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Richard Leo Johnson — Fingertip Ship
(Blue Note Metro 7243 4 96901 2 7 , 1998, CD)

by Jeff Melton, Published 1999-11-01

Fingertip Ship Cover art

Since the death of Michael Hedges, a void in the acoustic guitar world has been left open. No obvious heir to the throne has surfaced since there are many players of skill and dexterity in the field. But at least one unique fretmaster has come forward on the new label Metro Blue, and that man is Richard Leo Johnson. Johnson has been slowly refining his craft for several years in somewhat international obscurity only to build up to playing folk festivals and Taylor guitar seminars across the US. His influences range from the folk snippets of Leo Kottke (“Glidepath“) to the pastoral twelve string moods of early Ralph Towner (”Tony Bennett”) and also into subtle Hedges territory (“Mother’s Day”). Intuitively he knows when to tip his hat to the appropriate guitar greats and also fuse his wares to come up with some exciting pieces. Jazz elements are also prominent in pieces such as “Jaco Morrocco,” an affectionate nod to Weather Report prodigy, Jaco Pastorious. There’s not any sleep music on this disc, unless you account for the sonorous ambient textures of the intro piece “Hearts of Palm” or “Bluefield.” At times, Johnson has the fiery finesse of the collective greats such as Al DiMeola, John McLaughlin, Paco DeLucia, or DGM artists the California Guitar Trio. Look for great things from this six-string slinger since he’s got blazing speed tempered with folk influences as well as a keen rhythmic sense.

Filed under: New releases, Issue 18, 1998 releases

Related artist(s): Richard Leo Johnson

 

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