Shawn Harris

For once I'm not talking about myself too much in this post. I'm going to talk about an old friend, his name, Shawn Harris. Before I moved out to Los Angeles in the mid eighties, I was teaching at a small studio in Orlando. That's where I first met Shawn. Another teacher gave him to me saying that Shawn had drained him of everything he knew and asked if I would take over. So I did. Shawn was going to electrical engineering school but was really only interested in guitar. I would show him some scales and chords and we would jam during our lessons. I really wasn't much of a teacher back then, it took me another 15 years to become the kind of teacher somebody could make good use of. I became restless with my career and headed out to Los Angeles saying goodbye to Shawn and lost track. You can't really blame me though, this was the eightees, no email, facebook or myspace. Last week, after twenty years, we ran in to each other on myspace. Surprise, suprise! And he has a new CD out, "Temptation" which he sent me a copy of. I took a listen and liked the material. But the more I listen, the more I like it, so much so that I listen to it everyday. It is the kind of music that really grows on you. Shawn sings and plays mostly acoustic guitar with a rhythm section. The music is broody but uplifting. My favorite cuts are "Promised Land" and "Memories." I usually relentlessly promote my own music, but I have to suggest you have a listen to Shawn. I'll get back to myself later.

Links:

• Shawn Harris on iTunes


• And on cdbaby
  

-CJ

Check out the Doo!

Ha, ha, ha! Found this photo here in Japan. It's me, eighteen years old and in my first traveling band "Stryker." We meandered around the southern B circuit for a few years before fading away. I have pretty good memories of those times, especially playing spring break in Daytona Beach. Check out my hair, a Fro! I'm all the way on the left if you haven't figured it out yet. I've been looking for the other guitarist in the band for years. If anybody knows the whereabouts of Harvey Holten, let me know.

Easter Joy

I spent Easter with my beautiful daughter Melissa. We went to the annual Easter egg hunt on the spectacular grounds of the "Neighborhood Church" here in Palos Verdes Estates. It gave me a chance to reflect on life and Joy, what makes us feel Joy sometimes and what prevents us from having it other times in our lives.

When are we happiest? I realize now that it is when good things coincide in our lives and where they overlap, we find joy, happiness, peace and comfort.

When the things we love to do and have to do find common ground. I know Joy when I play guitar and can pay my way because of it. I feel truly lucky to be a musician and to be paid for my work.

When what we want, have and need overlap. That is why rich people don't really have a better chance at being happier than the rest of us. Finding satisfaction in what we have worked so hard for is more important than continuously striving to get more. Being a simple man is a good thing.


When love coincides we find Joy. When the people we love, love us. Being loved by one's family is Joy and loving God and being loved by him is Joy as well. I find utter bliss in my daughters smile and embrace.

Strange Phenomena - frettunes.com

Strange Phenomena on frettunes.com - My newest release is up only on frettunes.com. Still waiting for magnatune, iTunes and the rest to list it. This CD is only available for download for the time being. Some reviews are in:

"Again, Chris makes the art of guitar playing seem effortless. A no holds barred, in your face, work of art. And that just describes my least favorite track on the CD. Think 'Texas Flood' meets 'Second Winter'." -Brent Bradley, Podshow Radio

"Listening to Chris Juergensen play brings a smile to my face, it makes me feel good. So much so, I have trouble calling it 'Blues', I prefer to call it near audio perfection." -Eban Crawford, Reaching For Lucidity

"Re-energising the genre, Juergensen's newest release is a typhoon of raw energy, pure and honest blues rock at it's finest. Just what 11 on the dial was waiting for." -Colin Meeks, Indie Launchpad

Concert/Seminar Featuring Arion Chorus Pedal

I managed to squeeze in a concert in the early afternoon today. We had a great time. I opened with "Row Row Row Your Boat" in E and followed up with "Bah Bah Black Sheep", "ABC Song" and "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" medley. After that "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" with that finger stuff included. For and encore they brought me back for "The Wheels On the Bus" They were interested in what kind of gear I used so I did a demonstration of the Arion SCH-1 chorus pedal for them. The response was that the pedal made the guitar sound "Squishy" and possibly "Juicy." I explained to their astonishment that the pedal had been modded by the nice people at EXOTiC to be made true bypass. They seemed to be impressed by the concept. My daughter Melissa is standing behind me (looking the other way with her mouth open).

Trying out the modded Arion Chorus. Basically makes the guitar sound "Squishy" and "Juicy!"