Grammy winner due in Lowville

LOWVILLE — When John Jorgenson was booked last year for the Black River Valley Concert Series, he already had several musical honors under his belt for his expert guitar work.

Last month he received another: a Grammy award.

The founding member of the Desert Rose Band, the Hellecasters and six-year member of Elton John's band and others who were involved with Brad Paisley's song "Cluster Pluck," on Mr. Paisley's CD "Play: The Guitar Album," won the award.

Besides Mr. Paisley and Mr. Jorgenson, also taking home Grammys for the song were fellow pickers James Burton, Vince Gill, Albert Lee, Brent Mason, Redd Volkaert and Steve Wariner.

"I thought it was good, but you never know," Mr. Jorgenson said earlier this month from his home in Memphis, Tenn. "I was up against some pretty hefty performers."

In a statement shortly after being notified of the Grammy award, Mr. Paisley, who wrote the songs on the award-winning CD, called Mr. Jorgenson his "hero."

Mr. Jorgenson, who will perform Saturday as part of the Lewis County Historical Society's 2009 concert series, said that many of the other performers on the Grammy-award-winning song are his guitar heroes.

"It was really special in a lot of ways," he said. "I thought everybody brought their A-game. It's probably some of the best Telecaster work you are ever going to hear."

THE QUINTET

Mr. Jorgenson will bring four others when he performs in Lowville Saturday. The John Jorgenson Quintet is also composed of Stephan Dudash on five-string viola; Gonzalo Bergara on rhythm guitar; Charlie Chadwick on bass and Rick Reed on percussion.

The quintet is known for its Eastern European gypsy jazz swing. The group has performed around the world, including recent dates in China and Scotland.

"What we play is basically world music," Mr. Jorgenson said. "It's great to be able to take that around the world and pick up new influences and share that with others."

Mr. Jorgenson is a pioneer of the American gypsy jazz movement. He has performed as a solo artist and collaborated with other musicians around the world. His articles and lessons on gypsy jazz have appeared in guitar magazines, and he has given master classes around the United States.

Belgian Gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt (1910-53) is credited with creating the gypsy jazz style, which has a heavy element of swing music.

Mr. Jorgenson said that there's a huge difference when people experience the music live as compared to hearing a recording.

"People are so used to dealing with synthesized music," he said. "But when they see five guys on stage playing precisely, it's impressive and a new experience for them."

EARLY START

Mr. Jorgenson grew up in Southern California and was playing piano and clarinet by age 8. At 12, he got his first guitar and practiced religiously while continuing to study classical music on woodwinds. By age 14, Mr. Jorgenson was playing professionally.

Besides Elton John, Mr. Jorgenson has performed with the late Luciano Pavarotti, the late Benny Goodman and Bonnie Raitt. He is an "A-list" session player and has performed on numerous platinum-selling CDs.

He came to prominence in the mid-1980s with the Desert Rose Band, which he co-founded with Chris Hillman. The band had five No. 1 singles.

Mr. Jorgenson said that of the several styles of music he plays, his favorite is gypsy jazz.

"It incorporates so many different musical elements I like," he said.

He is putting the final touches on a new CD on which he performs with a jazz quartet and a full orchestra. "It's all new music especially commissioned for this project," he said of the CD, to be released this summer.

THE DETAILS

WHAT: Black River Valley Concert Series presents the John Jorgenson Quintet.

WHEN/WHERE: 8 p.m. Saturday at the Lewis County Historical Society, 7552 S. State St., Lowville.

COST: $23 at the door and $20 in advance. The advance tickets can be bought at the society's office or at Café Z, 7594 S. State St., Lowville.

ON THE WEB: www.frontiernet.net/~lchs/concertseries2009