Johnny Hiland "Johnny Hiland"

Johnny Hiland "Johnny Hiland"

album cover

Johnny Hiland
Johnny Hiland
The Story
On his self-titled instrumental debut for Favored Nations,"Johnny Hiland" achieves something few new artists achieve in their first outing: a blend of taste and flash, in which emotional, solid composition and hair-raising performance complement rather than compete with each other. It takes a killer band to keep up with Hiland's energy and ideas, which explains the presence of Billy Sheehan, the "Eddie Van Halen" of the bass, Bill Holloman, who played keys and sax behind Hiland's main guitar hero, the late Danny Gatton, and drummer Pat Torpey from Mr. Big. This is a lineup that can keep up with Hiland's light-speed picking on "G-Wiz," "Swingin' Strings," and "Celtic Country." It can move with him through Western swing, screaming, razor-toned rock, and introspective ballads, and illuminate his soaring melodies on ballads like "Song for Helen" and "Truth Hurts" with sensitive empathy. Ricky Skaggs writes the final words, "I think "Johnny Hiland" is the most versatile guitar player I've ever heard. From Bill Monroe to Eddie Van Halen, he can play it all."
The Music
03:58 G Wiz Instrumental
02:41 In Your Face Instrumental
02:54 Going Home Instrumental
03:20 Truth Hurts Instrumental
03:16 Swinging The Strings Instrumental
04:20 Until We Meet Again Instrumental
03:58 Gatton To It Instrumental
03:05 Song For Helen Instrumental
03:38 Celtic Country Instrumental
03:04 Run With It Instrumental
04:08 Opus D'Funk Instrumental
05:16 Orange Blossom Special Instrumental
The Artists
Johnny Hiland Electric and Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin, Arrangements
Bill Holloman Keys, Sax
Billy Sheehan Bass
Pat Torpy Drums
Peter Collins Production, Arrangements
Steve Vai Executive Production
Neil Citron Engineering, Mixing, Mastering
Rusty Russell Photography
Bob Burchess Photography
Recorded, mixed and mastered at The Mothership Studio, Hollywood, CA.

Design by Silverfrog.

Stylist/Grooming: Holly Chapman.