The loss of guitar icon Jeff Beck reminds us all of the dearth of six stringers who resist resting on their laurels and continue to advance their musical craft, hopping their loyal fans will join with them in the journey.
Such is the experience taken in on Wednesday at The Majestic Theater, as Eric Johnson gave a 2 one hour sets to let his fans know of his own station on his musical pilgrimage.
In a duet format with Roscoe Beck on upright bass, Johnson made you feel you were at a night at McCabes guitar shop or the local Moose Lodge with a collection of casual and finger pickin’ good tunes. His graceful and melodic touch was in full bloom on the calliope-like “Abelia” and “Resolution” while he swung and jammed with Beck on the volleying “Once Upon A Time In Texas”, taking you down to a rural road on “Song For George”.
Drummer Wayne Salzmann and guitarist/keyboardist Dave Scher then joined up, but still kept it casual as Johnson took to the piano (another part of his musical pilgrimage) for some Debussy-esque ideas on “Song For Lynette”. Some fun bluegrass had Johnson produce more sweet licks than a Tootsie Roll Pop on “Tribute to Chet” and “Ballad of Elrod and Girlene” while Johnson played the role of minstrel immaculately as he told a story on “Divanae”. Back porch beauties.
For the second set, everyone plugged in, and Johnson’s crystal clear touch was in abundance on the lyrically swinging “Righteous” and “Soundtrack Life”. He then took the audience into the modal world of John Coltrane with a double time take of “Impressions” with Johnson and Sher searing through the lines over Salzmann’s channeling of Elvin Jones. At piano once again, Johnson sounded like Austin’s answer to Al Stewart, with a pretty poppish “Nothing Can Keep Me From You”
The closing part of the event was comfort food for his long time fans, and its easy to hear why he can still pack a house. His patented digital prowess creates Waterford Crystalline tones on delicate pieces like “Open Road”, but also fits into dusty blue jeans as on the Texas shuffle of ‘Move On Over” and the jazzy “Manhattan”. And, oh, yes, there’s this little jig called “Cliffs of Dover” that closes each show, with Johnson’s growth as Johnson making each rendition becoming more rhapsodic as the song, and the artist age over the years like a fine wine.