Butane Fumes and Bad Cologne by Big Rude Jake

In the first few years of his career, he actually avoided playing in jazz venues altogether. Instead, he performed his own jazz and swing compositions in rock venues and blues bars across Canada, where he hoped to find the kindred spirits who could appreciate his dream of a “Bawdy House Jazz” revival.

Originally billed as “alternative music,” Jake’s vision caught the attention of media across the country. He made a splash in magazines and newspapers in every major city in the land, on TV and on radio, and performed live for thousands of people. His independent records were sold in the “rock,” “punk” and “alternative” sections in record stores, and he proved that Jazz and Swing, with the right attitude, could have as much street credibility as any rock, soul or hip-hop act in the country.

Then came the rise of such U.S. bands as Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and the Squirrel Nut Zippers, and suddenly, Jake was swept up into the Neo-Swing movement that was all the rage across North America. Understanding that he needed to develop a more international profile, Jake moved to New York, where he marketed himself to American records companies.

There, he signed with RoadRunner Records and began touring Europe and the United States. More importantly, while living in New York, Jake had a chance to work with some of the finest jazz musicians in the world, further developing his craft as a singer and as a song-writer, and acquiring an deep affection for the Jazz community. Eventually, he would grow beyond the “Bawdy House” Jazz that was his beginnings, and begin to pen tunes reminiscent of the smooth and sophisticated styles of New York Jazz artists from the 1950’s

Back in Toronto, Jake was still mixing it up musically, and released a new album in 2002, when tragedy struck. Jake was hit by a taxicab while riding his bike home from a gig in the middle of the night. Unable to sing, much less tour his new album, Jake went into a semi-retirement, Still selling copies of his new record, but largely unable to promote it as it deserved.

But the years away from the music industry seem to have done him good. His body is fully healed, and he is actually in better physical shape then he has been since high-school. He’s also not so big any more, having lost 60 lbs since his days in New York. He’s also more relaxed, having pursued his interest Zen and Eastern thought in order to find some personal strength after the accident.

Jake also studied business over the last few years, and started a new company, called PIVOTAL Productions, with the intention of getting back into music on a more skillful level.

Perhaps most importantly, Jake has returned to his roots, and in the process of recording a new album of all –original music with strong basis on Traditional Jazz and the root of Jazz, including Gospel and Ragtime.

check out bigrudejake.com

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therealbigrudejake on myspace

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