Teja recorded his composition “Takoma” as a solo 12-string piece on the Test of Time album, and more recently, he and Doug Young also recorded a duet version, which is available on Apple Music, Spotify, and other streaming services. Teja and Doug gave the piece its live debut at the Side Door in Sacramento, California, and the performance was captured on video.
Teja Gerken & Doug Young Duo + Peter Janson in Berkeley, CA – Thursday, May 30th!
Please join the Teja Gerken & Doug Young Duo in a double-bill with Boston-area fingerstyle jazz guitarist Peter Janson at Berkeley’s Back Room on Thursday, May 30th! Click HERE for tickets, and check out this video for more info!
“Test of Time” Reviewed in ACOUSTIC GUITAR
“A Sonic Marvel from Top to Bottom” Read Blair Jackson’s full review here:
https://acousticguitar.com/review-teja-gerkens-test-of-time-is-a-sonic-marvel-from-top-to-bottom/?fbclid=IwAR1LXXirxFbhUjYu-9XU9x7oNwlcmYM7-AqzMNjaP-VeYx9AD2E8t6xpaTo
Teja is featured on Fretboard Journal’s Podcast!
Teja is the featured guest on the Fretboard Journal podcast! Tune in to hear Teja and Fretboard Journal publisher Jason Verlinde talk about “Test of Time,” the guitar used on the album, Teja’s fingerstyle influences, Peghead Nation, and more!
“Vicki’s Red Boots” Video
Dedicated to fellow guitarist and friend Vicki Genfan, “Vicki’s Red Boots” is the opening cut to Teja’s new album, “Test of Time.”
Purchase digital downloads or CDs of “Test of Time” on Bandcamp:
https://tejagerken.bandcamp.com/album/test-of-time
Listen to “Test of Time” on Spotify:
“Test of Time” to be Released January 2024!
Teja’s new album of solo acoustic fingerstyle guitar will be released on all major streaming platforms on January 1, 2024. CDs and digital downloads will be available via Bandcamp. Consisting of pieces that he has played on stage, but never committed to a recording, Test of Time is San Francisco Bay Area guitarist Teja Gerken’s third solo album. Featuring originals, tunes from the Celtic repertoire, a jazz standard, and a classical piece, Test of Time represents Teja’s fingerstyle guitar playing the way a typical performance does. Playing six-string, 12-string, and resonator guitars, Teja applies his keen melodic awareness, experimental spirit, and masterful technique to a set of road-tested solo guitar favorites.
Pre-Save “Test of Time” on Spotify! https://www.distrokid.com/hyperfollow/tejagerken/test-of-time
For media inquiries, please contact Teja at teja[at]tejagerken.com.
Teja Gerken & Richard Smith in Concert!
Michael Ferrucci and Rotary Club of Livermore Presents A “Frets & Friends” Production on Saturday, December 9th, at 7PM. Click HERE for more info and tickets!
When thinking of great guitar pickers, many names come to mind. Chet Atkins, Jerry Reed, Glenn Campbell, Eric Clapton, Jimmie Hendrix, Jeff Beck, Tommy Emmanuel. There are so many! It is my pleasure and privilege to announce that Richard Smith is coming to Livermore on Saturday, December 9th to play a fundraiser for the Livermore Rotary Music Scholarship Fund.
Richard Smith at age 11 was asked by Chet Atkins to come up on stage to play with him at Her Majesty’s theater in London. Now in his 40’s, he’s carved his place as one of the very best in the industry. Smith won the National Fingerstyle Guitar Championship in 2001 and the National Thumbpickers Hall of Fame named him Thumbpicker of the Year in 2008 and 2021. This will be his second time Richard has come to Livermore to support music education in our community.
Richard will be joined by San Francisco Bay Area guitarist Teja Gerken. Teja has enchanted audiences ever since coming onto the acoustic fingerstyle scene in the late 1990s. Initially influenced by guitarists such as John Renbourn, Michael Hedges, and Leo Kottke, Teja ultimately began weaving together his diverse musical interest into a style that is his own. Teja has fine-tuned his sets to include original compositions, Celtic traditionals, classical pieces, jazz standards, and some favorite tunes by his fingerstyle guitar peers.
Michael Ferrucci is known for his acoustic music productions throughout the S.F. Bay Area. Now retired from his previous incarnation as Livermore’s own “guitar guru” and owner of Fine Fretted Friends, a community music store in downtown Livermore. He remains an active Rotary member and founder of the Rotary Music Scholarship Fund.“Bringing this level of musicianship to Livermore is a very special experience for the audience” Michael says, “these concerts are an opportunity for all guitar music lovers, regardless of the genre, to be treated to an intimate and close up guitar experience”.
The Rotary music scholarship has been suffering in concert fundraising post pandemic. “It is why I urge our community to come out and support these concerts” say’s Ferrucci. He adds, “the proceeds from these concerts provide the essential funds and ability for Livermore music students that need help.” There has always been scholarships for academic performance as well as for sports achievements. Historically, there has been very little if any support those students interested in seeking a career in music. Michael stresses, “scholarships are awarded to help repair or acquire a new instruments and also help to support private lessons and tutoring”. It is because of this, Michael has come out of retirement to spearhead along with help from Livermore Rotarians, the largest scholarship fundraising concert in many years. Michael has brought artists such as Al Stewart, Laurence Juber (Wings), Muriel Anderson, Thom Bresh, Peppino D’Agostino, and Stanley Jordan to name a few to help support the Rotary Music Scholarship in the past 20 years. He’s hoping that this concert success will rekindle the essential support needed for this longstanding scholarship.
Teja Gerken & Doug Young Duo + Eric Skye Live in Berkeley, CA – September 16th
Join us for an extravaganza of the acoustic guitar in Berkeley, California, featuring the Teja Gerken & Doug Young Duo and Eric Skye!
TEJA GERKEN & DOUG YOUNG DUO + ERIC SKYE
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16TH, 8PM
THE BACKROOM
1984 BONITA AVE., BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA
(510) 654-3808
http://www.backroommusic.com
For tickets, please visit: https://tinyurl.com/3vdanrxz
New Video: 5927 California Street
Teja recently recorded a new video for his tune “5927 California Street,” named for San Francisco’s Bazaar Cafe, and featured on his Postcards album. Played on Teja’s 1999 Lowden O10 in DADGAD tuning.
Meeting of Acoustic Minds
Teja Gerken and Doug Young are happy to be part of a special “Meeting of Acoustic Minds” show at Odd Fellows Hall in Half Moon Bay, California on Saturday, February 11th. For info on this show benefitting local farmworkers, please visit https://hmb-odd.org/events/6211.