We are all searching for that unique, fascinating and highly entertaining musical performance. Look no further, than singer-songwriter-pianist Jeffery Straker. Act II is excited to present Jeffery on the red piano at The Red Room Cabaret for 4 nights only, March 12, 13, 15 and 17 at 7:30 pm.
Jeffery Straker is in constant demand as a performer, doing more than 100 shows a year across Canada, the U.S. and abroad. As he sings along to his beautiful piano playing, Jeffery shares stories between songs, drawing the audience into an unforgettable experience. His distinctive voice, with its wide range and signature high notes, blends folk and pop. Jeffery be seen in intimate concerts to clubs, theatre shows, folk and jazz festivals and sometimes with symphony orchestras. One of his music videos even reached the top 10 nationally.
Originally from small town Saskatchewan, the classically trained pianist was raised by a church organist mother and auctioneer father. He swears he was born under the piano on the family farm. All this might explain his incredible ability to share songs with audiences. Jeffery is a musical descendant of Beethoven through teacher-student lineage (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 just 19.
Jeffery has showcased at major events including Canadian Music Week, NXNE, the Western Canadian Music Awards, & JunoFest as well as countless festivals. He’s licensed songs for TV, film and theatrical use and has appeared on television several times.
Canadian Musician Magazine has said, “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”. Listeners are indeed taking note. A significant recent career boost came from winning the prestigious Vina del Mar (Chile) song competition in 2014, representing Canada. Performing live to a festival crowd of 20,000 people and to a TV audience of 100,000,000 viewers across the Spanish-speaking world he gained a fan following in Latin America.
Jeffery launched his latest collection of songs, “Dirt Road Confessional” in May 2017 (Acronym/ Universal). The 12-song album put a folk-roots stamp on his singer-songwriter-piano sound with dobro, banjo, & steel guitar with stories centering around a musician’s life on the road. The work debuted at #5 on the iTunes Canada singer-songwriter charts and has been played on CBC Radio 1 and 2 as well as college/community radio across the country. Comparisons have been drawn to Harry Chapin, Kris Kristofferson as well as a young Billy Joel, but on Dirt Road Confessional his personal storytelling style stands out distinctly as his own.
Previous releases include his 2015 album “North Star Falling” which reached #9 on the iTunes singer-songwriter charts. In 2012 Straker released his album “Vagabond” and was met with critical acclaim with the Toronto Star giving it 4 (out of 4) stars calling it “one of the most faultlessly conceived and meticulously executed albums in any genre to come out of Canada in a long time”.
For more information or tickets for Jeffery’s shows go to www.actiientertainment.com. You can also read more about Jeffery at www.jefferystraker.com.
Press Quotes:
Guadalajara Reporter Feb 2015: (REVIEW OF SHOW) – “his lyrics are thought provoking and profound… Straker’s piano playing is superb. With his beautiful melodies and that distinctive voice with its surprising range and signature high notes, the combination is irresistible. The audience clearly loved him. Jeffery Straker will be welcome back any time, the sooner the better.” Emma Bergh-Apton
“Straker’s CD has traces of some of the best piano-based singer-songwriters of the past 40 years, couched in his inimitable and effervescent style of folk-alt/pop influences” – Calgary Herald
“This great work belongs on the shelf beside the finer recordings of Jackson Browne, Warren Zevon, & Elton John”
