Introduction to Gypsy Jazz Guitar: John Jorgenson (Book/CD/DVD Set) [Paperback]

John Jorgenson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 22, 2004

In this first of three volumes of Flatpicking Guitar Magazine's new Gypsy Jazz Guitar instructional series, "Intro to Gypsy Jazz Guitar," Jorgenson provides the foundational information and practice material necessary for you to gain an understanding of the Gypsy jazz guitar style. The first half of this volume addresses the important element of Gypsy jazz rhythm. The second half of this first volume addresses soloing. Each volume of this three-part series includes a 2-hour instructional DVD, an audio CD with practice audio tracks, and a full format book which presents all of the theoretical information, chord charts, fret board diagrams, music notation, and tablature for the material presented on the DVD.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

John Jorgenson is perhaps best known as a founding member of the Desert Rose Band, for his dazzling fretwork with the super guitar trio The Hellecasters, from his six-year stint as a member of Elton John's band, and his session work with a diverse range of artists including rock icons Elton John, Bob Dylan, Bonnie Raitt and Bob Seger, country legends Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Emmy Lou Harris and Hand Williams Jr., and international superstars like Barbara Streisand and Luciano Pavarotti. Even though he has made his living playing primarily rock, country, and pop music John's love for jazz and swing music dates back to his youth when his father, James, was conducting for Benny Goodman. John, who idolized Goodman, actually got to play with his hero while his father led the way. As accomplished on clarinet as he is on guitar, Jorgenson's first swing recording "After You've Gone" was a tribute to both his heroes, Django Reinhardt and Benny Goodman. Released in 1985, John played Django style Gypsy jazz on the first side of the LP and recreated the sound of the Benny Goodman Quintet, playing both Charlie Christian's electric guitar parts and Goodman's swinging clarinet style, on the other. His 2004 release Franco-American Swing, which primarily features John's original swing music, has received rave reviews. In the world of Gypsy jazz music, John Jorgenson has long been known as one of the true American masters of the Django Reinhardt guitar style. In 2003, when the musical director for John Duigan's film Head In The Clouds was looking for someone who could faithfully re-record two tracks from the Quintet of the Hot Club of France for use in the film Guitar Player Magazine's editor recommended Jorgenson. John not only transcribed and recorded the Hot Club's "Blue Drag" and "Minor Swing" for use in the film, he also played the role of Django Reinhardt in the movie. John has also performed with leading European Gypsy jazz artists Bireli Lagrene and Romane, appeared on recordings with Babik Reinhardt and Angelo Debarre, and has written many articles and lessons for national and international guitar magazines.

Product Details

• Paperback: 64 pages
• Publisher: Flatpicking Guitar Magazine; Pap/DVD/Co edition (September 22, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786639148
• ISBN-13: 978-0786639144
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.5 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #283,806 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Just about as good as a method book gets., July 20, 2005

By 

David M. Gardner Jr. "Manouche wannabe" (Williamsburg, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Introduction to Gypsy Jazz Guitar: John Jorgenson (Book/CD/DVD Set) (Paperback)

Well, firstly...WOW!!! For the price you get a great method book, a great play along CD and an amazing 2 hr long DVD.

The only warning is that you really do need to know how to play guitar to an intermediate level to really get into this book.

The lessons are well paced and extremely well illustrated in the book and DVD. Explanations are clear and the DVD is set up so that you can navigate around easily. My favorite part is how JJ is teaching a person right in front of you. The other guitarist is good, but makes plenty of REAL mistakes and asks plenty of REALLY GREAT questions: the kinds that traditional flatpickers might ask.

Be warned, however. This book contains no actual gypsy solo tunes. It spends time developing theoretical constructs and fingerboard maps, major and minor arpeggio patterns. In the long run, however, this method develops a much stronger solo player and allows the guitarist's individuality to come through; instead of just becoming another Django clone.

My only gripe is that the 3 volumes are not coming out fast enough for me, but that isn't really a problem. (It's excitement!) Just practice practice practice.

I am a music educator, and wish that all method books were put together as well as this one!

The 4 stars are not 5, because I think a beginning guitarist might have a bit of trouble with it.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars John Jorgenson's Gypsy Jazz Guitar, March 15, 2006

By 

Matt Landers "matteus" (New York City) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Introduction to Gypsy Jazz Guitar: John Jorgenson (Book/CD/DVD Set) (Paperback)

I am an experienced guitar player and this book/cd/dvd combo was a real pleasure. The format is very easy to follow and makes learning some new technique fun. I happened to see Jorgenson and his string band live at a tiny venue, (Kirkland Art Center) in upstate New York in Dec 2005. I bought his CD and later this instructional book through Amazon. I found both totally worth the purchase price. I do believe you need to have some experience as a player to get the max out of Gypsy Jazz Guitar. If you are an average player and want to kickstart yourself into some more advanced playing - get this book.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent: Learn the style and the music theory, February 11, 2008

By 

Mary Anne - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Introduction to Gypsy Jazz Guitar: John Jorgenson (Book/CD/DVD Set) (Paperback)

This is excellent. Don't pass it up. In this one, the basic 1-4-5 blues progression is the starting point for a hands on demo walkthrough of how to take this basic progression and fill it in with more robust substitutions and exciting sounding background comping. The 9th, dim, aug and 6th cords are pressented in an easy to digest, follow, and incorporate series of demo's. The instructor describes what is going on so you can create this type of movement in your own arrangements.

The teaching style of having a "live" student asking questions during the dvd instruction, tries to create the feel that you are sitting in on an actual lesson. This works really well here as the instructor and student have good chemistry and the exchange keeps the information from becoming dry. It also helps pace the demo's as the teacher plays, then the student and teacher play together, which actually helps give you a bit more time to play along without having to continually replay demos that often seem a bit too short for new material on some of the other dvd's I've had.

I'm about half way through on this dvd today, and already I am here ordering the next level intermediate dvd cause this one is that good - I want to keep on learning from this guy! The pressentation is really well done, and the notation materials are excellent. The "book", is a full sized book - which is beyond the norm - this is not just a collection of "reminder" highlight notes in a half size booket insert, as comes with some other dvd video instructions. In addition to being full sized, these materials are well organized, easy to read, and include narrative text and explainations.

Bottom line: very nice instructional product of a really great and useful topic. In fact, even if you don't want to play this particular style in depth, the chord substitution theory is well worth the time and price of this product.