If you want some inspiring picking and grinning, check out this 3 disc set by John Jorgenson. He’s made his name with The Desert Rose Band, but you don’t have to be a country bumpkin to appreciate him. This 3-fer has him in as many settings, and there’s lots to like.
The first disc is a Django Reinhardt gypsy swing session with Jason Anick/v, John Jarvis/p, Simon Planting/b and Rick Reed/perc as Jorgenson plays guitar, bouzouki, clarinet, mandolin mandocello, soprano sax and even sings. Underachiever. You get some bohemia in the caravan on “Sonora Spring” and some chiming tapping strings on Black Swang.” He gives some vocal jive on the hep “I’ve Got My Fingers Crossed” and does some tricky work along with Anick’s violin on “It Only takes A Secret” and “Istoqbal Gathering’ and “If I Only Knew You Cared.” This is a beaut!
The second disc is the Jorhn Jorgenson Bluegrass Band (or “J2B2”) which includes Herb Pederson, Jon Randall and Jorgenson on vocals alongside some nice picking on guitar, mandolin, banjo and bass fiddle. There’s a fervent joy on the harmonies along with the banjo on “Beautiful Sound” and the gentle mandolin on “Wandering Boy.” You feel like you’re getting a story by the campfire on “There is a Time” and folk country by the back porch is felt on “Wait A Minute.” Like watching fireflies from the porch.
The third disc, titled “Gifts From The Flood” is a guitar freak’s dream, as it uses the type of guitar as the title of the track. Lots of rocking boogie on “’61 SGLP” and 70s classic rock is on the melancholy “’70 LP Custom.” The team of Horgenson/g-g, B3, cl-bassson-key-perc with Greg Morrow/dr delivers a dreamy “Sunburst Tele1” and a lazy and bluesy “Firebird.” Brad Paisley adds his Fender on “Sunburst Tele 2” which is a wonder of boogying country rock. If nothing else (and there’s LOTS else) it’s a great way to figure out which guitar you want on your “must have list.” Oh, Yeah!
Cleopatra Records