Jorgenson, John

JOHN JORGENSON

• From Redlands, California.
• Began playing bass as a youngster, then gravitated to mandolin and guitar. He is well-known as one of the top guitarists in the world, and an authority on “Gypsy Jazz” music. He has worked with such artists as Earl Scruggs, Bonnie Raitt, Elton John, Bob Dylan and many others.
• 1985, was a founding member of the Desert Rose Band.
• 1990, 1991, won the Academy of Country Music Award for Guitarist of the Year.
• 1990, formed The Hellecasters, an electric guitar band.
• 1994-2000, worked with Elton John, touring and recording.
• 2004, formed the John Jorgenson Quintet, performing gypsy-jazz music.
• 2004, portrayed the legendary gypsy-jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt in the movie “Head in the Clouds” starring Charlize Theron and Penelope Cruz.
• 2014, formed the John Jorgenson Bluegrass Band (or J2B2) with Herb Pederson (banjo), Jon Randall (guitar), and Mark Fain (bass). Jorgenson plays mandolin in the band.
• 2015, released a three-CD set Divertuoso (Cleopatra), which included a disc featuring the John Jorgenson Bluegrass Band. That disc was later released as From the Crow’s Nest (Purple Pyramid). It was recorded at Sheryl Crow’s home studio.