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 and got a master's degree in music from the University of Alberta 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. 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 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" 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

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)

Singles / Videos

Awards