John Jorgenson Gypsy Jazz Quintet at Musical Instrument Museum

Although Jorgenson is renowned in the pop, country, and rock world, gypsy jazz is the style of music closest to his heart. He recorded the first gypsy-jazz album released by an American guitarist in the mid-1980s. After cofounding the Desert Rose Band with Chris Hillman and the virtuosic guitar trio the Hellecasters, as well as performing on scores of A-list recording sessions and six years of touring with Elton John (where Jorgenson was featured on acoustic and electric guitars, saxophone, pedal steel, mandolin, and vocals), he created what is generally considered America’s best gypsy-jazz band. Because of his international reputation as a gypsy-jazz player, Jorgenson was tapped to portray Django Reinhardt in the film Head in the Clouds, starring Charlize Theron....

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Although Jorgenson is renowned in the pop, country, and rock world, gypsy jazz is the style of music closest to his heart. He recorded the first gypsy-jazz album released by an American guitarist in the mid-1980s. After cofounding the Desert Rose Band with Chris Hillman and the virtuosic guitar trio the Hellecasters, as well as performing on scores of A-list recording sessions and six years of touring with Elton John (where Jorgenson was featured on acoustic and electric guitars, saxophone, pedal steel, mandolin, and vocals), he created what is generally considered America’s best gypsy-jazz band. Because of his international reputation as a gypsy-jazz player, Jorgenson was tapped to portray Django Reinhardt in the film Head in the Clouds, starring Charlize Theron.

Recently, Jorgenson released a milestone project: a limited edition, 3-CD box set titled Divertuoso on Cleopatra Records. The critically acclaimed release offers three new albums in three completely different configurations and styles (gypsy jazz, bluegrass, and instrumental electric rock): (1) John Jorgenson Quintet: Returning; (2) J2B2 (John Jorgenson Bluegrass Band featuring Herb Pedersen, Jon Randall, and Mark Fain): From the Crow’s Nest; and (3) John Jorgenson: Gifts from the Flood. Jorgenson’s versatility is highlighted across the forty tracks, as he plays twelve different instruments and also lends vocals on several tracks.

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