John Jorgenson as Django

Chuck S. Lettes · Post by **Chuck S. Lettes** » 26 Aug 2003 4:20 am

I was reading Guitar Player and noticed an ad for Aphex that featured John Jorgenson. At the bottom of the advertisement was a blurb that John would "play" Django Reinhardt in the film, "Head in the Clouds." Does anyone know some information about this new movie that is to open in December? Years ago I bought an lp that John made, featuring Django's music. John not only performed on acoustic guitar but also played some hot clarinet. What a musician!
Chuck

Stephen Gambrell · Post by **Stephen Gambrell** » 26 Aug 2003 1:22 pm

I don't know anything about a movie, Chuck, but I gotta add an "AMEN" to your comments about John Jorgenson. I've got some stuff with John, Bryan Sutton, Stuart Duncan, playing at the Station Inn as the Hot Club of Nashville. Amazing stuff. As was your playing at Saluda a couple of weeks ago!

David Cobb · Post by **David Cobb** » 26 Aug 2003 2:42 pm

Go to johnjorgenson.com and click on Road Reports, there's a write up about his participation & the songs he was asked to recreate for the movie and photo's of him as "Django". It stars Charlize Theron, Natalie Portman,& Penelope Cruz, among others. Sounds good even if you go only for the eye candy.

Dave Burr · Post by **Dave Burr** » 27 Aug 2003 8:03 am

John's website credits him as having played multiple instruments while on tour with Elton John, including pedal steel guitar. Anyone know his proficiency level?

Respectfully,
Dave Burr

Rich Paton · Post by **Rich Paton** » 29 Aug 2003 1:40 pm

"Anyone know his proficiency level?

" Around, say, 145 on a scale of 0 to 100.

DESERT ROSE alumnus.
HELLECASTERS alumnus...check him out on their (?) "Escape From Hollywood" album.

Bio, Discography, & sideman credits (@ All-Music Guide): http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=MISS70308291730&sql=B7q7tk6jx9krk

I bought his technique lessons video. Tried the "bending strings behind the nut" trick. After two weeks or so trying to build up the hand strength to get it going...got a bit overexcited & the plastic nut on the Gibson SG I had then broke into three pieces.
I had the volume up at fairly sporting level on a '65 twin reverb reissue. I wish I had a recording of the sound when the nut went away. It should be on file in the home studio sound effects collection.
BTW, re guitarists in movies, Woody Allen used none other than Spicoli (Sean Penn) as fictional Swing Era guitar virtuoso "Emmet Ray" in the flick "Sweet And Lowdown".
I have not seen the flick, but the soundtrack is great. Nah, actually it's GRRRREAT! Film & soundtrack guitar was done by the true Jazz guitar virtuoso Howard Alden. It has a nice mix of solo guitar and ensemble swing band pieces, and the producers/engineers managed to capture perfectly the sound qualities & musical feel of those times.
I highly recommend the soundtrack. "Sweet Georgia Brown" is very funky, and "Viper Man" evokes a spooky "Cab Callioway meets JJ Cale" ambience.
I have heard that the film IS pretty cool.

Joey Ace · Post by **Joey Ace** » 29 Aug 2003 1:44 pm

"Anyone know his proficiency level?"

On Steel?
I don't even know of any recordings.

Dave Burr · Post by **Dave Burr** » 2 Sep 2003 6:14 am

"Anyone know his proficiency level?"

"On Steel?"

Yes, Joey on steel.

Rich, I'm quite familiar with his proficiency on guitar (electric and acoustic) as well as mandolin and bass. I had never heard of him playing pedal steel before, so that's where the question came from. My guess is, he's probably better than average, considering his ability on everything else he touches. I was just curious if anyone on the forum has heard him play the pedal steel.

Respectfully,
Dave Burr[This message was edited by Dave Burr on 02 September 2003 at 07:16 AM.]

Niklas Widen · Post by **Niklas Widen** » 10 Sep 2003 7:21 am

http://www.johnjorgenson.com/reports/montreal.html

Jussi Huhtakangas · Post by **Jussi Huhtakangas** » 10 Sep 2003 10:28 pm

Rich, "Sweet & Lowdown" IS a very cool movie, and as many Woody Allen films, pretty funny too. It's interesting, that Sean Penn couldn't play guitar practically at all when he was chosen for the part. Howard Alden taught him to play the parts and Sean actually learnt to do most of the hot single string passages note for note. It does look very "real" in the movie.

David Cobb · Post by **David Cobb** » 11 Sep 2003 2:18 pm

Jussi, I rented that movie once, then bought a copy off the discount rack.
Very entertaining in it's own quirky way.
I doubt that many people have seen it.

John McGann · Post by **John McGann** » 12 Sep 2003 7:16 am

Several (if not most) members of the gypsy guitar community were really PO'ed at that movie- that they didn't bother to track down someone who really played Django's style (and there are hundreds of amazing guitarists all over Europe who do- exclusively- live eat and breathe Django, can play all his solos note for note etc.)

Howard is an excellent mainstream jazz guitarist but he is not at all steeped in the Django tradition- for what it's worth.

Tony Harris · Post by **Tony Harris** » 12 Sep 2003 8:23 am

Well, he wasn't actually playing Django, or a gypsy, so he didn't have to sound THAT close.....Good movie, especially for guitar-players.....

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 12 Sep 2003 9:52 am

I was also a bit disappointed that "Sweet and Lowdown" didn't have a more authentic Gypsy Jazz thing. But it's a great fun movie with really tasty guitar.

