Anchorage Daily News

The John Jorgenson Quintet delivered a fantastic Alaska debut performance at the Sydney Laurence Theatre on Friday night.

Lead guitarist Jorgenson, in creating a tribute to jazz legends Django Reinhardt and Stephane Graffelli, has created sparkling original compositions that capture the heart and soul of melodic Gypsy jazz.

From the outset, the excited audience of about 200 found itself transported back to the 1930s. Opening fire by improvising with an exotic Hungarian melody, Jorgenson and violinist Jason Anick exchanged rapid- fire solos and then flowered into the haunting romantic ballad "Smoldering Ashes" from the 2004 release "Franco-American."

The New Orleans-style piece "Dr. Jazz" was a showstopper as Jorgenson sang a Louis Armstrong-era vocal and busted out on clarinet. With a deep, rich, ravishing tone, bends beyond and octaves that would make Benny Goodman and Woody Allen blush, Jorgenson was flawlessly blazing. I could have listened to that clarinet all night.

Each piece created a rich visual impression, often morphing from a quiet sunrise at the beach to the chug of a cross-country train, finally sliding into the rhythm of a busy Paris sidewalk cafe.

In "Dark Romance," a piece that would make an excellent film soundtrack, each performer in the band -- which included Kevin Nolan on rhythm guitar, Charlie Chadwick on upright bass and percussionist Rick Reed -- kept a firm grip on the formidable tasks of rhythm and dynamics, while Jorgenson and violinist Anick exchanged cutting-edge solos.

After giving the audience heartfelt thanks, the quintet closed with the title track from his latest release, "Ultraspontane." The piece delivers several movements, and the blistering solos are a test of real endurance. The quintet received standing ovations during its encores of the Reinhardt-penned "Sweet Chorus" and "Nuages."

The all-acoustic show was a little hard to hear initially but gradually improved by the second set. Hats off to Whistling Swan and Trish Galfano for bringing this monster talent to Alaska.

Leland Smith performs and teaches guitar in Anchorage.

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