"Lonnie Johnson was the father of all the early blues guitarists. Everyone listened to him. He played and sang like a minister, with a very spiritualfeeling that went right through me and that I could immediately relate to and understand... Lonnie would play with people from other musical styles like jazz and gospel, which inspired me to stretch as a player." - B.B. King

Lonnie Johnson pioneered the single-string solo guitar styles that we are accustomed to hearing today in rock, blues and jazz music. He played with blues and jazz greats including Texas Alexander, Duke Ellingon, Louie Armstrong and Bessie Smith, and used the guitar as a solo instrument in jazz bands years before Charlie Christian. His recorded blues and jazz solos, including his famous duets with the early jazz guitarist Eddie Lang, are exemplary both for their incredibly beautiful guitar tone and for their sheer, jaw-dropping virtuosity. His To Do This You Got To Know How remains one of the most amazing guitar solos ever recorded.

Although he was influential beyond measure, his reputation has lately taken a back seat to more famous blues players whose influence is often exaggerated as much as Johnson's is underestimated.

In this double DVD, the first devoted in its entirety to the guitar style of Lonnie Johnson, Ari Eisinger explores Lonnie Johnson's blues style in detail, presenting stylistic hallmarks of Johnson's playing including a discussion of left hand fingerings, use of diminished chords and Lonnie's blues playing in the Key of D. Ari teaches eight guitar breaks from some of Lonnie's best tunes. These include his instrumental masterpiece To Do This You Got To Know How, his jazzy Uncle Ned Don't Use Your Head, his evocative Woke Up With the Blues In My Fingers and I'm So Tired Of Living All Alone, Lonnie's version of the song Skip James recorded as I'm So Glad.

A detailed tab/music booklet is included as a PDF file on each DVD. As well, the original old recordings of all the tunes are included.

167 minutes - Level 3 - Detailed tab/music PDF file on the DVD

Review: Another winner! A great introduction to the music of Lonnie Johnson by an experienced instructor. Patient teaching, including close up of both hands as well as step by step breakdown make this another winner from Stefan Grossmans' productions. Over the years the camera work, lighting and set have improved nicely. For intermediate players it is challenging. Ari is an experienced teacher who takes his students step by step through the more challenging areas. - Peter Hyatt/Amazon Customer Review

Review: Excellent Instruction and Another Gem from the Stefan Grossman Catalog. If you're a fan of Lonnie Johnson's guitar work, this double disc set is sure not to disappoint. Great split screens, alt. tuning help and insight, walkthroughs on a ton of scale work and chord/solo positioning as well as insight as to what made the man who invented the modern solo tick. Very satisfied with the product and will continue to purchase from this camp. - SK/Amazon Customer Review