Who:
Chris Jeckel became a catalyst in 2003 when he decided to pull his resources together and began writing and co-producing 'When Eggs Go Rotten'. He appropriately used the pen name of The High Street Orchestra, which is comprised of the four original band members along with new producers, DJs, and MC accompaniment.
Father Larry (psychoanalyst/professor) and mother Nancy (college librarian) encouraged Jeck and his older brother, Ben, to be curious about all things at an early age. Jeck's first radio experience was working at a local PBS station when he was twelve years old. He began freestyling at sixteen, mostly with friends.
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Later that year, Jeck would lose his most of his eyesight leaving him legally blind which had a tremendous effect on him, his family, and his friends. He was in and out of the operating room, but still free styling among different circles and making music. Jeck began his studies at Parkland College and taught adaptive software to a couple of visually impaired students, also at Parkland. In addition, he distributed jungle/hip-hop mix tapes around the area. Jeck then moved out to Portland, Oregon for a little over a year. While he was there, he joined the band Public Groovement, which provided him with a jam band / hip-hop plateau to scream and shout about the frustrations of being visually impaired. "Everybody looks the same, and I always get on the wrong bus, but Braille gets chicks", says Jeck. |
Jeck returned to the Midwest and the following summer in 2003, he worked as an intern at Q101, Chicago's new rock alternative. From there Jeck would declare himself the House MC, sending his freestyle message to the unseen world of radio on the afternoon drive called the 'Friday Flow' (sample on demo). Jeck freestyled on stage during a set by the Arizona based punk band, Authority Zero, at the Clark Street Festival in Chicago. He produced a bit for Eric 'Mancow' Muller on Mancow's Morning Madness. That summer, Jeck competed on the third stage in a freestyle battle at Lollapalooza and won. He hasn't been as lucky, however, at the weekly Monday battles at the Wild Hare. Now Jeck prefers the more poetic open mic atmosphere on Thursday nights at Subterranean in eclectic, vibrant Wicker Park. Jeck says, "Sometimes I battle at bars and parties, but I like cyphers better because they're about cooperation and love rather than hostile vernacular".
Six years later after several retinal eye surgeries, lengthy recoveries, eye drops, tears, and hard work, Jeck gained some eyesight back. His perspective remains interesting and original due to the blend of his past experiences interacting with his current life. Graduating from the University of Illinois at Chicago with a degree in psychology, Jeck stays focused on his stage presence which doesn’t allow room for drugs and alcohol. Jeck finished the writing program at The Second City in Chicago, and the improv program at the Improv Olympic. As always, he is currently scouting ideas, people, and concepts for new material. Jeck also frequents open mic night from The Green Mill to Subterranean.
The High Street Orchestra is currently recording their sophomore album.