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 12 Sep 2003 2:07 pm

True enough, John, but Howard is a true pro who could be counted on to do a difficult job - namely, reconstruct aspects of a specific guitar genre, teach a novice actor to look like he can play the complex music the audience is hearing, and be available for recording and looping as necessary. From a producer's standpoint, hiring a European virtuoso might not make sense for the realities of the movie business. and, in terms of the story, Sean Penn's character was a Django "fan", not a "Django" clone. Frankly, I thought the music was fine but the story had some structure and character problems and for me, the ending just fizzled. My two cents.

Jussi Huhtakangas · Post by **Jussi Huhtakangas** » 13 Sep 2003 12:46 am

Few years ago in NY I went to see Bucky Pizzarelli, who was filling in for Les Paul at the Iridium. Between the sets me and my friend went up and talked with him, and he mentioned about going to the studio next day and recording some soundtrack with Alden for a new Woody Allen movie. We asked what type of stuff, and he said: "oh, I don't know, some standards I guess. Dick Hyman ( the musical producer ) has it all figured out". Turned out the movie was Sweet & Lowdown.
If those European cats were upset about Allen's movie, I wonder what they're gonna say about Jorgenson being a Django???

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 13 Sep 2003 3:09 am

Okay, for THAT one I'll concede they should have gotten one of the many great gypsy jazz players.

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 8 Jul 2004 6:40 am

I have Sweet and Lowdown, under the French name Accord and Desaccord.

Which translates to In tune and out of tune.
For once they got the alternate french title better than the real one.

I agree, fun movie. Sean Penn at least looked like he knew SOMETHING about the guitar, more than most "holly would finger sync'rs",
but certainly not like he was playing it for real.

The guitar work is great, but not truely in the gypsy jazz style, but then again it wasn't portraying Django, but a yank who love Django's playing.

I play the real deal all the time, and this stuff isn't so far off.
Now if they REALLY were doing Django's life Berrelli LaGrene, The Rosenbergs, Tchavalo Schmitt, Romaine and many others would have been the right call for the backing tracks.

Berlelli's Gypsey Project albums are awesome, Tchavalk makes me itsh just listening and the Trio Rosenburg is totally hot.[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 08 July 2004 at 07:41 AM.][This message was edited by David L. Donald on 08 July 2004 at 07:42 AM.]

Michael Johnstone · Post by **Michael Johnstone** » 8 Jul 2004 7:22 am

One interesting thing about the new movie is that John wears prosthetics on his left hand to look just like Django's deformed hand.Of course John being John,he had learned to play all Django's solos long ago with only two fingers - as a tip of the hat to Django. The other unbelievablt thing(if you know John)was that he actually permitted his hair to be cut short for the part..... Altho I have known John for close to 20 years and have gigged with him and used his talents in my studio on upright bass and guitar,I've yet to check out his steel playing. It must be pretty good to play it onstage w/Elton John. -MJ-

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 8 Jul 2004 12:00 pm

John J. is a life-long Djangophile. He tells the story of the shoot and recording the music in the July issue of Acoustic Guitar. He wouldn't be my first choice for physical resemblance to Django but hey, it's hollywood where John Wayne was a Roman centurian and a Mongol chieftan. I'm amazed that nobody has yet brought Django's story to the big screen. It's so ripe with filmic possibilities.

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 8 Jul 2004 7:49 pm

Not unlike any other genre of music, there is always dissention in the ranks of what constitutes "pure."

The Gypsy Jazz purists consider Howard Alden and Frank Vignola "folk guitarists."

I've yet to read what they think of John Jorgensen. Perhaps I'll post a thread in the Django Swingpage Forum and hear what they have to say.

Shades of Jerry Garcia?

BTW, "Franco American Swing" is Jorgensen's latest recording. Pretty amazing IMO.

Dave Burr · Post by **Dave Burr** » 9 Jul 2004 4:31 am

Howard, I find that an interesting comment about Frank Vignola. I have the Mark O'Connor "Hot Swing" CD's and was blown away by the "Gypsy Jazz" feel that Frank emotes... Show's how much I know.

For anyone with "high-speed" access, here is a link where you can download some incredible playing by Mark O'Connor and Frank Vignola. My favorite song they do is "Swingin' on the Ville". http://www.woodsongs.com/showlist.asp
Scroll down to show #304. You can download the video, or just audio. !Warning! The video is over 100Meg. If you have "high-speed" access, it's no problem, and I promise you will enjoy it. Once you've downloaded the file, you can skip through the talking and go straight to the music.

Respectfully,
Dave Burr

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 9 Jul 2004 10:19 am

members of the gypsy guitar community were really PO'ed at that movie- that they didn't bother to track down someone who really played Django's style (and there are hundreds of amazing guitarists all over Europe who do- exclusively- live eat and breathe Django, can play all his solos note for note etc.)

Reliability is the keyword here. As Andy stated, making a movie is much more than copying Django note for note.

Django was not known for his punctuality or sticking to a schedule. It was not unusual for his bandmates to have to locate him (usually in a pool hall) and drag him out well before they were to play.

Last year I attended a Gypsy Jazz Concert at Lincoln Center. Eight of the best Gypsy musicians from Europe were on the bill. Five showed.

The Hot Swing Trio, while all great musicians, doesn't grab you the way Tchavolo's or Bireli's groups do. I don't think anyone coming out of a Hot Club Trio concert is going to run out and buy any other gypsy jazz artists. The drive of La pompe just isn't there. It's almost like Pat Boone gypsy jazz.

I don't write em', I just post em'.....
[This message was edited by HowardR on 09 July 2004 at 11:26 AM.]

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 9 Jul 2004 12:52 pm

Howard, i was told that Django was often gone fishing and could be gone for days
many were out lookin' for him to get him to the gig
he missed quite a few