Published: February, January 2000

Think of Johnson as a hothouse guitarist. Self-taught, he's devised a whirlwind approach to solo acoustic guitar and a set of tunings largely on his own. Working with a double-necked 12-string, he needs no accompaniment, playing bass parts as well as percussion (on the guitar's body). Though given to improvisation, Johnson isn't a jazz player. He comes from the same folk tradition as John Fahey or Leo Kottke.