Free Times Live Christmas Recording - thanks Ryan
November 30, 2005
Thanks to Ryan at the Free Times cafe for pulling together such a great room-full of musicians and singers to record this years’ installment of the FREE TIMES holiday album. We recorded it live with only a few rehearsals and the vibe & sound was great. Can’t wait to hear some of it.
Saskatchewan tour is booking up - my tour out West to take my new album ‘Songs from highway 15′ across Saskatchewan is shaping up well. Several bookings are now confirmed, and more are coming in. The CD will be ready for purchase mid-Dec. Stay tuned!!
Great night at the Unicorn - Toronto
November 21, 2005
Had a wonderful night performing at the UNICORN in Toronto. The talented Alex Slate hosted a song-cirlce with the inspiring Dawn Langstroth, Maddy Slate, & Pascal Labillois as well as myself. The songs were superb, the vibe was relaxed and a great time was had by all. Thanks for the invite Pascal - I look forward to doing this evening again - so much great music in the room!! (and thanks Alex for having me). Last time I played that venue was a few years ago as a sit in pianist for the Sandy McIntyre celtic band. This song-writer night was a very different vibe! Thanks to everyone for the nice response to the tunes I previewed from the upcoming CD!!!
“Songs from Highway 15″; we’re halfway there
November 14, 2005
I’ve was in the studio last week on keys and vocals, with a talented drummer and oh-so-very-musical bass player, laying down live tracks for the upcoming: “Jeff Straker - Songs from Highway 15″ album. We have a bit more recording to do this week with some friends doing guest appearances and then Brian will work his mixing magic. The album will have an organic, live feeling (the piano trio and vocals were recorded live off the floor)- no trickery here folks!!! This recording style allowed the songs to really shine through - sounding close to a live show. The songs are all inspired by or about people/places from my home province of Saskatchewan. I look forward to the start of the tour in December/January. I’ll be out in the prairies supporting this release for a big part of this winter/spring.
