Guitarist Eric Johnson has announced the release of his sixth studio album, Up Close, on his own Vortexan Music label (via EMI Distribution) on December 7th 2010. The 15-track disc presents 14 new Johnson compositions plus his version of the Electric Flag song “Texas,” and features guest appearances by fellow master players Jimmie Vaughan and Sonny Landreth on guitar and vocals by Steve Miller, Johnny Lang and Lyrical themes of reflection, emotional revelations, personal growth and fulfillment are underscored on the album by Johnson’s most daring, urgent, progressive and at times raw and fervent guitar work to date.
“I decided to let go a bit and allow things to happen and just go with the flow,” explains Johnson of his approach to the album. “I like my work to have a high proficiency, but I also wanted to go for the energy and magic of the performances.” He precedes the album’s release with a special acoustic Guitar Masters tour alongside acclaimed players Peppino D’Agostino and Andy McKee in October, and follows it with his second appearance on the Experience Hendrix tour later this year and another leg of the Guitar Masters tour in January 2011. Lyrical themes of reflection, emotional revelations, personal growth and fulfillment are underscored on the album by Johnson’s most daring, urgent, progres- sive and at times raw and fervent guitar work to date. As with all of Johnson’s work, his all-encompassing style draws from rock, blues, pop, country, jazz and classic to exemplify his stature as “an extraordinary guitar player accessible to ordinary music fans” (Mem
phis Commercial Appeal).
Track Listing:
1. AWAKEN 2. FATDADDY 3. BRILLIANT ROOM (Malford Milligan -vocal) 4. TEXAS (Steve Miller –vocal, Jimmie Vaughan - guitar) 5. GEM 6. TRAVERSE 7. AUSTIN (Jonny Lang - vocal) 8. SOUL SURPRISE 9. ON THE WAY 10. ARITHMETIC 11. THE SEA AND THE MOUNTAIN 12. VORTEXAN 13. A CHANGE HAS COME TO ME 14. CHANGE - revisited 15. YOUR BOOK (Sonny Landreth - guitar)
Up Close is energized by Johnson’s continuing focus on broadening and enriching his work “I wanted to bare myself a little further and show myself more,” he says. “I want my music to always grow and have more of a profound meaning and impact.”
Tour dates for the Experience Hendrix Tour are as follows: Oct. 26 - Pittsburgh - Benedum Theater Oct. 28 - Toronto, ON - Sony Center Oct. 29 - Quebec City, QUE - Grand Theatre Oct. 30 - Montreal, QUE - Place des Arts Nov. 01 -Ottawa, ON -National Arts Center Southam Hall Nov. 02 - Buffalo, NY - Center for the Arts Nov. 03 - Morristown, NJ - Community Theatre Nov. 04 - Mashantucket, CT - MGM Grand @ Foxwoods Nov. 06 - Albany, NY - Palace Theater Nov. 07 - Boston, MA - Orpheum Theater Nov. 09 - Hershey, PA - Hershey Theatre Nov. 10 - New York, NY - Beacon Theatre Nov. 11 - Baltimore, MD - Hippodrome Nov. 12 - Richmond, VA – Landmark Theater Nov. 13 - Atlantic City, NJ - Caesars Casino Nov. 16 - Columbus, OH- Palace Theater Nov. 17 - Cincinnati, OH - Taft Theater Nov. 18 - Detroit, MI - Fox Theater Nov. 19 - Merrilville, IN - Star Plaza Theater Nov. 20 – Indianapolis – Murat Theatre
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