Guitar Giant to Play One Date

By Elizabeth Kelly

The News & Advance

Catch Johnny A. at the Ellington while you
can.

Earlier this month, the veteran guitarist took the stage at Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival alongside legendary axe men B.B. King, Jeff Beck, Buddy Guy and Santana. Last year he was inducted into the same fraternity more formally when industry leader Gibson created A.’s own “signature model” guitar, which sells for more than $5,000.

Not bad for a largely self-taught guy from Boston who has labored for most of his career as a sideman, most recently for Peter Wolf, who sang with the J. Geils Band.

“In a year we won’t be able to afford him,”
said David Abrams, board chair of The Ellington, which hosts Johnny A. on June 26. “His music is the best I’ve heard in a long time.”

A.’s star is undoubtedly rising fast. He has released two acclaimed instrumental albums, including his February release, “Get Inside,” since going solo in late 1998. Critics have lauded him as a “master player” who can leap from rock and the blues to jazz and country-fried grooves without missing a beat.

But A. said guitar god status was never his goal.

“I think of myself as a working musician, a recording artist and a songwriter, a guy that’s kind of a work in progress,” he said.

In fact, A.’s decision to strike out on his own was launched more out of financial necessity than a strong desire to go solo.

“Wolf put the brakes on touring for a while and I found myself out of work,” he said. “I put an instrumental trio together so I could go out and play and pay the bills.”

While he was at it, A. seized the opportunity to play a wide variety of music and make his guitar the “voice” of the band.

“I didn’t want to put in another four to five years building a career around someone else,” he said. “I never expected to record an album. I wasn’t chasing a trend. I truly did it for all my own true musical reasons without compromising on any level. It’s fortunate that people really dug it.”

A.’s date at the Ellington should expose those who haven’t heard to a guitarist who, with Gibson’s blessing, is now associated with the greats he’s been learning from all these years.

“I remember when I found out that they wanted to do this signature model. I was driving down the highway by myself, listening to Chet Atkins,” he said. “It was an honor that I really can’t put into words.”

Contact Elizabeth Kelly at ekelly@newsadvance.com
or (434) 385-5489.

Who: Johnny A

When: 9 p.m.
on Saturday, June 26. Doors open at 7 p.m. for dinner and 8 p.m.
for the show.

Where: The Ellington,
421 Rivermont Ave.

COST: $37.50
for dinner and show. $20 for show only. Tickets can be purchased
online or at Robert's Piano Company, Stringfellows Music or Tom
Jones Drugs.

Info: 845-2162 or www.theellington.org




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