Balkan & Beyond

Upcoming Gigs

• http://www.debone.com/gigs.html

• Rachenitza: Ferguson and Hastings on Kwazar TV, May 2007.Music starts in less than a minute into the show.
• Gankino: Ferguson and Hastings on Kwazar TV, May 2007.Music starts in less than a minute into the clip.

• "Kavari Karavaki" performed winter 2009 by Kevin Ferguson & Kevin Cosgrove.

• Samples from a live performance by Ferguson and Lara Triback with a typical lively crowd: Balkan And Beyond/Live At Costello's" CD.

• Samples of Ferguson's earlier but similar projects: DatedSamples.mp3.

Kevin Ferguson and percussionists such as Lara Triback, Chaz Hastings, Michael Beach & Kevin Cosgrove keep performances of traditional and extemporaneous Balkan and other world music interesting with lightning fast passages for the more lively dances such as Rachenitsa and dulcet nuanced interludes for the more mellow dances such as lesno. Tunes are often catered as to the listener and dancer requests as per the dance tune (from a menu) or rhythm requested, from the eastern European complex meters to Middle Eastern to eastern Indian to flamenco to Latin. Traditional melodies and improvisation are employed to create a unique performance every time, so that the music is never the same, yet still accommodating the traditional dance.

Performers:

Kevin Ferguson, Turkish saz & guitar: Balkan & Beyond is the brainchild of Kevin Ferguson who has gigged for over 3 decades both US coasts and in Europe (including as one of a few finalists in the international guitarists competition in Lausanne, Switzerland). His recent accoustic live shows have been compared to such esteemed guitarists as Macedonian Vlatko Stefanovski. Locally, he has played from big events like Sand In The City to live radio broadcasts/webcast (KBOO, KPSU, KKEY), to the Portland Art Museum (Museum After Hours), to many local clubs and some small cafes with musicians such as Noah Peterson, Rick Crittenden, members of JuJuba, Kafana Klub, Krebsic Orkestar and Brothers of The Baladi. Also, he is often invited to play in "elite" jams such as with Leche Cercel at The Fez Ballroom, 5/17/2007. He has 3 CD's, each with rave reviews such as "amazing" and www.guitar9.com best sellers (http://www.guitar9.com/cgi-local/artistnews.pl?artist=Kevin+Ferguson) of genres covering western classical on electric guitar, the music of the regions of the former Ottoman Empire, and many other world and original instrumental music.

For more on Ferguson's bio, see http://www.debone.com/bio.html

For more details of gig highlights, see http://www.debone.com/gigs.html.

Rotating Roster of Percussionists:

• Lara Triback, Percussion: Lara has been studying Middle Eastern and Balkan music and folk dance since 1997 and has performed and/or taught at music and dance festivals around the US and internationally. Combining strong percussive technique, creative musicality and impressive dancing-while-drumming skills, Lara can be found dancing with goc/ davul with Serbian "Gypsy Brass Band" Krebsic Orkestar, Milen Slavov's Balkan Fusion Project, or remaining in a more sedentary position while accompanying Middle Eastern band Sarab or Balkan band The Mora on darbuka, bass darbuka, frame drum or riqq. Lara is featured on Ferguson's Balkan And Beyond/Live At Costello's" CD.
• Chaz Hastings, Percussion: Chaz plays tablas, dumbek and cajon, covering an extremely wide range of rhythms from around the world. Chaz Hastings journeys to India to further refine his tabla virtuosity. He has performed with native Middle Eastern, Eastern European and other performers.
• Kevin Cosgrove, Percussion: Kevin plays dumbek as well as more traditionally latin instruments such as congas and bongos. He has performed with Ferguson in several other music projects including trap set in Ferguson's eclectic electric trio recorded on Ferguson's "Subtle Hint" CD.

Example Set List

Booking:503-525-1944, Email: booking@(no spam)debone.com