NEW YORK (www.ericjohnson.com) - Legendary guitarist/vocalist Eric Johnson returns with the release of Bloom on June 14, 2005. Special guests include Grammy Award-winning vocalist
Shawn Colvin and guitarist Adrian Legg. Favored Nations, founded by Johnson's longtime friend, G3 tour-mate, and fellow guitar genius Steve Vai, is proud to release this new and diverse musical experience.
Johnson has perfected a distinct style and signature sound that encompasses many genres. His 1986 CD Tones, 1990 breakthrough platinum CD Ah Via Musicom (with its Grammy Award-winning instrumental "Cliffs of Dover") and 1996 CD Venus Isle illustrate Johnson's astonishing depth and diversity. Bloom further demonstrates his love of rock, blues, pop, country, and jazz/fusion with an excellent balance of instrumental and vocal tunes.
The sixteen songs on Bloom are carefully sequenced into three different sections, grouped together in terms of vibe and style. The prelude section features 'Bloom', 'Summer Jam', the
Bob Dylan cover 'My Back Pages', 'Good to Me', 'Columbia', and '12 to 12 Vibe'. The courante section features 'Sea Secret', 'Sad Legacy', 'From My Heart', 'Cruise the Nile', 'Tribute to Jerry Reed', 'Your Sweet Eyes', and 'Hesitant'. The allemande section rounds out the CD with 'Sunnaround You', 'Magnetized', and 'Ciel'.
With Bloom, Johnson consciously takes a new and different approach to recording. "To become a better musician, you strengthen your muscles by making music. I'm going for a more emotional approach instead of a rigid mental one. Bloom is a step toward more spontaneity, and I want each of my future albums to be even more spontaneous than the previous one. I write and record simultaneously in the studio to see where I might be led. Technological advances in the studio, however, can open a can of worms since it can promote not having to pay attention to the essence of the music. These days anyone can make a killer record, but not everybody can have that unique heart and soul. People like Miles Davis,
Jimi Hendrix and Wes Montgomery captured a special vibe and magic in the studio."
Johnson has already begun work on the follow-up to Bloom, intending to release a new album every couple of years. In the wake of his highly successful solo acoustic tour, friends and fans are also nudging Johnson in the direction of an acoustic album.
Although Johnson is known for his meticulous craftsmanship in the studio, he loves to experience the transformation that happens on the concert stage with the audience as a vital element.
"I prefer playing live because I can take the music and expand it through improvisation. It's also great to see how the audience receives it." he says.
Current U.S. tour dates (several with
Buddy Guy) include:
Thursday, May 5th Iowa City, IA Englert Theatre
Friday, May 6th Kansas City, KS Grand Emporium
Saturday, May 7th Tulsa, OK Oklahoma Blues Festival
Tuesday, June 14th St. Louis, MO Mississippi Nights
Wednesday, June 15th Milwaukee, WI Pabst Theater
Thursday, June 16th Columbus, OH PromoWest Pavilion *
Friday, June 17th Cleveland, OH House Of Blues
Saturday, June 18th Kettering, OH Fraze Pavilion Blues Festival *
Sunday, June 19th Chicago, IL House Of Blues
Thursday, June 23rd Anaheim, CA House Of Blues
Friday, June 24th Las Vegas, NV House Of Blues *
Saturday, June 25th Lake Tahoe, NV Crystal Bay Club/Crown Room
Sunday, June 26th Saratoga, CA Mountain Winery *
Monday, June 27th Los Angeles, CA House Of Blues
Tuesday, June 28th San Diego, CA Humphreys *
Thursday, June 30th Seattle, WA South Lake Park *
Friday, July 1st Portland, OR Waterfront Blues Fest *
Wednesday, July 6th Philadelphia, PA Trocadero
Thursday, July 7th Hyannis, MA Cape Cod
Melody Tent *
Friday, July 8th Cohasset, MA South Shore
Music Circus *
Saturday, July 9th New York, NY B.B. King Blues Club & Grill
Sunday, July 10th Alexandria, VA Birchmere
Friday, July 15th Chattanooga, TN Nightfall Series
Saturday, July 16th New Orleans, LA House Of Blues
NOTE: (*) with
Buddy Guy
