The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
By Virginia Ross, The Quill
The Burlington Civic Music Association continues to pull in stellar groups and this was one of them. Organized by John Jorgenson, the group plays gypsy jazz popularized by Django Reinhardt in the 1930's
John Jorgenson, the organizer of the group, has played guitar for the best of them-Elton John, Luciano Pavarotti, Bonnie Raitt, Barbara Streisand, Earl Scruggs, and Benny Goodman.
In the eighties he won "Guitarist of the Year" award. His talent crosses all types of music and besides guitar;
Jazzing With The Jorgenson 5
By Virginia Ross, The Quill
The Burlington Civic Music Association continues to pull in stellar groups and this was one of them. Organized by John Jorgenson, the group plays gypsy jazz popularized by Django Reinhardt in the 1930's
John Jorgenson, the organizer of the group, has played guitar for the best of them-Elton John, Luciano Pavarotti, Bonnie Raitt, Barbara Streisand, Earl Scruggs, and Benny Goodman.
In the eighties he won "Guitarist of the Year" award. His talent crosses all types of music and besides guitar; he plays the clarinet and the Greek bouzouki.
Jason Anick, the young violinist hailing from Boston, gave a professional performance adding to the group's unique sound.
Simon Planting, a native of Holland, was incredible on the base back grounding the melody with a constant beat. Rick Reed on the snare drum and cymbal originally from Alabama and now living in Nashville kept the music moving. The newest member, John Jarvis, the pianist, also lives in Nashville.
The evening began with two contemporary pieces rocking the auditorium with a consistent guitar, wild soaring violin, strumming base, back grounded by the piano and drum.
"Dark Romance" offered a Latin flavor with a soulful violin, a guitar weaving mysteriously while the base, percussion, and piano laid down the background.
"Billet Doux" was done in a trendy style of a bouncy guitar with base and drum keeping the beat. Resolutely, the violin changed the tempo offering the melody in high jazz style.
John Jorgenson switched to a mellow clarinet to swing out "Souvenirs De Nos Peres (Memories of Our Fathers)" which he composed memorializing his and Peter Frampton's father. "Mediterranean Blues" was a fast paced whirlwind of sounds swirling around the audience ending in a crashing crescendo. For" One Stolen Night" John introduced the Greek bouzouki and the song took off in a dramatic Greek musical picture that envisioned the blue, blue Mediterranean isles and a traditional native dance much like the music in the movie, Zorba, the Greek. The basic strum of the base and calypso type drumming joined by light cymbal tapping offset the wilding dancing violin and the unique sound of the bouzouki.
After a brief break, the group returned with "El Camino del Che" which had been featured in the movie, "Motorcycle Diaries." Guitar and violin pulsed out the melody to be joined by the base exploding to join the rush of all instruments; watch the movie to hear this one in the background.
"Beyond the Sea," originally a Bobby Darin hit, found the violin swaying the audience with its haunting melody. "Dr. Jazz," a New Orleans style jazz piece, involved the audience by snapping of fingers and the clapping hands.. John Jorgenson sang the lyric and played the clarinet in reminiscing style of Louis Armstrong. If the group had not won over the audience before hand, the last two numbers made them devout followers.
The group played several more selections and sounds of the bossa nova, Norwegian folk dancing; roaring, fast paced melodies enveloped the auditorium. Yes, this was thoroughly delightful evening offering something for everyone. Not a seat in the house was a bad one and from the lower balcony, the music submerged the listener as good as sitting on the front row.
Perhaps, one of the unnoticed perks of Civic Music goes to those who have attended for years. They have reserved seats and those around them have become a musical family with each concert a family reunion.