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John Jorgenson

John Jorgenson is perhaps best known for his guitar work with bands such as the Desert Rose Band and The Hellecasters.

John Jorgenson born July 6, 1956 in Madison, Wisconsin, is perhaps best known for his guitar work with bands such as the Desert Rose Band and The Hellecasters. Jorgenson is also proficient in the mandolin, mandocello, Dobro, pedal steel, piano, upright bass, clarinet, bassoon, and saxophone. John Jorgenson, known for his blistering guitar and mandolin licks and mastery of a broad musical palette, has earned a reputation as a world-class musician, as evidenced by his collaborations with Earl Scruggs, Bonnie Raitt, Elton John, Luciano Pavarotti, Bob Dylan and many others.

First coming to national attention in the mid ‘80s as co-founder of successful country-rock act The Desert Rose Band, an eclectic array of artists such as Bonnie Raitt, Bob Seger and Barbra were drawn to add Jorgenson’s artistry to their own recordings. While a member of the Desert Rose Band, Jorgenson won the Academy of Country Music’s “Guitarist of the Year” award two consecutive years.

In the ‘90s The Hellecasters gave audiences a chance to experience John’s fretboard fireworks in an unrestrained venue and the trio’s three original albums remain favorites of guitarists everywhere. Having been a fan of the Desert Rose Band, Elton John invited Jorgenson to join his band in 1994 for an 18 month tour that stretched into a six-year stint of touring, recording and TV appearances with the British superstar, in addition to collaborations with other artists including Sting and Billy Joel.

2010 marked the 100th birthday of the great gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt. Since discovering Django in 1979, Jorgenson has become “the US Ambassador of Gypsy Jazz” which is quite an honor given the distinctly European slant of the music’s heritage. Over the years Jorgenson has continued to honor the legacy of Reinhardt by bringing his unique brand of Gypsy Jazz to the masses with his John Jorgenson Quintet.

Jorgenson continues to expand his dynamic range of musical offerings, exploring new elements of world music, bluegrass, rock and classical as he captivates and enlightens fellow musicians and listeners along the way. Touring with multiple musical configurations such as the John Jorgenson Quintet, the John Jorgenson Electric Band, the John Jorgenson Bluegrass Band and the Desert Rose Band. Jorgenson annually plays dates across the U.S. and Europe. Each permutation allows him to make prodigious use of his mastery of many instruments; no matter which band Jorgenson is playing with, his brilliant guitar work leads the way with music that is a combination of groundbreaking playing full of soaring melodies and driving rhythms.

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7
Album Review

Grant Geissman: Blooz

Read "Blooz" reviewed by Richard J Salvucci


There are several ways of judging the success of a recording. Perhaps a hearing makes the listener, if a musician, want to sit in and jam. That is a good sign. Then there is the “sit still test." For many, the direct, emotional and physical connection between music and brain leaves them simply hanging out, absence of motion impossible, sitting still not an option. Grant Geissman's Blooz happily passes both tests. Turn the volume up and a blues party comes ...

4
Live Review

John Jorgenson’s Gypsy Jazz Quintet at the Musical Instrument Museum

Read "John Jorgenson’s Gypsy Jazz Quintet at the Musical Instrument Museum" reviewed by Patricia Myers


John Jorgenson's Gypsy Jazz QuintetMusical Instrument MuseumPhoenix, AZJune 27, 2013 The swinging sound of gypsy jazz popularized by Django Reinhardt and the Quintet of the Hot Club of France was elegantly interpreted by John Jorgenson in a quintet setting that imbued the 1930s genre with modernistic verve.The program was a mix of soulful romance and gleeful flamboyance, plaintive sadness and rollicking celebration, with Jorgenson's fingers a blur that created avalanches of notes and ...

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2

Event

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Hosts John Jorgenson Quintet For Benefit Concerts April 12 & 13

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Hosts John Jorgenson Quintet For Benefit Concerts April 12 & 13

Source: Ashley Moyer

THE OASIS PROJECT AND ARIZONA-SONORA DESERT MUSEUM HOSTS JOHN JORGENSON FOR INAUGURAL CONCERT EVENT The Legendary Musician and Composer Will Record Original Work Inspired by Museum, as well as a Live Performance DVD from the Warden Oasis Theater TUCSON, Ariz. - The Oasis Project, a performing arts program of the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum made possible by the Bert W. Martin Foundation, will host legendary musician and composer John Jorgenson with his celebrated quintet for a two-night concert event on April ...

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Recording

Legendary Musician John Jorgenson Releases Two New Albums on February 16th - One Stolen Night and Istiqbal Gathering

Legendary Musician John Jorgenson Releases Two New Albums on February 16th - One Stolen Night and Istiqbal Gathering

Source: Michael Ricci

Celebrates January 23rd Centennial of Gypsy Guitarist Django Reinhardt Nashville, Tenn.-- As one of the pioneers of American gypsy jazz music, Jorgenson is celebrating the father of gypsy jazz, Django Reinhardt, whose 100th birthday would have been January 23rd of this year, with two album releases and a touring schedule that takes him across the country and across the pond with the John Jorgenson Quintet. Widely known as the “U.S. Ambassador of Gypsy Jazz," Jorgenson has earned a reputation as ...

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Festival

Jazz This Week: Greater St. Louis Jazz Festival, Sean Jones, John Jorgenson, Medeski Martin and Wood, Flow, Dixie Daredevils, Stan Hale, and More

Jazz This Week: Greater St. Louis Jazz Festival, Sean Jones, John Jorgenson, Medeski Martin and Wood, Flow, Dixie Daredevils, Stan Hale, and More

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

It's the busiest week so far this year for jazz and creative music performances in St. Louis, with a number of touring artists in town and a schedule of shows representing a wide variety of styles, from traditional jazz and big band to straight-ahead modern jazz to free improv, intermedia and more.Let's go the highlights in chronological order, starting with this evening, when the acclaimed young trumpeter Sean Jones opens a four-night stand continuing through Saturday at Jazz ...

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Performance / Tour

Gypsy Jazz Travels to the Last Frontier

Gypsy Jazz Travels to the Last Frontier

Source: All About Jazz

John Jorgenson Quintet makes debut tour to Alaska The high-energy gypsy jazz performed by the John Jorgenson Quintet isn't your typical jazz music. “A lot of people tell us 'Well, we don't really like jazz so much but we like your music,'" Jorgenson said. “It's more accessible. The jazz part of it kind of scares people off but it's actually more accessible than that." Jorgenson is known as one of the American pioneers of gypsy jazz, a melting-pot style of ...

“Brilliant guitarist!” – ELTON JOHN

“John Jorgenson is one of my most favorite players. He is incredibly versatile and his solos are unique and melodic, played with amazing technique. ‘My  guitarist’s guitarist.” – PETER FRAMPTON

“If there was one guitar player I’d like to be, it would be John Jorgenson.” – BRAD PAISLEY

“John Jorgenson is a true artiste. He’s a phenomenal musician.” – CHRIS HILLMAN

“This is a display of virtuosity rarely rendered.” – FRETBOARD JOURNAL

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Blooz

MESA/Bluemoon
2022

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One Stolen Night

FGM Records
2010

buy

Istiqbal Gathering

Self Produced
2010

buy

Franco-American Swing

Challenge Jazz
2004

buy

Escape From Hollywood

Self Produced
1994

buy

After You've Gone

Challenge Jazz
1988

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