For many in the North East region Johnny A may be on your radar. The Boston based guitarist seems to play regionally regularly and by the look of his videos he’s been doing it for a while. I know I have seen his name listed in Philly etc. in ads and listings but never knew a thing about him. Many of you may have seen his video in my recent blog UNDENIABLY CLASSIC SONGS – WICHITA LINEMAN which features and incredible instrumental version of that song by Johnny. I included it her again for those who missed it (if you saw it move on down for more cool originals and hip covers by Johnny A).
Once I saw this clip, I wanted to check this guy out. Finding this has inspired me to start this regular feature WHY DON’T I KNOW ABOUT THIS GUY/GIRL? So if you know of someone regional or off the beaten track, whether currently performing or someone obscure that you think I should hear about keep me posted.
JOHNNY A PLAYS WICHITA LINEMAN
A fantastic guitar instrumental version of this great Jimmy Webb tune. Wonderfully tasteful and sultry version of this great tune for jazzy trio. Sticking to the melody without a lot of harmonic variance, Johnny A’s touch and tone bring a nice, shimmering quality to Webb’s gorgeous melody. This was the first time I’ve heard this guy while working on a piece on the song Wichita Lineman.
So I look further and it seems he was signed to Steve Vai’s label for a bit and was asked to play on the G3 tour by Joe Satriani. I guess I’m not really plugged into to the shredder scene these days. He is much more a Hendrix/Page/Beck influenced modernist than a lot of the post DiMeola/Vai/Satriani trick-bag guys. More bluesy based but not really a blues player like Stevie Ray was. Now granted, there’s a bit too much Jimi and not enough jazzy in some of the live cover stuff but then again, I’ve already lived through Randy Hansen and Frank Marino, Robin Trower, Billy Gibbons and Stevie Ray so I’ve seen some decent guys approximate some of what Jimi did. I’ve always been one for more individualistic sounding players’ takes on Hendrix. Like Frisell, or Scofield or Clapton among those who have covered Jimi tune interestingly while never copping too much of the original while keeping their own distinctive stuff in tact.
But the reason I decided to do this blog on Johnny A is two-fold. First, I dug the simplicity and taste of the WICHITA LINEMAN so much and I think this guy’s touch and tone is a nice find and I’d go see him for a night of bluesy shredding. Granted, the originality of a Derek Trucks or a Jim Hall or a Richard Thompson will get me back over and over again. I have a feeling I’d like this tons but perhaps not feel compelled to return every time out. I find in my older age I’m not so drawn to technique and volume as much as either experimentation and audacious originality (a la Nels Cline) or sublime harmonic and melodic invention and emotion (a la Kurt Rosenwinkel).
Then again there are a lot of young guitar slingers out there who will never see Jimi or SRV or Garcia or Albert King or Wes Montgomery or Danny Gatton or Tommy Bolin or any of the heavy guitar slingers who are no longer around. Not everyone wants to hear post-Eddie VH pyrotechnics all the time. And truly with Jeff Beck (who I still believe remains, note-for-note the most interesting and unique sounding player out there today) touring so seldom where can you get a full night of smokin’ instrumental guitar music on a regular basis these days. Still, I’d prefer an evening of Johnny’s original music with a couple of his tasty covers thrown in. The Johnny A original tunes are way cool. These Johnny A signature model Gibson guitars are also extremely gorgeous works of art.
Before we get into the crowd-pleasing covers, check out some of his original stuff…
HIP BONE
OH YEAH
SING SINGIN’
2 WHEEL HORSE
THE COVER TUNES:
THE WIND CRIES MARY & JIMI STORY
A long but amusing story about seeing Jimi live when he was 15. Followed by a funky version of “…Mary.” From Sellersville, PA 5/17/08.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQHyMfo0ey0
YOU DON’T LOVE ME
Yes, he covers the tune made famous by the Allman Brothers Band, here done up funky and with a taste of Wes-esque octave work and slithery wah work.
AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL
Solo guitar rendition recorded right after 9/11
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aax-38C9LnY
JOHNNY A GUESTING WITH J.J. CALE ON GOIN’ DOWN
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Atzp9a9PFPc
RED HOUSE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOp_lbaEr64
JIMI JAM
Lots of Jimi riffs in here but he also quotes Beatles, Stones, Zep, etc. From King of Prussia, PA. 6/17/07
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PZA5aWJf9U
INTERVIEW FOOTAGE:
Check out the JOHNNY A. OPEN FORUM links on YouTube. There are five parts. Mostly of interest for tech heads and guitarists for the most part. Here’s the link for Pt. 1.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNPdsj3imBc
Check out his website for tour dates…looks like his playing nationwide this spring so don’t miss him…
Johnny A's Website
For more on Johnny A:
Wikipedia
Johnny A on MySpace
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