AccuRadio Song Of The Day-John Jorgenson Quintet

Artist:John Jorgenson Quintet

Song:El Camino del Che

Album:Ultraspontane

Guitarist John Jorgenson is a Nashville session musician who records on his own label for fun. He is very popular with guitar geeks. He is playing Django Reinhardt influenced "Gipsy Jazz" on this 2007 album. But he is very versatile and can play any kind of music. He was born July 6, 1956 in Madison, WI but he grew up in Redlands, CA. His father was a conductor for Benny Goodman. Jorgenson played piano and clarinet as a child. After graduating from University of Redlands, Jorgenson worked at Disneyland. He played clarinet with the Main Street Maniacs Dixieland band, mandolin with the Thunder Mountain Boys bluegrass band and guitar with the Rhythm Boys Reinhardt influenced band. These bands were the same four guys changing costumes throughout the day. Jorgenson started playing sessions in Los Angeles playing with Bob Dylan, John Prine and Bonnie Raitt. His first mainstream exposure came when he was in the Desert Rose band led by Chris Hillman and Herb Pedersen of The Byrds. They were named the Academy of Country Music's Touring Band of the Year from 1988-90. After Desert Rose Band split up, Jorgenson formed The Hellecasters with guitarists Will Ray and Jerry Donohue of Fairport Convention. They were very popular with guitar geeks and their 1993 album Return of the Hellecasters won Guitar Player magazine's Album of the Year. Jorgenson toured with Elton John for six years. And he played Django Reinhardt in the 2004 film Head in the Clouds. He played on sessions with Kenny Chesney, Rodney Crowell and a who's who of Nashville. Jorgenson first recorded as a leader in 1988. He started his own label in 1999 and has recorded several albums. El Camino del Che is from the 2007 album Ultraspontane. The music is Reinhardt influenced "Gipsy Jazz". Jorgenson wrote most of the songs including El Camino del Che. The band is Nashville session musicians like Gonzalo Bergara on rhythm guitar, Charlie Chadwick on bass and Dick Hardwick on percussion. Jazz singer Beryl Davis appears on one song and the strings are by the Nashville Chamber Orchestra. Most recently Jorgenson has led John Jorgenson Bluegrass Band with Herb Pedersen. They are known as J2B2 for short. They have recorded two albums and are currently on tour. Here's John Jorgenson performing El Camino del Che at the Kentucky Coffeetree Cafe in Frankfort, KY Sept. 12, 2009.