"The Magic Hour is a killer collection of original material. Rick Jamison's writing is on the highest of levels — taut, tight, intelligent, poetic, imaginative, distinctive, memorable… and about a hundred other adjectives. Plus, unlike many songwriters, he has a knack for coming up with a melody that does his fabulous lyrics justice (not to mention his fine arrangements). The Magic Hour offers superlative music that really pushes the songwriting bar — God knows we need more tunesmiths of Rick's ilk."
Dave
Higgs
Radio Host "Bluegrass Breakdown"
Nashville Public Radio
"As a songwriter, writer, guitarist and oil-paint artist, Rick Jamison is creating a unique place for himself in bluegrass circles and beyond. It's his tremendous talent with words, melodies, as well as his virtuosity as a guitar player, that show what a tremendous artist Rick Jamison is, and why his songs should reach a wider audience."
Chris
Stuart
Bluegrass Unlimited
"Rick
Jamison... remember that name. You'll need it to answer what
will soon become the oft-asked question, 'Who wrote that song?'
Rick is writing some of the finest bluegrass music out there today.
Couple that with his masterful guitar playing and you begin to enter
into a wonderfully fresh bluegrass experience."
Marvin
O'Dell
Radio Host, "The Grass is Bluer"
Classicheartland.com
"Rick
Jamison was one of the best songwriters I encountered while attending
the IBMA convention in 2005. I can envision many of his songs being picked
up by today's great crop of new Bluegrass bands."
Lee
Michael Demsey
WAMU-FM and bluegrasscountry.org
Board of Directors, IBMA
"The Magic Hour is indeed one whole hour of exciting musical entertainment created by one of the most prolific composers and musicians currently active in bluegrass music."
Les
McIntyre
Bluegrass Unlimited
"The
Magic Hour — what a great showcase of the fine talents of
Rick Jamison, a very prolific songwriter, singer and guitar player.
Rick has a vivid imagination and knows how to express that in verse and
song. Rick's imagery is equaled by his fresh melodies and arrangements,
classy all the way. The Magic Hour is a great CD, true to the bluegrass
form and adding to the genre."
George
McKnight
Radio Host, Writer & Festival Emcee
Uptown Bluegrass
"Rick
Jamison was a recent guest on Pig in a Pen introducing his new
CD, The Magic Hour, along with some incredible live solos on guitar
and vocals. The response from listeners was as laudatory and intense as
any I've received in over 30 years of broadcasting. You'll be hearing
a lot more
from this guy — guaranteed!!"
Ray
Edlund
Radio Host, "Pig in a Pen"
KPFA-FM Berkeley CA
"The Magic Hour truly offers just that. Rick Jamison surprises, delights and reminds us that offerings like those found on this project can only emerge from the heart and soul of a master observer of the human condition."
Phil
Hodgen
Radio Host "Bushels of Bluegrass" and
"Music from the True Vine"
"Rick
Jamison's heartfelt, toe-tapping music added layers of richness throughout
many scenes of my documentary feature film, JUMP. Whether the film
segments were upbeat or intense, Rick's music provided the perfect complement
to the many moods of the central characters.
Rick is obviously talented and passionate, and you can add versatile
to his description."
Justin
Bookey
Documentary Film Director
“I
have spent countless hours listening to The Magic Hour. It is one
of the finest recordings I have heard in a long time. Rick Jamison wrote
all of the songs — and the lyrics, playing and singing are all first-rate.
Rick is one talented guy, and definitely a force to be reckoned with on
the national bluegrass scene.”
Larry
Carlin
Producer, Bluegrass Gold Concert Series
Sweetwater Saloon, Mill Valley CA
"Rick
Jamison's guitar playing on The Magic Hour arrested my attention
immediately. As it was reaching my ears through the radio, I had no idea
who I was listening to at first — but you can bet the farm that I
stayed tuned until I found out. Since then I've seen Rick perform to an
appreciative packed house at the Sweetwater, and I've kept
The Magic Hour—with its catchy melodies and flat-picked prestidigitation—
on the A-list since I got my hands on it."
Matt
Kramer
Music Critic, Pacific Sun
"Rick
is an absolute 'Hoss' on guitar! Okay, not such a big secret eh?
What you may not be aware of is this… The guy is without guile. He
puts his true feelings right out there on his sleeve for all to see. That
is the secret ingredient that shines through... He writes about what he
knows, as well as what he dreams about. It really isn’t magic at
all you see.
It’s just Rick pickin’ his guts out to please his friends and
family!"
George
Ireton
California Bluegrass Association
"Rick Jamison is a guitarist, composer, singer, and one of the people reviewers always hope they'll find—an artist who seems to have appeared from the ether, fully formed, mature, meaningful and really talented."
"If you like your bluegrass with some folk flavorings, you'll enjoy the musical encounter as Rick tells tales, expresses emotions, and perhaps most importantly paints pictures with his lyrics and melodies. His songs are every bit as vivid and impressionistic as Jamison's oil on canvas that graces the inside of The Magic Hour CD jacket."
Joe
Ross
Bluegrass Now
Top 500 reviewer for Amazon
Top 100 reviewer for Yahoo
Full
Reviews:
Rick Jamison: Portrait of an Artist, Bluegrass
Unlimited (February 2007)
The
Magic Hour, Talent on Display (March 2007)
The
Magic Hour, Bluegrass Unlimited (April 2006)
The
Magic Hour, Califonia Bluegrass Association (Nov 2005)
The Magic Hour, Uptown Bluegrass
(March 2006)
Tales from the Canyon,
Bluegrass Now (Dec 2004)
Tales
from the Canyon, Bluegrass Unlimited (Nov 2004)
Tales
from the Canyon CBA (Apr 2004)
Open Spaces,
Bluegrass Now (April 2004)
Open
Spaces, CBA (Oct 2003)
Interview with Rick Jamison: Flatpicking Guitar magazine
(Sep/Oct 2004)
Professional
References
(Photo
by Big Jon McNeill)