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At long-last!!!!

 

BENCHMARK is ready for sale as of APRIL 18, 2015.

 

*Go to my CD BABY website to purchase the CD directly or digitally

["http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/drewferraro"].

 

This CD is very exciting for me – for many reasons. 

 

It took us almost two years with even more countless hours to hone-in and carve this album into a sweet experience for the listener. It was a wonderful journey and a learning experience I will always treasure.

 

The first to speak about is the most excellent engineer, motivator, drummer, Mr. Mike Daily, and his Studio-O-Four, in Marysville, WA!  His technical prowess, his patience and people skills with various types of musicians was incredibly valuable and flawless.  It is safe to say that the “lions share” of the producing credit goes to him.  More often than I, he is credited with the sixth sense to not only get a good product, but knowing when to say, ‘that’s enough”.  A rare and priceless skill.

 

Speaking of rare skills, the master at mastering, Mr. Chris Hanzsek did a fabulous job bringing this puppy to a professional level and, in the process, 'woke-up-the-giant' admirably!  Much thanks to you.  It will never be too soon to work with you again.

 

As for Mike Daily, he did nearly every percussion you hear on the album (I did the shakers on CONTEMPLATING, and some synthesized percussions).  It is such a treasure to have such a musician and steady beat-Meister on this project.  He always amazed me, was tasteful and flexible, and taught me a lot in the process [see under: “Less is more”].

 

Next, I cannot say enough about my friend of over thirty years, Mr. Bill Pfleging.  To say that his guitar work and fearlessness on the fret board – with a flat-pick or with a slide - can leave you breathless and scratching your head is an understatment!  I so appreciate his permission to record HORSE AND A BLANKET, and am still reeling from his resonator guitar performance.  Every other lead work he did on this album (most all of them) was done on his tiny & amazing “Stringsmith” guitar and shines with ingenious counter-melodies and lofty themes.  He deserves some honorable mention for his producer/motivator skills, that he employed a couple of times, with other performers and a couple of my vocal punch-ins!

 

Similarly, the bass stylings of Mr. Jimmy Culler make this album such a gem!  He forged a new feel for CONTEMPLATING, and settled us all down “in the pocket” for BESIDE ME with amazing grace, fortitude and quiet strength.  It would be an understatement to say that I would love to play with him live, or on any project; & the sooner-the-better!  His crickets are amazing.  A must-have in your arsenal!

 

Mr. Greg Deer stepped in to the project for bass on TENDER MERCY and also came to create the theme behind EARLY MORNING FAREWELLS.  I know he is a perfectionist, but the man definitely kept it live, poignant and clean throughout.  Just his presence and joy at making music were a relief to have in such an isolated environment where engineer and artist alike can find the “tunnel-vision” world of recording exhausting.
 

As for TENDER MERCY, I want to thank the Emmy Award winning singer-songwriter, Mr. Tim Noah for writing and for giving me permission to record this wonderful song.  It is the story of a drifter that came to work on his father’s farm, with work skills aplenty, but knew that the open road was where his was destined.  It expresses the man’s undying gratitude, and it has begun to feel like a personal anthem about myself…..making it the mark of a great song.  It has gotten much praise since adding it to my repertoire.  I pray I do it justice.  I love it so.

 

With Ms. Sue Clifford on electric piano and Ms. Mary Dessien on harp, EARLY MORNING FAREWELLS comes alive with movement in such a simple song.  I usually play this with an acoustic guitar, but we ended up giving the part to Sue and Mary, together.  A wonderful mixture came of the accents traded between the piano and the harp, moving through the stereo field - which makes this such a gem. 

 

Humble as he is, Mr. David Douglas came with his harmonica to play on TENDER MERCIES and stayed for HORSE AND A BLANKET; and he did not disappoint us.  Between rhythmic embellishments and jazzy fills, he now convinces me that he really needs to be on every tune on the next album!

 

The very mysterious Derrick And The Stevenos were work-horses on the vocal harmonies of THERE’S A PLACE IN THE WORLD FOR A GAMBLER.  This song deserves to be a gradual but tasteful build and blend, and they hit-the-nail-on-the-head.  We did not reproduce my hero, Dan Fogelberg’s recording - we gave TRIBUTE to it.  For this I am eternally grateful.

 

I thank Mr. Richard Fynn, whom I affectionately dub, “The Worlds Tallest Midget”, for his advice and cover design of the album itself.  It took a lot of work and re-work of graphics and photo arrangements til it was finally suitable for manufacturing, but I am very pleased and proud that he chose to give so much of his time to make this a reality.

 

Last, but by no means, least, I fall-on-my-knees in giving thanks to and for my wife, Cindy Ferraro (who’s photo graces the back cover, in the center, of the album jacket).  As my Touch-Stone, and an unwavering support throughout this entire project and beyond the studio =  You are one-in-a-Google.  I’ve tried to start an album about three other times in my life; all left on the shelf.   It was you who got this done, not me.  I very much doubt there was -or will ever be- another such a woman of such Brilliance and Grace.  I am, most assuredly, the luckiest man ever and forever, and I adore you.

 

Thank you.  Enjoy.  It was a pleasure making this for y’all. 

 

More electronic downloads are in process; like iTunes, Amazon MP3, 24/7, Google Music Store, and others.

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