DJANGO

DJANGO

By Andy Weddington

Thursday, 02 April 2026

There's a way of playing safe, there's a way of using tricks and there's the way I like to play which is dangerously where you're going to take a chance on making mistakes in order to create something you haven't created before.  - Dave Brubeck

For a bit of context, I've followed jazz, all types, since youth. 

I remember watching The Glenn Miller Story, The Benny Goodman Story, The Scott Joplin Story, and others whenever on TV. 

These days Smooth and Improv top interest list.

Inspired by Benny Goodman's story, I tried clarinet as a kid but stopped after barely competent squeaking through Mary Had a Little Lamb. (I think my parents threw a party to celebrate - the quiet.)

But my personal failure only strengthened my interest in the music. 

Fifty-one years ago I was introduced to Dave Brubeck. Still I listen to his quartet's wonderful timeless classic: Time Out Take Five

Sixteen years later I saw Brubeck and his quartet live. It was an experience. Mary Had a Little Lamb was not on the set list. 

Sunday past we sat, 4th row from stage, amongst a small crowd of 200 or so to hear a jazz quintet. 

And since their incredible music resonates, especially while walking. 

The John Jorgenson Quintet played a brand of jazz I did not know existed until a few weeks ago.

Gypsy jazz. 

John, my age, played guitar, bouzouki, and, tada, clarinet. (He also plays sax, drums, keyboards, et al. - the son of musicians his vantage.)

A word about John ...

Guitar - Incredible!

Bouzouki - Incredible!

Clarinet - Speechless! Have heard (and know) some exceptional players. Never heard anything like John's playing - confidently fast, clean, bright and loud; squeezed the most of the instrument; held notes longer than audience could hold breath; etc. Not one sour note. Not one. 

His band included pianist/accordionist; percussionist; bassist (standup); violinist. 

Oh, the violinist. He substituted for the regular who had to miss a concert for his wedding. John noted: When finding a substitute make sure they're not better than you. The sub kept the job. 

Remarkable musicians all. 

John remarked the spirited gypsy jazz dates to 1930s in Paris, France.  

Most notably, Django (D silent) Reinhardt a Belgium-born Romani jazz guitarist and composer - a gypsy (hence the branding). 

Django died, without warning, at age 43; brain hemorrhage. 

Alas, John Jorgenson's mission in life is keeping Django's name and music alive. 

He's doing just that - masterfully. 

I've not time to list John's resume and awards. Look him up. 

Too, look up the pioneer Django Reinhardt.

How does a fan of jazz for six decades not know about gypsy jazz until a few weeks ago?

No clue.

These days the five-string banjo (Django played banjo) has my interest. 

Not to play the traditional bluegrass and new grass learned in youth but am experimenting with jazz chord progressions and improv with the three-fingers Scruggs style picking. 

It's different. But the sound intriguing. It's creating something not heard before. And purposely I avoid playing anything the same. That is, if there was to be concerts on successive nights the audiences would not hear the same music. Similar yes but not the same. 

Sounds a little crazy, the approach. But so goes invention. 

My wife enjoys a concert most every morning. And as time permits throughout the day, I play. 

Apparently she likes. No investment in ear plugs, headphones, nor orders to take it to the other side of the house or to garage. 

The behaviorists call it positive reinforcement. 

Improving. Discovering. Creating. Fumbling and stumbling along searching for the sound. That's what music, what art, is about. 

My struggle remains finding musicians, any instrument, interested in exploring a new direction - without scored music - for an old instrument. 

They, the risk takers, are out there - somewhere.