Friday night is set to be a career-high performance for Whitehorse-born jazz performer Jesse Peters.

Peters will be performing a showcase at the CBC's Glenn Gould Studio on Friday night with his group The Jesse Peters Trio.

The event will be hosted by Massey Hall.

Since starting out as a local performer 13 years ago, Peters has received regional and international attention for his songwriting and powerful, soul-inspired piano and vocal sound.

Lately, he's been performing in a series of successful western Canadian showcases and earning himself a regular gig as a house piano pianist at Edmonton's Red Piano club.

"He has such a big voice, it fits that soul, Motown sound very well,” Debbie Peters, his mother and promoter, told the Star Tuesday.

Members of the Peters family have a long history in the Whitehorse music scene.

Growing up locally, Jesse attended F.H. Collins Secondary School, where he started playing alongside brother Graeme in the Peters-Drury Trio, with locally-raised singer Caroline Drury. The brothers released their first record in 1998.

Their mother, a classical flute instructor, soon became their manager.

"They recorded their first album at ages 16 and 18, then a couple more, which were very successful. They sold 30,000 copies,” she said.

The group released two albums and saw some critical success, both in Canada and internationally, receiving some national media attention and nods from big names in modern Jazz, including Ingrid Jensen and Diana Krall.

The group has since disbanded but has gone on to successful careers of their own. Graeme is currently the front man and guitar player for the Whitehorse band Speedcontrol, with youngest brother Jody as bass player and backup vocals.

Debbie Peters runs her own local production company, Magnum Opus Entertainment, and represents 12 artists, including Jesse. She was nominated for Agency of the Year at the past weekend's Western Canadian Music Awards, held in Whitehorse. (See photo spread, p. 6.)

Jesse now lives full-time in Edmonton. For the last five years, he has been working as a producer and songwriter, notably as a co-writer for Toronto-based Pop/R&B vocalist, Candice Chantrell.

Jesse has also been getting some attention for his work as a solo performer.

He performs a personal blend of funk and soul under the stage name Paramedic, and released his sophomore album Love, Doubt and Soul this year. The album was nominated for Urban Recording of the Year at the 2009 Western Canadian Music Awards.

"With that, he got a tremendous amount of attention, mostly in Alberta,” said Debbie.

"One song, Funky Schway, was picked up by Big Rock Brewery for a sampler and for that, he got a sum total of, 365 bottles of beer; he had a lot of friends that day,” said the musician's mother.

His performance at Glenn Gould has been a product of a series of higher-profile showcases such as the Canadian Arts Presenting Association (CAPACOA), and several more in western Canada and the U.S.

"Had five showcases in Canada and the United States. Played Jazz Alley in Seattle last September, part of the Western Arts Alliance,” said Debbie.

"There were buyers from the western third of the United States, college, university, community concert venues, one of the attendees used to book the Hollywood bowl; it was a big deal for him, and he has been hearing some positive feedback.”

His fifth album, Face Time, with the Trio, is a return to his roots as a crooner/jazz performer.

"This coming year and the next look great for him,” said his mom.

"He'll be doing lots of touring, and things are already coming out of the performance in Seattle. It looks like he could be going anywhere and everywhere from here on.”

Peters will perform selections from Face Time on Friday night.