Russell Ferrara, Guitar in the Classic Style

Recordings

Gray Dog Down                                           debut album

My Current Touring Group
Gray Dog Down creates and performs acoustic flute and guitar pieces as well as pieces which employ expansive sounds emanating from my guitar synths and  partner Kim Robson's experimentation with flute sounds. Our programs,  recorded and live, reflect a diversity of mood, by turn lively, mellow and meditative, often linked to local places, people and even the animal friends in their lives. All of our concert music is performed live without backing tracks or computer assist. Their first, self titled album is a mirror of that stage show with no layered tracks.
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The Album is available on CD as a download via CD Baby, iTunes and Amazon
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Gregorian Meditations on the Mass                      upcoming Gray Dog Down  album

Gray Dog Down has created original meditations on Gregorian chant, which is one of the oldest and best-known musical traditions of the Christian church. Each of these new meditations is based on a pre-existing chant that has a place in the order of the Mass. Much in the manner of composers of the Renaissance period, who sometimes selected familiar chant melodies and used them as the basis or “cantus firmus” of a new work, Robson respectfully combined these ancient chants with contemporary harmony and rhythmic regularity. Ferrara’s virtuosic orchestrations of these re-imagined chants create a deeply spiritual realm where the listener is invited into a peaceful place of prayer and contemplation. 

Available June 2018

Hole in their heads                                                  Shadowdancer

My first foray into performances featuring the guitar synthesizer.  The recent interest in vintage synths has refreshed interest in this album.  

Shadowdancer was an indie-classical group formed from three musicians who had been working together in the field of Medieval and Renaissance music.

Colorful soundscapes in a richly eclectic collection of LIVE electronica with a variety of moods: percussive and upbeat, meditative and trance like, open and atmospheric. New Age meets Troubadour meets Ragtime.

For synth techies:  Performance Media: Yamaha Wind Synth, Roland GR-09 controlled by a Godin Multiac, Proteus FX/Boss Dr. Beat controlled by a Casio DG-20 and a Digitech foot controller.
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The Philadelphia Guitar Ensemble

During its 15 year run the Philadelphia Guitar Ensemble performed for universities, concert series, on radio and television throughout the mid-Atlantic states. Their programs include works for guitar quartet, trio, duo and mixed ensembles.  They were awarded a grant from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts to present compositions written for them by Pennsylvania composers.  The founding members who performed for the entire run of the group were myself, William Ghezzi and William Newman.  Patrick Setzer was the longest running 4th member. He was preceded by Mark Sachetti and Daniel Beller (who performed on this album).  After Patrick Setzer and William Ghezzi accepted distant academic appointments in quick succession, David Cullen filled in to help us fulfill our remaining contracts and William Newman and I disbanded the group.
The Philadelphia Guitar Ensemble on YouTube

 Revelation in the Courthouse Park                          The Harry Partch Ensemble             

I was fortunate to be asked, along with William Ghezzi and William Newman to play the prepared guitar parts in the AMTF production of iconoclastic American composer Harry Partch's "Revelation in the Courthouse Park".  The adulation of rock stars compared and contrasted with the Dionysusian tragedy of the King of Thebes.  Like nothing you've ever seen or heard.
New York Times Review of AMTF Revelation
Purchase "Revelation in the Courthouse Parkon CD

Too Cool                                                       Lynn Riley

I played on a track or two on this album by my old friend Lynn Riley and her band the World Mix. Infectious melodies over driving funk and world rhythms, totally contagious.

Lynn Riley enjoys a vibrant career as a jazz musician, composer, and educator, whose primary instruments are saxophone and flute. As the leader of The World-Mix, Lynn has been described more than once as "Superwoman" of the sax. 
Lynne Riley on the web
Preview and purchase "Too Cool"  on CD Baby