  

  “Musically delicious” - Outlooks Magazine, National / Canada (Aug ‘08)

• Album Review-Step Right Up
  

  " A stunning collection of cabaret pop" - xtra.ca & xtra-toronto

• Album Review (Step Right Up) [+ Show ]
  

  ‘There’s so much energy and fun here the effect is almost psychedlic, like being drunk on a rainbow....‘There’s so much energy and fun here the effect is almost psychedlic, like being drunk on a rainbow. A set of wickedly theatrical piano-driven chamber pop songs, Step Right Up is in every jubilant note a manifesto of escape.’
  ‘He grinningly sidesteps banality and crafts lyrics that are neither bored nor boring.’
  ‘this is a great listen’
  www.oxyfication.net
  

• Performance Review [+ Show ]
  

  “You are a HUGE talent with a great band. Your fans LOVE you, your wit and your musical, conceptual...“You are a HUGE talent with a great band. Your fans LOVE you, your wit and your musical, conceptual and lyrical brilliance. If this was 1970, you would be Reginald Dwight. Best thing I've seen in years."
  - Mark Schmidt – Talent Buyer, Casino Regina (June ’08)
  

Setlist

Concerts are typically 2x45 min sets. Can customize to meet bookers needs.
I perform my music in a variety of ways, with 50+ original songs in my repertoire.
Cover requests can often be accommodated.

Solo Show:
I can do a piano/vocal show (solo) doing stripped down versions of my songs. It's really well received. Works well for coffee houses, house concerts, small spaces. I've done these in larger halls as well.

Duo Show: Myself on piano/vocals backed by either a backing vocalist, or a bass player or cellist. Nice and intimate. Suitable for same types of venues as solo show.

Want something a little bit bigger?:
Full Band - piano/bass/drums/backing vocals (quartet) is most commonly booked show format. We can added in strings as well. ask me.

We've been receiving consistent great feedback from bookers! We'll aim for same with you too. If not, I'll eat my piano....

Cover Tunes:
I often include a couple cover tunes in my shows and can cater those tunes to whoever the audience is. I know quite a few and can dig one up for you if you ask me. (My list ranges from Joni Mitchell to Radiohead to Elton John with many between).

Can supply a specific set list and tune lengths on request.

Basic Requirements

Calendar