One Stolen Night
Artist: The John Jorgenson Quintet
http://www.johnjorgenson.com 
Label: J2 Records
Length: 5 tracks / 28:45

I wasn't prepared for what I would hear when I placed One Stolen Night into my CD player. If, like me, you're a big fan of the legendary Quintet of the Hot Club of France – the early 1930s jazz band fronted by jazz violinist Stephane Grappelli and Gypsy guitar legend Django Rheinhardt – the effect of hearing John Jorgenson's group is almost startling. Jorgenson (guitar) and Jason Anick (violin) channel Reinhardt and Grappelli's collective musical spirit in a way that is fresh, energetic, and as natural as if they were transported to the present directly from a Parisian bistro in 1934. 

As shocking as the musical similarities are to the legendary group, even more shocking is the fact that most of the wonderful songs on One Stolen Night are Jorgenson's own compositions. There have been bands that have played in homage to Rheinhardt and Grappelli, but there has never been a group that sounds so at home in that musical environment. Importantly, this music is not an imitation of the Hot Club style but actually a capturing of the spirit of the era, the musicians, and the sound. The first track, “Red on Red,” begins and you're instantly transported into the world of Django.....

Backed by the very deliberate rhythm guitar of Kevin Nolan and the active bass of Simon Planting, the irresistible charm of the the doubled melodies played by guitar and violin take center stage on “Slide Sister Slide,”  which features a sweet violin solo (including very Grappelli-like harmonics) and deft, dazzling guitar fingering.

Fans of the early work of Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks, whose sound also owes a debt to 1930s jazz, will recognize “Mediterranean Blues” and “Bella Ella” as prime candidates for that group's repertoire. “Souvenirs Des Nos Peres” evokes  a mysterious and perhaps slightly sinister cabaret at night, featuring Jorgenson this time soloing impressively on clarinet! 

With the first three notes of the tenth track implying Reinhardt's “Nuages,” Jorgenson and his band instead take us on a nostalgic “Norwegian Dance,” conjuring sweet jazzy licks from unexpected places in the familiar melody. 

The only Reinhardt composition on the project, “Hungaria,” is an up-tempo, rhythmic wonder with delightfully playful and melodic swinging by Jorgenson and Anick while the rhythm section (Simon Planting on bass, Rick Reed on percussion and Kevin Nolan on rhythm guitar) keep things hot and moving. In contrast, we have the delicate solo  guitar piece, “Istiqbal Solo,” a calm and dreamy three minutes and nine seconds leading into the final track – the moody, evocative “Dark Romance.”

Lovers of string-driven 'gypsy-jazz' absolutely need to get their hands on this CD and certainly need to become aware of the John Jorgenson Quintet. For fans of Django and Stephane, I give One Stolen Night my highest and most enthusiastic recommendation.
 

Bert Saraco

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