Jim Ferguson's Reviews, Honors, Awards

"I can't think of anyone who has done more for jazz guitar than Jim Ferguson." —Jimmy Bruno, jazz guitar virtuoso

"Bluesy and swinging, Ferguson bears up under repeated listening." —Cadence Magazine, 1995

". . . [Moonstone] is convincing evidence of Jim Ferguson's place among the great fingerstyle jazz guitar artists. He fits in the ranks of Gene Bertoncini, Charlie Byrd, Ken Hatfield, and Lenny Breau."
—Just Jazz Guitar Magazine, 2010

"With his many excellent accomplishments, his quest for excellence, and his sensitive, informed writing, it is little wonder that many consider [Jim Ferguson] to be the Jazz Guitar Guru."
—20th Century Guitar Magazine, 2001

"Jim Ferguson is a well-seasoned music writer and a sought-after teacher of jazz guitar.... His playing is exciting and always swinging. This combination makes Jim a teacher who knows what to put in a book for students of jazz guitar." —Just Jazz Guitar Magazine, 2000

A biography of Jim Ferguson is featured in Maurice J. Summerfield’s The Jazz Guitar—Its Evolution, Players and Personalities since 1900.

Grammy^® Award nominee for Best Album Notes (Wes Montgomery—The Complete Riverside Recordings, Fantasy Records), 1994

Dedicatee of Jorge Morel’s "Romantico y Allegro Ritmico," 1992

Dedicatee of Charles Postlewate’s “Chinese Metronome,” 2009

Winner of Western Publishing Association's Maggie Award for Best Instructional Column for Jim's Guitar Player Magazine series Fundamentals (1989).

Winner of Western Publishing Association's Maggie Award for Best Instructional Series for Jim's Guitar Player Magazine Master Series (1988).

Recipient of a Great Lecturer Certificate of Honor, a student-nominated award sponsored by the California Faculty Association, at California State University Monterey Bay, academic year 2005/2006.

Review by Steve Marsh, Classical Guitar Magazine (January 2012 issue, Vol. 30, No. 5):

"Cirque Du Soul" for solo guitar by Jim Ferguson
Les Productions d'OZ, DZ1449 8pp.

"Cirque Du Soul" is a quirky and humorous piece, with an occasional hint of menace, which successfully evokes the strange world of the circus with its slightly off-kilter view of the world. It takes the form of a quick waltz with a somewhat strange bass-line melody linked together almost throughout the first part of the work by two-note chords.
A middle segment illustrates the composer's jazz background with a slower, graceful and moody passage containing some lush harmonies and some nice integration of harmonics with natural notes. The work concludes with a return of the waltz.
"Cirque du Soul" is an interesting and attractive composition, not too difficult for the intermediate player, and one, which I would imagine, could become many a student's favourite piece for a while.
The presentation is excellent with very useful fingering ideas and the ever-delightful artwork of Swiss artist Corina Sierk dominates the front cover in eye-catching style.

"The studies are engaging and a rewarding challenge well worth the time to play them. I liked number 6, and Howard Morgen is reminded of Stephen Sondheim by it." —Dr. Frank Forte, Just Jazz Guitar Magazine

"Atmospheric ballads, swinging numbers, incisive rhythm patterns, and simply sounded picturesque pieces can be found among the 12 studies. Influences of Miles Davis are heard, as are references to the studies by Leo Brouwer. The 12 studies are not that simple to play, but are of high educational value in the understanding of syncopated rhythms, the development of "swing feel," and typical jazz chord sequences. Each etude limits the technical challenges to a few elements. Bringing the pieces to life is a great deal of fun!" —Stefan Keun, GuitarWeb (translated from German)

Six of Jim's original compositions are included in the historic Contemporary Anthology Of Solo Guitar Music For Five Fingers, which includes works by renowned guitarists/composers from Europe, North America, South America and the Caribbean. Composers include Ernesto Cordero, Carlos Dorado, Jim Ferguson, David Flynn, Gerald Garcia, John Hall, Ricardo Iznaola, James Lentini, John Oliver, Charles Postlewate, Mirko Schrader, Burkhard 'Buck' Wolters and Luis Zea.

About Jim's contributions to Contemporary Anthology Of Solo Guitar Music For Five Fingers, editor Charles Postlewate said during a recent interview: "I wrote [an harmonic study for] Californian Jim Ferguson. Jim wrote two really clever and nice pieces inspired by the aforementioned Brouwer studies.  He also used some Lenny Breau harmonics (plucked with the thumb and touched at the node by the index finger) in three of his compositions and forced me to learn this technique. I had previously considered these harmonics as gimmicks. But when I began practicing them for his pieces and getting proficient with them, I saw that they are really useful at times in our standard repertoire, either in combination with standard RH harmonics or on the bass strings where RH harmonics tend to have a scraping sound when plucked with either the a finger or, as I do with the little finger, c, in a five-finger technique. I wrote 'Chinese Metronome' for him."

Classical Guitar Magazine's Stephen Kenyon, regarding Contemporary Anthology Of Solo Guitar Music For Five Fingers, said: "This was a huge project to undertake and deserves to be taken seriously."

