Jake Oken-Berg

Bio:

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Jake Oken-Berg was born and raised in Portland, Oregon. A “Portland prodigy” (KINK FM), Jake's been playing piano, singing, and writing songs since age five and has performed in over 50 cities around the world. Combining jazz and pop piano styles with powerful vocals, his records are instantly catchy and his live shows are full of improvisational surprises.

Jake's music has been noted by Spin Magazine, The Oregonian, West Coast Performer Magazine, Palo Alto Weekly, The Portland Mercury, Willamette Week, Portland Monthly, Oregon Music Magazine and the Statesman Journal, and critics have compared his songs to Ben Folds, The Fray and Coldplay.

Jake has released two albums: Out The Door EP (2010) and Find Love EP (2009).

Member Since:

December 28, 2007

Members:

Jake Oken-Berg - Lead Vocals, Piano
Robert PeArt - Guitar
Jeff Koch - Guitar
Brud Giles - Drums
Sean Hudson - Bass
Anna Tivel - Violin

THE SOPHOMORE ALBUM: OUT THE DOOR EP (2010)

Jake’s second album, Out The Door EP, reveals even more of his musical talent. Recorded and produced by Rob Stroup at Portland’s 8 Ball Studio, the album ranges from blues to straight ahead pop-rock, and explores issues of trust, death and political courage. Jake was joined in the studio by a full cast of top west coast musicians including drummer Jeff Anthony (Sheryl Crow) and cellist Skip vonKuske (Portland Cello Project).

Reviews for Out The Door EP:

The Portland Mercury (2/11/10): "The lead track, 'Come Down' has a glowing R&B vibe, with warm electric piano tones providing the backdrop for a strutting guitar and drumbeat that evokes classic Stax/Volt... The EP's strongest moment is the confident, slow-burning 'Some Things Keep,' which shows Oken-Berg's gentle knack for melody."

Oregon Music News (2/11/10): "Oken-Berg has shown a tenacious aptitude for success. Now, he is doing it again, putting out his second EP in as many years, Out The Door. This five song EP combines pop, jazz and soft-rock to form a catchy collection that delves into personal issues of love, death and political activism. This modest and well-refined work delivers strong, heartfelt vocals with a solid musicianship that shows the multi-talented nature of this rising musician."

Willamette Week (2/10/10): "In 2000, at age 19, Jake Oken-Berg ran for mayor, snagging 27 percent of the city vote and nearly pushing Vera Katz into a runoff election. Eleven years later, Oken-Berg rabble-rouses around the piano throne instead of the soap box. His latest EP, Out the Door, is a nearly unplugged collection of ivory-driven skeletal pop... As is the case for Counting Crows, Oken-Berg is at his best... for a hunched-over and heart-rending intervention between man and his piano."

Portland Monthly (Feb. 2010): "Oken-Berg, one of the Northwest’s very own, has been doing his thing since the gentle age of five and combines poppy tracks spliced with melancholy jazz numbers to declare his own prodigal sound."

The Voice Of Energy (1/26/10): "The last song ['Gone'] though with just piano and male/female vocals is especially affecting though. A weepy break up song? A death knell? Whichever…it is as heartfelt as a song can get."

Palo Alto Weekly (11/27/09): "One song, 'In Front of Me,' [is] a poignant piece with a steady drum beat that keeps it moving away from sentimentality."

The Out The Door EP is available for just $3.99 at CD Baby (mp3 and CD) or iTunes (mp3).

THE DEBUT ALBUM: FIND LOVE EP (2009)

Combining Jake’s powerful vocals and signature piano licks with an expansive use of slide and rhythm guitars, strings, and driving drums, the debut Find Love EP will please music fans looking for a new pop album to add to their collection.

A product of four years of songwriting, the EP was recorded at Portland’s 8 Ball Studio by a full cast of top west coast musicians including jazz drummer Jeff Anthony (Sheryl Crow) and violinist Jason Barlow (Joni Harms).

Just released at the beginning of 2009, Jake’s first album is already receiving praise from critics:

“Oken-Berg co-fronts lush popsters the Retrofits, and his solo EP, Find Love, expands on the Retrofits' vintage tunesmithing with an ear toward the future... Despite the sensitive-guy sheen of many of the songs, Find Love never becomes overwrought, and Oken-Berg never fails to sound unpresumptuous and heartfelt. It's emotional music, without a trace of irony.” -The Portland Mercury

Willamette Week adds that "Oken-Berg definitely knows how to play--anything from the five-song EP would sit well next to the Fray in an ABC promo."

The album was co-produced by critically acclaimed recording artist Scott Fisher and the first single, Far From Home, was mixed by Grammy winning engineer Jesus “Chuy” Flores.

The Find Love EP is available for just $3.99 at CD Baby (mp3 and CD) or iTunes (mp3).

Performing "Man In The Mirror" with Debra Arlyn:

"Some Things Keep" Feat. Max Ribner on Flugel:

Performing "Something Less" Live At Jimmy Mak's:

Performing "When There's Nothing" w/ Debra Alryn:

Performing "Some Things Keep" Live At Jimmy Mak's:

Record Label:

ARAM RECORDS