John Jorgenson Quintet play Forum

Wednesday, 13th February 2008

Guitarist Magazine famously declared him "The Greatest Guitar Player on the Planet". Legendary Byrd, Chris Hillman hails him as "the best musician I have ever worked with". He was voted ACM's Guitarist of the Year for three consecutive years and Nashville Guitar Player of the Year a record-breaking seven times, while his composition "Back on Terra Firma" was the featured track at the closing ceremonies of the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia. The amazing John Jorgenson brings his Quintet of world-class musicians to Forum Waterford for an evening of red-hot gypsy jazz and world music on Wednesday, 5th March.

Genius is not a word that should be used lightly, but for John Jorgenson, surely it is the only word applicable. Born into a muical family (his father, a music professor, was also a conductor with the Benny Goodman Orchestra, his mother, a classically trained piano instructor) John Jorgenson is a musician from fret to fret.. Wisconsin-born and California-raised, Jorgenson's range includes a slew of instruments including: guitar, bass, mandolin, pedal steel, dobro, mandocello, piano, hammond organ, clarinet, saxophone and bassoon. He's the type of guy who carries spare guitar picks like the avarage person carries spare change. He is also the music industry's most in-demand session guitarist. Artistes John Jorgenson has recorded or toured with include: Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Barbara Streisand, Willie Nelson, Roy Orbison, Little Richard, Elton John, George Michael, Billy Joel, Luciano Pavarotti, Bryan Adams, Steve Earl, Sheryl Crow, k.d. lang, Emma Bunton, Bob Seger, David Lee-Roth, Hank Williams Jnr, Bonnie Raitt, Emmylou Harris, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Lyle Lovett, John Prine, Rodney Crowell, Earl Scruggs, Ricky Nelson, Brad Paisley and many, many more....

And lets not forget that during the 80's he, alongside Chris Hillman was responsible for one of America's country/rock super groups: The Desert Rose Band. From early to late eighties, Jorgenson, Hillman and co achieved phenomenal success (five number No.1 U.S. singles, four Chart Albums, two Grammy nominations, 3 ACM awards,) and during that time, Jorgenson was voted ACM's Guitarist of the Year for three consecutive years.To this very day, John Jorgenson is the only guitarist to receive this prestigous award three years running. During the early 90's Jorgenson was the driving-force behind award winning guitar instrumental trio The Hellecasters - their album 'The Return of the Hellecasters' won American Guitar Album of the Year in 1993.

John Jorgenson is also very well known for his work with Elton John's band from 1994 - 2000, contributing not only lead guitar and harmony vocals, but also mandolin, pedal steel guitar and saxophone to both live shows and CD's. Jorgenson also features on Elton's recent studio album "Peach Tree Road". In the world of gypsy jazz music, John Jorgenson has long been known as the true American master of the Django Reinhardt guitar style and has released several critically acclaimed, self-penned albums in that vein. His latest studio offering: "Ultraspontane", recently topped both amazon and itunes album charts and it is in support of this release that The John Jorgenson Quintet are currently undertaking a major European/U.S. tour. This truly is a rare and unique opportunity to experience gypsy jazz and world music as you've never heard it before as John Jorgenson brings all his musical creativity and experience to bear in The John Jorgenson Quintet, the result of which are astounding audiences everywhere!

The John Jorgenson Quintet play Forum, Waterford on Wednesday, 5th March. Tickets priced €20.00 (including booking fee) are available now from 'Next Door, The Forum', Tel: 051 871133 or book online at www.ticketlord.ie Doors: 8pm. Show: 8.30pm