Henry Johnson is truly one of the all-time "baddest cats" in the history of guitar playing. He pays homage to the masters of the instrument from Wes Montgomery to George Benson, to Grant Green, but as very few can, but truly has his own voice. And if I may borrow a quote from "We Luv's" radio voice Samual Jackson's "Do the Right Thing," epic line: "And that's the TRIPLE TRUTH....RUTH!."
I feel HONOURED to have taken personal lessons from Henry for years. this is a "College" Course in itself. Watching this brought back so many great memories of Henry! 😌 This is not an Act... Every lesson I experienced was EXACTLY like this. Full of wonder he is.. Almost permanently bewildered😂😄 He would be so thrilled to just be playing guitar....unplugged... didn't matter who it was he was teaching, I imagine he learned so so so much doing it himself. To this day there is not a single time I've been on ANY bandstand and NOT used some of the vocabulary that Henry got me Hip too. If you're a guitar player who is ACTUALLY working and willing to understand... this is a blueprint. Henry's insights are absolute gold AND they transcend the Jazz language as principals to apply anywhere, EVERYwhere else in life to keep moving. The older I get, the more I realized how valuable my experience and time with him has been.. Even the privilege of a lifetime. I feel.... I am flooded with this feeling that It would be so sweet and almost soothing to be in the presence of Henry again.... even If not teaching guitar I'm sure I'd learn something else. This is because the man TEACHES you how to LEARN for yourself. A real Special Man I think I remember asking Henry about his mustache one time and as he held his cup of coffee just gave a full, hearty , lively chuckle his eyes shining all the same afterwards.😂🤷♂️😏
Henry's course on Jazz Expression is excellent. The way he expresses himself is very clear. The guitar has a great sound. Heritage builds them in the original Gibson facility and uses many of the same tools Gibson used to make L5s -- Gibson left them behind.