The Austin, Texas musician, songwriter, and vocalist Eric Johnson is best known for his electric guitar skills on Fender Stratocasters and Gibson ES-335.
He is also admired for his skill on lap-steel and resonator types.
Photo Credit ©Max Crace
In 1991 he won a Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance.
He has been voted as one of the 100 “Greatest Guitarists Of All Time” by Guitar World’s readers.
Now, thirty years after his breakthrough solo release Tones brought him national recognition, the guitar legend is releasing his first all-acoustic album [titled EJ and due for release 7th October 2016 on Provogue/Mascot Label Group.]
Johnson, long known for his conscientious approach to creating records, used a much more direct approach to songs on EJ.
“Almost all of that material was cut live…” Johnson explained. “Some of the songs I actually sang and played at the same time – just live in the studio. Recording this way gave it more of an honest realism and organic emotion. Especially on the acoustic, you just have to get in there and play.”
On his own EJ compositions “Wonder,” “Fatherly Downs,” and “All Things You Are,” Johnson employs his precious 1980 Martin D-45 — a gift from his late father.
He plays the steel-string on his praiseworthy instrumentals such as: “Once Upon a Time in Texas,” “All Things You Are,” and “Song for Irene.”
He invokes the lovely, reflective spirit of “Serinidad,” another original instrumental, on his Ramirez nylon-string guitar.
And an ebullient steel-string arrangement of Simon and Garfunkel’s “Mrs. Robinson” rounds out the solo guitar tracks.
In support of EJ’s October 2016 release, Johnson will embark on a series of U.S. tours that will bring him to about 60 cities.
Release Date: CD and Digital: October 7, 2016
Neil Mach 2016 ©
Link: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialEricJohnson
