John Sferra is a drummer

Drummer

A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...

, best known for his work with the band Glass Harp

Glass Harp

Glass Harp is a Youngstown, Ohio based power trio consisting of guitarist Phil Keaggy, drummer John Sferra and bassist Daniel Pecchio.-Early years:...

.

In addition to being a drummer, John is also a guitarist, songwriter and vocalist, composing and singing lead on several songs for each Glass Harp album. The band's debut album includes two Sferra-sung tracks, "Changes" and "Black Horse." "Changes" became a staple of the band's live shows.

After the band parted on amicable terms in the early 1970s, longtime friends Sferra and Keaggy recorded together again in 1993 for what would become Keaggy's solo album Crimson and Blue. The sessions also yielded material that surfaced on the album Blue, a collection virtually identical to Crimson and Blue, Sferra toured with Keaggy in support of Crimson and Blue and is featured on a live version of the song "Shouts of Joy" on Phil's anthology album Time 2: 1970-1995. In 1994, Phil's record label released Blue, an album featuring most of the songs from Crimson and Blue, with a slightly different track listing. In addition to a cover version of Badfinger's "Baby Blue," the album featured an extended instrumental jam between Sferra and Keaggy titled "The Continuing Adventures of ..."

Sferra and Keaggy later collaborated on the song "Chalice"--a poignant song about suffering that appeared on Phil's solo album Inseparable in 2000. Sferra did not perform on the studio recording as Keaggy recorded all the percussion parts on the album using drum machines.

In 1995 John released Northbound, his only solo album to date. The album featured longtime friend and former Glass Harp bandmate Phil Keaggy on guitar and backing vocals. One song, "Let the Bells Ring," was originally written in 1971 for Glass Harp's second album Synergy. Although Sferra re-recorded the song for Northbound, the original version was later included as a bonus track on the CD reissue of Synergy in 2005. Northbound is for sale only through Sferra's website. "Let the Bells Ring" and the title track are available there as free mp3 downloads.

On October 22, 2000, Sferra, Keaggy and bassist Daniel Pecchio reunited as Glass Harp for a concert in their hometown of Youngstown, Ohio at a sold out Powers Auditorium. Joining the band for the occasion was conductor Isaiah Jackson

Isaiah Jackson

Isaiah Allen Jackson is an African American conductor of world renown. He has recently concluded a seven year term as conductor of the Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra of Boston, of which he has been named Conductor Emeritus...

 and members of the Youngstown Symphony. The following year saw the commercial release of the reunion concert in the form of the live album Strings Attached. The double album featured several Sferra compositions such as "Changes" and "Let the Bells Ring" as well as an extended drum solo. The Keaggy-Sferra song "Chalice" was also included, with the live version far surpassing the original studio recording in its instrumental passion. In 2003, Sferra compiled and edited the musical material for Stark Raving Jams, the group's three disc compilation of live material .

In addition to their occasional work with Keaggy, Sferra and Pecchio currently tour with guitarist-vocalist Mike Baranski as the group "The FUZZ." Sferra has also recorded with artists such as Steve Burton, Tom Mowrey, Tracey Thomas, Mike Pachelli, Tony Janflone Jr., Randy Stonehill, Jack Giering, Jenah Ross, Mike Talanca, Dennis Augusta, Paul Pope, Richard Cummins, Ted Pecchio

Ted Pecchio

Ted Pecchio is an American bassist and currently a member of Grammy nominee Susan Tedeschi's touring group. Prior to that he played with Colonel Bruce Hampton and the Codetalkers. Aside from playing an amazing bass, he is best known for making some awesome faces while on stage...

, Michele McElhinny,Colleen McNally Harris

Discography

Solo

Northbound 1995

Record,Mix,&Percussion

Lone Wolf by Jack Geiring 2010

Voice of the Spirit 2010

Street Wise by Mechele McElhinny
Jack Giering 2010

With Phil Keaggy

Inter-Dimensional Traveler
The Phil Keaggy Trio, Featuring Jack Giering
and John Sferra 2010

Crimson and Blue 1993

Blue 1994

Time 2:1970-1995 1995
With Glass Harp

Glass Harp 1970

Synergy 1971

It Makes Me Glad 1972

Live at Carnegie Hall 1997

Strings Attached 2000

Hour Glass 2003

Stark Raving Jams 2003

Live at the Beachland Ballroom 11.01.08 2010

External links

• John Sferra's web site