Eric Johnson at Boulton Center

Eric Johnson’s stature as one of the premier guitar players in contemporary music is his artistic trump card, backed by a Grammy Award and five nomina­tions, platinum album, Top 10 hits like “Cliffs Of Do­ver,” praise from critics and the esteem of his peers. But the full hand of his talents marks him as well as a gifted songwriter, dynamic live performer, singer, pianist, song interpreter, and creator of a rich and diverse musical legacy.

His myriad and distinctive musical gifts are vividly ev­ident on Johnson’s aptly titled new album, Up Close, released on his own Vortexan Music label via EMI Distribution.