Guitar
Max O’Rourke has only been teaching at Django Camp for a few years, but their association with the event goes back much longer than that. They were born and raised not far from where we host this event, in West Rutland, Vermont. Their interest in guitar began when they were just 6 but it took them 10 more years to make it to Django in June. Max was already, nonetheless, a fine Gypsy jazz guitarists by the time they first came as one of our rare (but invariably talented) teenage campers. They joined us for a couple more after that, then headed off to Berklee College of Music.
In 2018 they made their triumphant return to Django in June, this time as a teacher and a member of the Gonzalo Bergara Quartet. Here’s something from their exquisite, Claroscuro. Note that when you hold the rhythm chair for Gonzalo, you’d best have more in your pocket than just a solid pompe.
Max’s skill as a teacher is no secret: they have taught at Frank Vignola’s camp at Crested Butte, Django Fest NW, Django by the Sea, and Fiddle Hell. Equally in demand as a player they have played 35 states and 8 countries with the John Jorgenson Quintet, the Daisy Castro Quartet and Rhythm Future Quartet.
Max released their own debut CD, “Disquiet,” in 2018 and now leads a quartet quartet in the Big Apple. Take a bite of this lovely original from them, “Waltz for…”.