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!"

Strange Phenomena Jacket

Here it is in all its glory, the jacket cover for my newest release, "Strange Phenomena." It was designed by my friend Phil, the proprieter of Kore Creative, one of the most inovative advertising/design companies in the world and located in England. I like it; It looks a little mysterious (perfect considering the title) and for once it isn't a big photo of me! Soon to be released so be on the lookout.

NAMM 2008

Spent January 17th through the 20th working at the NAMM show in Anaheim. I was demonstrating at the KTS/Xotic booth. KTS was showing their new tremolo blocks and saddles and Xotic, their guitars and brand new BB Plus pre-amp. A bunch of people came by to hang out and check out the new stuff; here I am with Andy Timmons (ex: Danger Danger) and Vinnie Moore (UFO). A lot of noise but it is always good to catch up with old friends and new gear.

My take on the gear shown: Vintage (type) guitars, effects and amps are in as well as seven and eight string basses. Kind of funny I thought, bassists are going for more and guitarists are shooting for less. Low watt amps are the rage now and everything for guitar is labeled as new-old, new-vintage and/or relic. Bass is over the top, meaning loud, long and strung with nothing less than seven strings. Bassists must be going through the stage guitarists went through in the 80's which tells me that within the next ten years vintage (type) basses will be back in style (meaning four stringed) and guitar will be back to shred (yikes). As usual, Drums are the same.