Review from Just Jazz Guitar Magazine (No. 63), May 2010, reviewed by Dr. Frank Forte:

MOONSTONE by Jim Ferguson, solo guitar, all original pieces
SPRING STREET RECORDS, produced by Jim Ferguson

Howard Morgen introduced me to Jim Ferguson a few years ago and I have been enjoying his compositions, playing, arranging and writings and lessons ever since. He is always exciting, never predictable. Moonstone is the latest of his CDs and is a gift of beautiful fingerstyle playing, all original pieces showcasing much of Jim's musical offerings.
But first is it jazz guitar? Well, it is improvisational, fresh, original, and it swings. Why ask more?
Moonstone is the title of a 19th-century mystery novel. Jim, always reading, gives a bit of mystery to the title song of his CD. Herein is clear lyrical technique evoking many feelings.
In addition to being a player and composer, Jim is a teacher, writer and educator and this is reflected in the titles of many of his compositions. He goes into more detail in the liner notes. You can learn much about his thinking by checking his writings in Guitar Player, Jazz Times, Classical Guitar, his Mel Bay instructional books, and Downbeat, among others.
The guitar he uses on Moonstone is a 1989 cedar top Thomas Rein with d'Addario J51 hard tension strings. All tracks were recorded with a matched pair of Schoeps microphones through a Grace Design Lunatec v5 preamp. John Strother mixed and mastered the tracks, all this resulting in great pure sound and clearly heard tones.
The program, quite varied and emotionally charged, begins with a trilogy of Latin-influenced tunes, setting us up for some good listening. The themes are compelling and the progressions grasp the ear.
"Chuck's Waltz" is written for Charles Postlewate and, along with three other pieces on the CD, is included in Postelwate's Contemporary Anthology Of Solo Guitar Music For Five Fingers [Mel Bay]. The pinky of the right hand, mostly ignored, is explored here, and Jim has been interested in its use since meeting Lenny Breau.
"Lady Di," for Jim's lady friend, is a stately feeling, moving piece with interesting parallel movements and pedals. The movement from E major to A minor makes for great tonal contrasts and fires the soul.
There are 6 of his 12 Simple Jazzy Studies For Solo Guitar, which can be ordered from his website. As clearly as they are rendered on the CD, they can be studied by the player. The studies are engaging and a rewarding challenge well worth the time to play them. I liked number 6, and Howard Morgen is reminded of Stephen Sondheim by it.
So, there is much going on in Moonstone. I think the CD is convincing evidence of Jim Ferguson's place among the great fingerstyle jazz guitar artists. He fits in the ranks of Gene Bertoncini, Charlie Byrd, Ken Hatfield, and Lenny Breau. See if you hear it in Moonstone.

Review from Just Jazz Guitar Magazine (No. 41), November 2004, reviewed by Dr. Frank Forte:

CEDAR & SILVER by 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, Downbeat 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 Brouwer, 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.

"Loved your CD!!" —Susan Orlean, bestselling author of The Orchid Thief

"Listening to your CD right now. It's great!" —Marla Streb, champion mountain biker and classical pianist

Amazon Customer Review (April 2005), by Leo de Leon, jazz guitarist:
Cedar & Silver, A Modern Guitar Masterpiece (5/5 stars):
"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."

Cedar & Silver was cited in Guitar Player Magazine's "What's Spinning In The Editor's Heads This Month" section, December 2004

The score to "Asian Pavan" (from Cedar & Silver) was published in the October 2005 issue of Classical Guitar Magazine. "Asian Pavan" is also included in the Contemporary Anthology Of Solo Guitar Music For Five Fingers of the Right Hand (2009), along with 5 other original compositions by Jim.

Tracks from Cedar & Silver have been used in A&E and PBS programming, and on ABC, MTV India, The History Channel, and other national and international television networks.

All Blues for Jazz Guitar: "Essential for all of my students!" —Howard Morgen, guitarist and instructor

All Blues Soloing for Jazz Guitar: "Superb. One of the most comprehensive and clearly presented approaches to this much dissected subject." —20th Century Guitar Magazine

"[Ferguson's] trilogy could help up your status from Jazz Wannabe to Legit Hepcat. Dig it, man." —Guitar Player Magazine

"Ferguson's books are essential for anyone wishing to expand their jazz vocabulary." —Jimmy Bruno, jazz guitar virtuoso

All Blues Soloing for Jazz Guitar: "Learn these smoky lines, and you'll amaze your bandmates the next time they launch into a shuffle." —Guitar Player Magazine

"Taken together [Ferguson's books] offer myriad options in navigating various blues forms. An essential resource for students." —JazzTimes Magazine

All Blues for Jazz Guitar: "The examples on the CD are well executed, and contain that classic dry-as-a-bone archtop tone." —Fingerstyle Guitar Magazine

All Blues Scale for Jazz Guitar: "No other book stands alone and covers the blues scale as well." —Dr. Frank Forte, Just Jazz Guitar Magazine

All Intros & Endings for Jazz 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 Magazine

Shapes, Patterns & Lines for Jazz Guitar: "I would highly recommend this book. The concepts presented are easily digested and applied by any level of player and the material is laid out in a clear, easy-to-follow manner."
—Matthew Warnock, Just Jazz Guitar Magazine

All Blues Soloing for Jazz Guitar is a Mel Bay Bestseller.

All Blues for Jazz Guitar is a Mel Bay Bestseller, and was named one of "100 Great Guitar Books" by Acoustic Guitar Magazine.