| Barikada
- World Of Music - Svastara - 2007 |
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JOHN JORGENSON QUINTET
P o r t r a i t
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John Jorgenson Quintet
P o r t r a i t |
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John Jorgenson is jazz / acoustic (Virtuoso Gypsy Swing Jazz)
musician from Nashville, Tennessee,
United States of America. The John Jorgenson Quintet features guitarist John
Jorgenson, a founding member of the Desert Rose Band, the Hellecasters, and
six-year member of Elton John's
band. Artists ranging from Barbra Streisand to Bonnie Raitt to Earl Scruggs
have sought out Jorgenson's guitar work. Recently, John Jorgenson was chosen
to portray Django Reinhardt in the feature film "Head in the Clouds".
At a John Jorgenson Quintet performance, audiences are amazed by John's dazzling
guitar work as well as his mastery as a clarinet player and vocalist. Whether
playing his own accessible compositions or classic standards, John and his
band make music that is equally romantic and ecstatic, played with virtuosity
and soul.
John Jorgenson is known as one of the pioneers of the American gypsy jazz
movement. He has performed as a solo artist as well as collaborated with other
musicians all over the world. His articles and lessons on gypsy jazz have appeared
in prominent guitar magazines and he has given master classes around the country,
and he has performed with some of the most respected European proponents of
this style, Bireli Lagrene and Romane. His playing has been included on a CD
with Babik Reinhardt and Jimmy Rosenberg, and on another featuring Angelo Debarre
and Moreno. In 1988 Curb Records released Jorgenson's "After You've Gone" CD,
a collection of Reinhardt- and Goodman-styled 30's swing, featuring guest artists
Darol Anger and David Grisman.
Growing up in Southern California, John was playing both the piano and the
clarinet by age 8. At 12 he got his first guitar and practiced voraciously
while continuing to study classical music on woodwinds. By age 14, John was
playing professionally. Learning first to play rock guitar, John absorbed other
guitar styles as quickly as he discovered them. This broad musical palette
has enabled him to play with artists as diverse as Elton John, Luciano
Pavarotti,
Bonnie Raitt, and Benny Goodman. He is an "A-List" session player
working in LA, Nashville and London and has appeared on numerous platinum-selling
and Grammy-winning CDs.
John Jorgenson first came to national prominence in the mid 1980's with The
Desert Rose Band, which he co-founded with Chris Hillman. The band earned five
# 1 singles and garnered several awards. During this time, John won the ACM's "Guitarist
of the Year" award three consecutive times. Following the Desert Rose
Band, John formed another award-winning group, the virtuosic guitar trio The
Hellecasters. Originally conceived as a "one off" gig for fun, the
group went on to produce three acclaimed CDs and a live video, winning both "Album
of the Year" and "Country Album of the Year" from the readers
of Guitar Player Magazine for the stunning debut effort Return of the Hellecasters,
released in 1993.
In 1994 Elton John called and invited John on an 18-month world tour. The
18 months stretched into a six-year period that included not only sold out
world tours, but also recordings, television appearances, and collaborations
with many other artists including Sting and Billy Joel. In additiona to acoustic
and electric guitars, John was also featured on saxophone, pedal steel, mandolin
and vocals.
Although John Jorgenson is well-renowned in the pop, country
and rock world, gypsy jazz is the style of music closest to his heart. Because
of his international
reputation as a gypsy jazz player, John was twice asked to recreate Django
Reinhardt's music for feature films, "Gattica" and "Head in The Clouds". The
latter, released in early 2005 and starring Charlize Theron and Penelope Cruz,
features John on camera as Django Reinhardt, complete with burned hand
and gypsy moustache.
2004 also marked the release of Franco-American Swing on J2/FGM Records. As
John Jorgenson's latest creative work, the CD is full of infectious gypsy jazz
music. The Nashville Chamber Orchestra joins John in this collection of original
compositions and gypsy jazz classics, pushing the boundaries as it adds to
the tonal palette of traditional gypsy jazz. Beautiful melodies and soulful
virtuosity abound for listeners treated to John Jorgenson's dazzling fretwork
and sizzling clarinet playing. Additionally, John released two gypsy jazz guitar
instruction books and DVDs, and a third instruction book is due to come out
later this year.
Currently living in Nashville, John tours worldwide playing gypsy jazz with
The John Jorgenson Quintet. He also performs in the UK with his electric band,
John Jorgenson & Friends, and continues to collaborate with other artists
live and in the studio.
 Gonzalo Bergara
Originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina, Gonzalo Bergara has studied both blues
and gypsy jazz, quickly rising to national prominence. In addition to playing
rhythm guitar in the JJ Quintet, Gonzalo has his own Argentinian Swing quartet
in Los Angeles. |
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 Charlie Chadwick
A resident of Nashville for 11 years, Charlie Chadwick has been playing in the
studio and clubs with the area's finest musicians, as well as backing several
national country artsists. He also operates OGM Studio, where he produces music
for folk, jazz and country artists. |
 Cesare Valbusa
Hailing from Italy, Cesare Valbusa started playing professionally at age 18.
Recently, Cesare has worked with artists ranging from Luca Olivieri to James
Burton, Jerry Donahue, Alan Thomson and Tommy Emmanuel.
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 Stephan
Dudash
From Minnesota and now living in Nashville, Stephan Dudash also plays guitar,
bass, congas and mandolin in addition to the 5-string viola. Stephan has played
with Olivia Newton-John, Dave Brubeck, Shania Twain, and the Nashville Mandolin
Ensemble. |
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