Four years before the release of his debut solo album Tones, Eric Johnson and I sat down to do an extensive interview. At the time it was unusual for me to interview a guitarist who didn’t have national recognition or even an album to promote, but all it took was a pair of ears to hear that Johnson already was an extraordinary musician.
 As a staff editor for Guitar Player magazine, I was continually hearing about superb guitarists who, for various reasons, were largely unknown. What instantly set Eric apart was …

Exciting times for Eric Johnson fans! One of America’s finest guitarists, Johnson is currently on the road with the Acoustic Guitar Masters tour. Later in October and November, he’ll switch to electric guitar for the Experience Hendrix Tour 2010. His new album, Up Close, comes out on November 9 and features 14 original songs and a cover of Electric Flag’s “Texas.” While Steve Miller, Jimmie Vaughan, Jonny Lang, and Sonny Landreth make guest appearances on the album, Eric’s first in five years, his heartfelt singing and transcendent guitar playing remain …