Eric JohnsonIf I had to choose my favorite guitarist ever, it might just have to be EJ. While he isn't as underrated as Roy Buchanan, many people just know him as "that guy with the song on guitar hero", and while Cliffs of Dover is his most famous track, and the definition of a PERFECT song, ALL of his material is equally as musical, sophisticated and just incredible sounding music. EJ was already making a name for himself in Texas at the age of 15, when he formed the Electromagnets, Austin's first jazz/rock fusion band. Many other Texas guitar slingers like Stevie Ray Vaughan and Billy Gibbons praised EJ even in his young age. After two poorly produced albums "Seven Worlds" and "Tones", EJ decided to focus completely on the mixing and production of any future records. The result was an ethereal, wall of airy, natural sound. His other records "Ah Via Musicom" "Venus Isle" and "Bloom" are all great and should be checked out. Also great is a 1988 live album from Austin.
I would consider EJ a fusion guitarist, not really in the sense of Jazz-fusion like John Mclaughlin or Al Di Meola, but the way that EJ took all of his influences from many different styles and combined them to form his own fusion of genres and playing. He has bits of country, rock, blues, and jazz all melded together. I absolutely love his philosophy of the instrument. He has said he wanted to give the guitar that classical brilliance and respect, like a violin. I would say he accomplished that. He never plays anything for the sake of playing, and it's easy to see that he takes his music to heart. EJ's is most famous in the guitar world for his tone, and every instance of it is the best guitar tone I've ever heard. His clean tone is shimmering, crystal clear. His lead tone is liquidy, fat, natural, heavenly. I could go on and on with these adjectives. But what I think gets overlooked the most, is his songwriting. While some may be turned by his love ballads, I find them very emotional and sweet. Most of his lyric based songs are about presumably his wife, love and emotions. Unlike most other "guitar virtuosos" EJ never has written a bland love ballad, never played fast for the sake of playing fast, his songwriting is a perfect example of simply good music.
Nothing Can Keep Me From You-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByD6Ok8shfY&feature=relatedForty Mile Town-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qR_YYmv2LF8&feature=relatedWhen The Sun Meets the Sky-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3GOTEzn8lU&feature=relatedSong For George-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBwVwckJSn0&feature=PlayList&p=8A07E8F72548E48E&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=31I'm expecting some negative views regarding his voice, and the lyrical content, but its all opinions.
Possibly the best way i've heard EJ described is "he's like Jimi Hendrix if he locked himself away for 5 years and studied music theory and practiced day and night." So in a sense, a more cultured Hendrix.