In the world of jazz, there are two types of performers, those who play for themselves, and those who play for their audience, Jesse is definitely the latter. With his soul bared at each and every performance his musical sincerity draws in anyone willing to let go and come along for the ride. Textures that honor Jesse’s great influences like Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett are fused into the modern sound that Jesse creates, and recreates every time he sits in front of a piano and microphone.
Blessed with a natural ability to convey both brilliant musicality, and true emotion with his voice, Jesse draws on life and tradition to craft the future. If this wasn’t enough, Jesse has become one of Canada’s most recognizable jazz pianists. The combination of these two talents creates a recipe for excitement, exploration, and interaction that has left audiences across North America standing in the aisles and screaming for more. Said one audience member, “They play exactly the kind of soulful, often rowdy, jazz I love.”
He has garnered rave reviews as a singer and songwriter from distinguished jazz artists Ingrid Jensen and Diana Krall. By the age of 21, his group, The Peters Drury Trio, had released two very successful jazz recordings and were distributed in Canada, the United States as well as in Hong Kong. Over the years, he has been featured in print media, on televison and on national and international radio. Jesse is also known as the face and voice of Edmonton-based funksoul artist Paramedic. Both Paramedic’s debut album and sophomore album were nominated for Western Canadian Music Awards (2006 and 2009).
Touring his latest project Face Time has taken him all over North America from the west coast of Canada to the east coast of the United States. Highlights have included the prestigious Glenn Gould Studio Theatre in Toronto, Canada (presented by Massey Hall), Dimitrou’s Jazz Alley in Seattle, Washington, USA and a performance in New York City this past January.
