Reviews
Jeff’s Live Shows:
“. . . as usual you were great! Relaxed, talented, with a great sense of humour, love it!”
- Russell Leon - Songwriters Unite, Toronto (Oct ‘07)
“. . .your music has great energy. . . you are a superb performer. “
- Sandra Butel Artistic Director Regina Folk Festival (July ‘07)
“You blew me away with that song!… “
- Jason Blume - Nashville Hit Songwriter (May ‘07)
“Clever songwriting… like the Scissor Sisters meets Rufus Wainwright meets Sarah Slean - really unique”
- Justin Gray - Producer, Songwriter (May ‘07)
“One of the province’s hottest entertainers on the music scene “
- Ryan Kiedrowski - Northeast Sun Newspaper, Sask, (Sept ‘06)
“After 4 bars it’s a given that something wonderful is going on! “
- Steve McDonnell - Cathedral Village Arts Festival, Regina, SK, (June ‘06)
“Just a quick thank you for a great concert - You are definitely a natural on stage! Now, when can we expect to be able to buy your piano scores for ourselves?!”
- Laureen Magnussen - Concert Organizer, Saskatchewan (Jan 2006)
“One can’t help but be entertained. We would welcome him back anytime.”
- Susan Robertson - Outlook and District Arts Council (Jan 2006)
“The Crowd and the two other acts sharing the bill with Jeff at a recent performance, were enchanted by his theatrtical performing style and entertaining storytelling through song. His rootsy percussive sound sets him apart from other piano based artists and gives him a style all his own”.
- Tabassum Siddiqui, Toronto Arts Writer/Editor - Performance Toronto’s C’est What - June 2003
“We want to thank you for your terrific performance at the 2003 Queen East Canada Day event at Jimmie Simpson Park on July 1st. Our attendance was excellent at close to 5000 people . . . many people commented that your sound was “wonderful” and that they would like to see you return again next year. . . .”
- Queen East Canada Day Committee (Toronto) - July 1, 2003
Jeff’s Recordings:
“Sophisticated sound….memorable tunes. An uplifting sense to his melodies. Overall - an eminently listenable album”
- Dale Smith (National reviewer, OUTLOOKS magazine) - CD Review (April 2006)
“Great Songs . . . . . and that voice - what amazing vocal range!”
- Colin Grewar - CBC Radio Saskatchewan - Jan ‘06
“Beautiful chorus….Warm and inviting writing….Strong and engaging….Rich vocals and harmonies….Great Rich Voice”
- ‘Communities of Note’ Songwriting Contest: Fall 2003 - awarded 5th place nationally, Judges included: Edwin of ‘I Mother Earth’, Fred Turner of Bachman Turner Overdrive, Dale Russell of The Guess Who, Mitch Dorge of the Crash Test Dummies.
“A smash hit all the way around….full of fresh lyrics & ideas…. a killer chorus…poetic and clever”.
- UNISONG 2004 International Songwriting contest.
“Wonderful lyrics”
- Rita MacNeil - multiple Juno Award Winner - 2003
“Straker’s music is honest and eloquent - an obvious by-product of years of training and a genuine love for his craft. . . Catchy energetic and cleverly crafted, it is doubtless that these are crowd-pleasers in the repertoire whenever he performs live.”
- John Ayres (Arts Reviewer) OUTLOOKS - July 2003 (CD Review)
“Besides his obviously exceptional musical ability, Straker has got talent to spare in the lyric and voice department as well. Combine the wonderfully deep and sensitive lyrics with rich and bold music, and you get harmonic bliss.”
- Jon Pressick - TRADE Magazine: Summer 2003 Issue (CD Review of CD)
