PressReview

When he isn’t rocking out with his pop-soul fusion group Soul Provider, guitarist Danny Johnson is making his own kind of guitar music. Perhaps the most amazing thing about his most recent solo CD The Sign is that Johnson writes, arranges and performs everything here. In his credits, Johnson cites guitarists like Steve Vai and Joe Satriani, yet on The Sign he also achieves a new proficient sound. Performing electric and synth guitars, acoustic and electronic drums, keyboards, bass and horn sequencing, Johnson creates a veritable fusion sound on his own. After checking out The Sign, you may want to investigate the self-titled 2000 release from Johnson’s group Soul Provider. Still layered with Johnson’s ace guitar work, songs and arrangements, the self-titled Soul Provider CD also benefits from the smooth vocals of "Fast" Eddie Davis along with a number of other fine players and guest artists. Smooth jazz-rock with shadings of Gospel and the blues that at times evokes groups like The Doobie Brothers and Steely Dan. "Soul Provider hits an original rock groove".

-- Robert Silverstein /
20th Century Guitar Magazine

The Sign features California guitarist Danny Johnson doing a one-man fusion show, complete with a variety of guitars (electric, acoustic and synth), bass, keyboards, programmed percussion, etc. Reviewer Robert Silverstein has stated that Johnson, "...creates a veritable fusion sound on his own." Influenced by guitarists such as Steve Morse and Joe Satriani, Johsnon infuses his all-instrumental CD with funk ("Funkaholic"), hard rock ("Cut To The Chase"), amped-up pop covers ("The Beat Goes On"), fusion ("The Sign"), metal ("Your Sultan") and the Pink Floydian ("Quiet Coma"). The Sign should appeal to those looking for a variety of styles and songs that display a wide range. Sliverstein adds, "Well worth the time for guitar fusion fans seeking a bold new sound.

A very enjoyable CD from this native Californian. I didn't quite agree with the "Satch"/Vai comparison by any means on this somewhat dated 7-track CD but these are well-crafted songs and still fit into today's repertoire of instrumentalists and what labels/distributors like Shrapnel, Lion Music and Guitar 9 for example would be carrying or signing. DJ's playing reminded me more of Brad Gillis, Zaza and Saraceno mainly with "Satch"/Vai "vague" hints here and there. I think it's positive in a way to not sound like the "main 2" like most are influenced by and Johnson does plenty of different things on here like Rock/Fusion/Blues/Jazz and some Funk. Just an outright entertaining CD and hopefully with all this time that has passed, we will hear some new material in the future and I would only assume it will be just as good or surpass this particular release.

Largely the work of writer, guitarist and producer Danny Johnson, Soul Provider also features Eddie Davis on lead vocals, Clarence Bass on keyboards, PG Bennett on bass and Jerome Wilkins on drums.
Johnson has previously produced albums that were virtually self contained but the addition on this CD of guest musicians has created an album that feels like the work of a real band.

Danny has undoubtedly mastered a range of styles, both as a writer and guitarist. The up-tempo blues opener 'It's Calling Me Back' features his own exceptional guitar work and is followed by the funk stoked ballad (is there such an animal?) title track. The use of layered keyboards is well to the fore on the dance based 'Dance With My Baby' but its not a particularly strong song. Much better is the slide led 'Everybody's Got A Baby' and the soulful ballad 'Who's Crying' For You Now'.

The instrumental 'Secret River' is very fine with wonderful ensemble playing - lovely guitar and piano leads, a jazz inflected delight. (Vibraphone solo from guest Robert Box). The band take on 'Walk Around Heaven All Day' is an excellent follow-up - Eddie Davis' vocals on this and Al Green's 'Jesus Will Fix It' (the last track on the CD) are well suited to this type of song and arrangement, perhaps more so than the straight ahead blues and up-tempo numbers. He sings the socks of both these tracks.

'I'll Be The One' is another excellent mid tempo workout, 'One Day' is a typical slow blues burner and 'J-Song' a pleasant jump blues instrumental. 'You Ain't No Good' features some sterling work from the whole band, with an additional solo contribution from Mark Tate on steel guitar. The album finishes strongly with the aforementioned Al Green classic.

It's a strong and musically diverse album and its weakest point, somewhat surprisingly, may well be its production. To the Primer, it seems a little thin (we used to call this type of production radio friendly) and it seems to suck a little of the life out of what nonetheless remains a fine CD.

"The cuts off Danny Johnson's CD titled "The Sign" were technically perfect and displayed a wide range. We were very pleased that Danny allowed our "Auto Buys Show" to utilize them."

A collboration between California guitarist Danny Johnson (who handles the bulk of the instrumentation, songwriting, production, arrangements and engineering) and vocalist Eddie Davis yields the music comprising Soul Provider, a self-titled blues release dripping with soul, R&B, rock, gospel, jazz and pop influences. A number of guest musicians also contribute, including Mark Tate with a steel guitar solo on "You Ain't No Good", and Robert Box, who adds a super vibraphone solo to the instrumental track "Secret River". The music ranges from soulful ballads ("Who's Crying' For You Now") and up-tempo blues ("It's Calling Me Back") to slow blues burners ("One Day") and jump blues instrumentals ("J-Song"). Try Soul Provider for a diverse approach to guitar-led, soulful blues.