Search - Jef Lee Johnson :: Hype Factory

Guitarist/vocalist/composer extraordinaire Jef Lee Johnson is often described in terms of Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Wonder and John McLaughlin, but these admittedly weighty comparisons don't consider his multi-instrumental prowess (think Marcus Miller; Jef has recently added alto saxophone and bass clarinet to his already-impressive arsenal of guitar, bass and keyboard skills), his arranging and production savvy (imagine a mix of George Martin and T.A.F.K.A. Prince), or his prodigious output, as boldly represented by his new double-CD set of original material, Hype Factory. From the retro "hype" and the sitar on "lovevolution" to the gorgeous synth pads on "lovelair" and "move/shannon"'s hypnotic segue into an astounding guitar solo; the deep groove of "one," his late wife Trish's accordion and flute contributions, a live "phat matter" (culled from the same Knitting Factory session as the cuts on his previous release The Singularity); from the irresistible refrain of ! "no, no is not an answer" to the demented country hooks of "o shannequa," "over the world" and "movin' on" (not to mention his quirky lyrics), Jef Lee Johnson consistently keeps the listener engaged with his unpredictable "sounds of surprise."