After some success at MCA, guitarist
Henry Johnson makes some impressive new beginnings with Heads Up, focusing on warm and fuzzy string work that breezes like
George Benson and
Phil Upchurch and turns fiery and fusiony a la Metheny every so often.
Johnson's stroking is sassy and expressive on both pop/funk and more jazzy exercises, and he shows off his flair in numerous settings, both busy (as on the fast and furious original "Flying Fish") and spare (a poignant solo turn on "Lush Life"). He's chosen his covers well, with a brassy arrangement of
Herbie Hancock's "Tell Me a Bedtime Story" and
Stevie Wonder's soulful "Creepin'" as standouts. Bob Long's keys and
Freddie Hubbard's horn provide snazzy complements to
Johnson's jamming. ~ Jonathan Widran