Austin, TX – Eric Johnson will hit the road next week in support of his first acoustic solo album titled EJ.  Thirty years after his breakthrough solo release 'Tones' brought him national recognition, the new release showcases nine original compositions and four covers.  Johnson shares, "Ever since I was young, I've played piano and acoustic guitar in my private life.  This type of music has always been a part of me, but I never showcased it on any kind of bigger level, like a full acoustic record. With EJ, I just decided to be more honest with myself and everybody, and show more of my personal side."

Johnson, long known for his painstaking approach to making records, used a much more immediate attack for the self-produced EJ. "Almost all of that material was cut live," Johnson explains. "Some of the songs I actually sang and played at the same time - just live in the studio. Recording this way gave it more of an honest realism and organic emotion. Especially on the acoustic, you just have to get in there and play."

On the original compositions "Wonder," "Fatherly Downs," and "All Things You Are," Johnson frames his voice with his prized 1980 Martin D-45, a gift from his late father. He plays the steel-string on his superlative instrumentals "Once Upon a Time in Texas," "All Things You Are," and "Song for Irene." He conjures the beautiful, pensive tones of "Serinidad," another original instrumental, on a Ramirez nylon-string guitar. A spirited steel-string arrangement of Simon and Garfunkel's "Mrs. Robinson" rounds out the solo guitar tracks.

Johnson recasts another Simon and Garfunkel favorite, "Scarborough Fair," for voice and piano, and plays piano on the originals "Water Under the Bridge," "November," and "Wrapped in a Cloud," an ensemble track with acoustic bass, cello, drums, and percussion. In a move that's sure to surprise his fans, Johnson rearranged Jimi Hendrix' "One Rainy Wish" for guitar and piano, capping the performance with a jazz-inflected piano solo. Rounding out the record is Johnson and guest guitarist Doyle Dykes' superlative cover of Les Paul and Mary Ford's 1951 classic, "The World Is Waiting for the Sunrise."

Throughout his career, Johnson has approached music as a healing force, a way to enhance a listener's consciousness and conjure joy and inspiration. "That's what I've always appreciated most about other artists," he says. "Some artists inspire us to wake up and get back to the clarity of consciousness. With this record, I'm trying to do that too, because I appreciate it so much in other people."

Confirmed appearances include:

10/05   Jackson, MS                                                   Duling Hall

10/06   Atlanta, GA                                                     Center Stage

10/07   Rocky Mount, VA                                          Harvester Performance Center

10/08   Elkins, WV                                                     Mountain Stage

10/09   Cleveland, OH                                                Music Box Supper Club

10/11   Oakmont, PA                                                  The Oaks Theater

10/12   Annapolis, MD                                               Rams Head On Stage

10/13   Richmond, VA                                                Tin Pan

10/14   Sellersville, PA                                               Sellersville Theater

10/15   Westbury, NY                                                 The Space At Westbury

10/16   Washington DC                                              The Hamilton

10/18   Fairfield, CT                                                    StageOne

10/19   Fall River, MA                                                Narrows Center For The Arts

10/20   New Brunswick, NJ                                       State Theatre

10/21   Beverly, MA                                                   Cabot Theatre

10/22   Cohoe, NY                                                      Cohoes Music Hall

10/23   Shirley, MA                                                    Bull Run Restaurant

10/25   New York, NY                                               Highline Ballroom

10/26   Londonberry, NH                                           Tupelo Music Hall

10/27   Norfolk, CT                                                    Infinity Hall

10/28   Brownfield, ME                                              Stone Mountain Arts Center

10/29   Londonderry, NH                                           Tupelo Music Hall

10/30   Pawling, NY                                                   Daryl’s House

11/01   Ferndale, MI                                                   The Magic Bag

11/02   St. Louis, MO                                                 Old Rock House

11/03   Minneapolis, MN                                            Dakota Jazz Club

11/04   Milwaukee, WI                                               Back Room @ Colectivo Coffee

11/05   Chicago, IL                                                     City Winery

11/06   Nashville, TN                                                  City Winery

11/09   Charlotte, NC                                                  McGlohan Theatre

11/10   Durham, NC                                                   Carolina Theatre

11/11   Charleston, SC                                                Charleston Music Hall

11/13   Asheville, NC                                                 Diane Worham Theatre

11/15   Clearwater, FL                                                Capitol Theatre

11/16   Ponte Vedra Beach, FL                                   Ponte Vedra Concert Hall

11/18   New Orleans, LA                                            House of Blues

11/19   Austin, TX                                                      Paramount Theatre

Eric Johnson Online:

www.mascotlabelgroup.com

www.facebook.com/OfficialEricJohnson

www.twitter.com/EJUpClose

www.ericjohnson.com