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Biography

Jim Jeffrey’s experiences in music began in the Youngtown-Warren area of Ohio, where he studied with local jazz guitar legend Teddy Pantelas and classical guitarist, Paul Petric. He followed his love of music to Youngstown State University, attaining a bachelor of music degree in performance with an emphasis on jazz, where he performed with country music composer and Grammy award winner, Bob DiPiero.

Jim was soon earning his road worn chops while doing various nightly performances, both solo and with other musicians, such as another local favorite, Dave LeMasters. He also made guest performances at Cedars Cafe, alongside the Teddy Pantelas Trio in Youngstown, Ohio.

After making the move to Los Angeles area in 2003, Jim ventured into the recording arena assisting producer/engineer Duane Baron (Heart, Motley Crue, Ozzy). Upon his arrival to Los Angeles, he had the opportunity to study and perform with world-class Jazz guitarist, Sid Jacobs. He has expanded his base by working on freelance projects as an audio engineer, which include engineering the audio for a CD to accompany Mel Bay’s Jazz Guitar Standards, and the CD to accompany Sid Jacob’s Advanced Guitar Improvisations. He also worked with Duane Baron on The Last Goodnight's first release for Virgin records, "Poison Kiss", and The Ken Oak Band's (Now Oak and Gorski), Vienna to Venice". Jim continues to perform at various local music venues as a solo artist and with other local musicians and is available for performances, music lessons and studio work throughout Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Jim has just completed a CD of his own recordings titled, So Cold, which can be purchased from this site.

Mission Statement

For many long years musicians have felt the need to be signed to record labels to produce and market their own music. The elusive record contract has become a Holy Grail to many musicians but many independent artists have proven this truth to be a fallacy.

Other up-and-coming bands are also finding commercial success marketing their music on homemade CD's and making their songs available through online formats such as download and social networking sites.

So what if you can't afford thousands of dollars for studio time? Not to worry, as today's technology allows you to make a pro quality CD in your own home.

And thus in this spirit was created “So Cold”. Using only home equipment consisting of a computer with recording software, microphone, a selection of instruments and sheer determination this project was conceived and completed entirely in my own home. All songs were recorded and mixed at my home on non-pro equipment, doing all of the writing, producing, recording and mixing myself.

Any musician with a small amount of gear and a lot of devotion can make a pro quality CD. If you have ambition you can market it yourself, and you don't have to let your dreams go by the wayside while waiting for a label to call.

On this CD I play guitar, bass, banjo, flute, cello, percussion, sitar, keyboards and harmonica, as well as sing. On a few tracks other musicians were brought in to get a different feel. Teddy Pentelas, for example, plays a wonderful jazz progression with distorted solos and clean stuff on "Sky". Jonathan Wilson, maker of the Guitar Viol (a Bowed Guitar), also performes on the title track to the CD, "So Cold"

The hardest part of the process was fighting past being over critical of my music in order to become objective. When you do all the steps from writing to producing all these crazy mental things go on in your head, you just have to fight past it.

Having played jazz and heavy metal, I was looking for a more simplistic yet powerful approach to my music, taking inspiration from Johnny Cash's American Recordings, namely the "A Hundred Highways" disc.

These songs are so simple but so powerful, nothing the use of good lyrics, five chords and a melody to convey so much raw emotion in a recording. Playing complicated music can be very rewarding but if one can't play simple, powerful songs then how can they truly play something so complex and convey the same feelings?"

I am so grateful to friends who helped with other aspects of the project such as designing this website, writing copy for the site or even offering insightful comments and words of encouragement. If this record does anything I hope it inspires others to do the same.

Download Jim’s new CD, So Cold by clicking the image above.

Sit in on Free Guitar Lessons

Listen to some of the 
Tracks from "So Cold"

Read Jim's Bio

Contact Jim