jazz guitarist and composer

Today I’ve been following one of my heroes of music, Joni Mitchell, after a friend hipped me to this interview. Everything that Joni talks about— her art, her music, writing lyrics, etc., I’m convinced that she’s a supreme bright woman and when she talks it all comes out as if it was yet another brilliant song. The only mini drag on this moment is that the interview fellow Jian Ghomeshi, who has a great voice and asks good questions, keeps on filling the bandwidth with his own voice and doesn’t let Joni finish her ideas. Rule one I think if you’re an interviewer is to prompt the stage and then get out of the way. It’s also a good rule for basic living too, listen more.

Jian’s super cool and smart but dude, let Joni finish her thoughts.

The fellow that publishes my Chick Corea Solos book sent me this link and it’s a really quick funny take on how men and women differ when dealing with a problem. I’m laughing and my wife Stef dug it too!

It’s Not About the Nail!

The banjo is finally on my knee! It took a while to pull all of the deets together but I’ve finally finished recording my tweaked romp through Louisiana and I’m calling it “The Susan Variations.” It’s 101 ways to play “Oh, Susanna” and survive to tell the tale.

Go here to watch and listen.

If you have an interest in bringing some of this insanity into your own home via your own guitar you might first acquire the sheet music by clicking here. Then go to these videos where I demonstrate how I came up with the arrangement along with other fine details. It was a hoot to pull together and I’m stoked to share it.

For this week I’m heading over to the Roxy on Thursday night for my ongoing good time of solo guitar music, friends, big helpings of healthy food, and the enlightened bohemia of downtown Encinitas. See ya there at 7pm.

That’s the word for now and many thanks for reading, Peter

• Learning to properly reconcile SpragueLand’s balance sheets with the guidance of Quickbooks guru Mary.
• Massaging out the last kinks for the upcoming “Susan Variations” vids; one highlighting the performance and one explaining how I came up with the weirdness. Coming to you soon!
• In the studio recording a new Peter Jorgensen tune with Leonard on the vocal mic.
• Out to dinner to Native Foods with Stef, Kylie and a few of her friends. Super fun and killin’ organic eats! Try the vegan nachos!
• Wrapping up a recording project with guitarist Tony Taravella and his all-star back up band with Tripp, Duncan, Mike Wofford and Bob Magnusson.
• Interesting meeting with Jim Gilliam and Chris Montgomery about a possible future Encinitas Jazz Festival. We’re taking over the world, one small town at a time! Hah!
• A full on flowing solo concert at the Vista Library plus a special berry cobbler gift from 2 gifted epicurean Ramona fans.
• Gathering print media positive reviews and most recently, the Mikan/Brian Levy/Peter show got the attention of Sire Robert Bush. He reports, “a knockout concert of modern jazz at its finest, dispelling the notion that a rhythm section is absolutely necessary for potent music making.” To take in the complete account click here.
• Attending a concert with Roni Ben Hur and his group. Super cool music and Duduka on drums totally floored me. What a beautiful groove that fellow lays down. Also ran into Mundell Lowe and Oscar Castro Neves at the concert and we’re organizing a concert for us to all play together.
• Had a fun walk in east Encinitas with Ky and Stef and little Rocky boy was on it too. We carried him for part of it ‘cuz he’s got a small stride and it’s just not fair.
• High tech gear hang with David and I exploring his guitar synth, making me drool with future possibilities. He also showed me X-rays of when his hand fell off his, well, hand, and the resultant metal plate and screws that keep things in one place. Talk about hanging on by a thread…
• Two big days in the studio tracking for vocalist/pianist Matt Falker’s new CD project. He had a stellar band with Roger on bass and Sammy K on drums. Cool music indeed!
• Squeaking in little daily interludes of biking to the beach and either surfing, doing yoga, or swimming to keep the sanity and the sky in my head. It’s working I think!
• Mixing sax man Steve Feierabend’s new jazz project which was tracked up in SF. It’s sounding good complete with Steve’s original compositions too!

Our east Encinitas walk with Kylie and Stef carrying the little Rocky Boy. He did most of the walk on his own 2 legs but then started to wear down.

And tonight I forgo the beloved reoccurring Roxy gig and instead make the drive to the RB Inn to share the sound and to bolster the bank account.

I’ve got some cool stuff coming up down the way including a wacky 7am bright and early internet concert with Kevyn. But for this week, I’ll see you at the Sunday solo guitar brunch at the Craftsman in Encinitas. I played this gig a few weeks back and had a great time and turnout. Folks liked the food too so maybe we’ll see you there…

summer on good people, Peter

I’ve been up super early, breaking the muso stereotype, surfing in the ocean by 6:30am. It’s been windy and bumpy but super fun. Today was special and after the morning ocean session I carved out some studio time and recorded a new vid of me playing solo on “The Susan Variations.” The music will make its way to YouTube in the next couple of days and I’ll be sure to let you know.

Looking at the chart and marking the hard sections with a red pen. I’ve read that that’s supposed to make it easier to play. Hah!

This is where I sit when I play those red markup sections.

Coming right up tomorrow (Thursday), I’ll be back playing solo at The Roxy. I miss that place and I miss the gang that shows up there. See you soon!

If you live out in the Vista area I’m scheduled to play a solo hit on Sunday at the Vista Library. Library gigs are the new frontier—high level of listening with good sounding rooms and the revolving option of SILENCE as part of the music. I hope to see you there.

Peter and the revolving option of silence.
Photo by Karen Winter

I’ve been going out to hear other musos lately (last week was some great music by Anthony Wilson and the Seasons Quartet) and this week on Sunday I’m heading over to the Athenaeum Studio to hear guitarist Roni Ben-Hur and his trio. I’ve never heard him live but I know he’s playing up a storm. Here’s the details for the concert and here’s a little backstory on him:

Jazz guitarist Roni Ben-Hur has earned a sterling reputation as a musician and educator, renowned for his golden tone, improvisational brilliance, compositional lyricism, and ability to charm peers, students, and listeners alike. Eminent jazz critic Gary Giddins wrote in the Village Voice: “A limber and inventive guitarist, Ben-Hur keeps the modernist flame alive and pure, with a low flame burning in every note.” Ben-Hur—born in Israel in 1962 but a longtime American citizen, now based in New Jersey—has released nine albums as leader or co-leader, with Time Out New York calling him “a formidable and consummately lyrical guitarist.” The Star-Ledger of New Jersey summed him up this way: “A deep musician, a storyteller, Ben-Hur works with a warm, glowing sound and has an alluring way of combining engaging notes with supple rhythm.” Jazz guitar star Russell Malone got it right when he said: “Everything Roni does is beautiful. He has the magic touch.”

That’s it for this week and thanks for reading, Peter