Joel Kroeker

Joel Kroeker is a Canadian singer/songwriter. During his musical career, he was signed to the True North Records music label. Kroeker is also a specialized ethnomusicologist and a registered clinical counsellor, an accredited music therapist and a Zürich-trained Jungian analyst. He is of Mennonite heritage. He has released two official albums ''Melodrama'' (2004) and ''Closer to the Flame'' (2007) in addition to an earlier independent album release called ''Naive Bohemian'' (1999).

Musical career

He graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Composition and Guitar Performance at the University of Manitoba in Edmonton and is a multi-instrumentalist playing guitar, bass, piano saxophone and an expert on ethnic musical instruments as well as a registered clinical counsellor and music therapist and instructor of music and drama. In 2010 and 2011, he was also part of a jazz formation called Jazz Council.

; Solo
His debut CD ''Naive Bohemian'' was an independent release in 1999 with some success on Canadian campus radio.

His first studio release was the album, ''Melodrama'' followed by '' Closer to the Flame''. He had great success in Quebec as well with his single co-written with Dany Bédar called "Déjà Vu". His most successful single to date is his song ''"Goodbye Jane"''. Kroeker has played in Randy Bachman's album ''"Jazz Thing"''.

; In Jazz Council
In 2010, Kroeker became part of the jazz band Jazz Council made up of Bernie Primbs (saxophone), Laurel Ralston (trumpet and flute), Sven Heyde (percussions) Tim Plait (piano) and Joel Kroeker (bass). The band had a successful debut album ''Dawn'' released in September 2011. ''BC Musician'' called the album "readily accessible and played with great energy and a high level of proficiency"

; Others
After Kroeker left Jazz Council in 2011, he took up a teaching position teaching music and drama in Sparwood, British Columbia.

Kroeker now works as a registered clinical counsellor and music therapist based in Victoria, British Columbia, conducting individual counselling/therapy sessions, music therapy, educational workshops and seminars. Kroeker is a founder and workshop facilitator of "Archetypal Music Psychotherapy" and its "Creativity Workshops".

In popular culture

The 2004 Canadian film ''Ham & Cheese'' directed by Warren P. Sonoda uses one of Kroeker's singles entitled ''"The Wind"''.

Discography

Albums

;Solo
*1999: ''Naive Bohemian'' (independent CD)
1. "Dreams (of Romeo and Juliet)" (4:06) – 2. "Angry Young Ballerina" (2:33) – 3. "New Order" (2:33) – 4. "Inner Child" (3:34) – 5. "The Village" (5:03) – 6. "Low-fi Archive No. 1 (strings)" (1:44) – 7. "Freak Bus" (4:35) – 8. "The Bully" (3:50) – 9. "Low-fi Archive No. 2 (muzak)" (1:31) – 10. "Gratitude" (4:52) – 11. "Academic Superhero" (4:12) – 12. "Not Like Me" (3:38) – 13. "Low-fi Archive No. 3 (vignette)" (2:22) – 14. "Leaving Home" (5:44)
*2004: ''Melodrama''
*2007: '' Closer to the Flame''

; as part of Jazz Council
*2011: ''Dawn''

Singles / Videos

*Goodbye Jan

*The Win

*Déjé Vu (with Dany Bédar)
*Against Mysel

Awards

*1999: Won Best New Recording Artist by the Alberta Recording Industry Association (ARIA)
*1999: Won Film Score of the Year by the Alberta Recording Industry Association (ARIA) for the documentary "Tokyo Gardens"
*2000: Nominated for SOCAN's Outstanding Songwriter of the Year Award
*2004: Nominated for both Outstanding Pop Album of the Year and Best Songwriter of the Year at the Western Canadian Music Awards.
*2007: Won Outstanding Pop Album of the Year for ''Closer to the Flame'' at the Western Canadian Music Awards

References

External links

Joel Kroeker Official siteJazz Council Official website

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kroeker, Joel
Living people
Canadian male singers
Canadian Mennonites
Canadian singer-songwriters
Musicians from Vancouver
Musicians from Winnipeg
Year of birth missing (living people)
Canadian male singer-songwriters
Mennonite musicians