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Review from Just Jazz Guitar Magazine (No.
41), November, 2004:
CEDAR & SILVER JIM FERGUSON
MUSIC FOR SOLO GUITAR
This CD was recorded in 2004 on Spring Street Records, P.O.
Box 551, Santa Cruz, California 95061-0551. It is always a pleasant
surprise to receive a book or a CD from Jim Ferguson, but this
was really the biggest surprise that he's sent my way to date.
Cedar & Silver is a solo CD with Jim Ferguson performing
thirteen beautiful compositions on a cedar top nylon string guitar.
All but two are his own. He is doing this fingerstyle, and his
technique is impeccable. The guitar is by Thomas Rein of St.
Louis, MO, and it is a joy to hear the responses and tone Jim
urges from this scrumptious guitar. The instrument and the player
are bonded and you can hear it.
We know Jim well for the Mel Bay Publications "All Blues
for Jazz Guitar," "All Blues Soloing for Jazz Guitar,"
"All Blues Scale for Jazz Guitar," "All Solos
& Grooves for Jazz Guitar," and "All Intros &
Endings for Jazz Guitar." He is sought after as a teacher
and writer and is on the faculty of California State University.
His articles have been seen in JazzTimes, Down Beat and other
magazines. But this CD is not just jazz, nor is it classical
music. It is the product of a fine composer who loves the guitar
and finds many stimuli to write playable music for the instrument.
Here is a very interesting side of Jim's musical life. Noted
as a writer and an educator, Grammy nominated for his writing
and a former editor of Guitar Player Magazine, he is now
showing us that he is a wonderful composer for guitar, and although
these pieces are played on classical guitar they are distinctly
his own and not an imitation of classical work from the past.
A second listen has us realizing that he is a jazz guitarist.
Chord progressions, and jazz influenced lines are in his blood
and this music.
He is not a foreigner to the study of classical guitar and has
even written several volumes published by GSP of San Francisco
including instructional material devoted to the studies of Leo
Brower, Fernando Sor, and Matteo Carcassi. His love of the classics
and his knowledge sings out in this work.
I know that Jim loves jazz, but he loves the guitar more, and
this CD certainly is evidence of this. All the pieces are unique
and distinctive, and it is just wonderful to listen to these
endeavors produced by a man who is so versed in teaching jazz
and blues guitar.
I loved the flagship piece "Cedar & Silver." It
gives a feeling of South America and wonderful weather. There
is a nice modal piece, "Nisene," which is named after
a state park where Jim mountain bikes.
"Horace" is dedicated to the jazz pianist composer
Horace Silver and includes some references to a couple of his
tunes in the introduction, and some of this was not written but
improvised. And so it goes, with "Medley for Kirk,"
which is a take off on some movie themes. This one is a medley
and not all original. The haunting opener, "Asian Pavan"
is based on two Japanese pentatonic scales. Jim wrote it while
teaching a survey of world music. The theme is stated and carried
through an intriguing harmony. All the pieces are based on engaging
motifs and are full of musical enjoyment.
Throughout the entire CD there is a wonderful feeling of soulful
sensitivity demonstrated by this ever so multifaceted virtuoso
guitar player. Although it is not straight ahead jazz, this is
one to listen to.
Reviewed by Dr. Frank Forte
Amazon Customer Review (April, 2005)--Cedar & Silver,
A Modern Guitar Masterpiece
Jim Ferguson displays his guitar virtuosity as well as his
eclectic taste in music. Every style from blues, jazz, classical,
Asian, Brazilian, gospel, folk, and country finds its way onto
this recording. This album was designed for people like me who
absolutely love the sound of a guitar, and who have eclectic
tastes in music. I am also a serious student of guitar, and for
me this recording will not only be pure listening pleasure, but
also a lesson in guitar virtuosity and composition.
Reviewed by Leo de Leon
Tracks from Cedar & Silver have been used in A&E and
PBS programming!
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Book Review Excerpts & Comments
"[Ferguson's] trilogy could help up your status from
Jazz Wannabe to Legit Hepcat. Dig it, man."
-- Guitar Player
"Superb. One of the most comprehensive and clearly presented
approaches to this much dissected subject."
-- 20 th Century Guitar
"Learn these smoky lines, and you'll amaze your bandmates
the next time they launch into a shuffle."
-- Guitar Player
"Ferguson's books are essential for anyone wishing to
expand their jazz vocabulary." -- Jimmy Bruno
"Taken together [Ferguson's books] offer myriad options
in navigating various blues forms. An essential resource for
students." -- JazzTimes
"The examples on the CD are well executed, and contain
that classic dry-as-a-bone archtop tone." -- Fingerstyle
Guitar
"Jim Ferguson continues with a terrific book of all intros
and endings. If you've ever had trouble coming up with interesting
intros or endings, this will surely help. Highly recommended."
-- Just Jazz Guitar
"Essential for all of my students!" -- Howard
Morgen
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