On Feb. 3, he kicks off a string of U.S. tour dates beginning with three days of TommyFest – a concert series dedicated to the promotion of great acoustic guitar music – in Elizabethtown, KY before moving to shows on both the West and East Coasts.

As the Swahili proverb says, all things are possible if you just take it little by little, step by step. This was the inspiration behind the album title, Little By Little. Emmanuel explains, "The proverb holds a special significance to me because it's a lesson I had to learn in my life – to take things one day at a time and not be so concerned about tomorrow and I think that's an important lesson to learn." Emmanuel describes the album as "a joy to make" but says "it took a lot longer than any other project I've ever done purely because the songs kept coming. With this album, I was really pleased that all these elements came together so I could get that message across through my music and get a good positive message out there to people."

The 24 tracks, spread over two discs, brilliantly showcase Emmanuel's distinctive "finger style" playing, using all ten fingers, and features collaborations with special guests Rick Price, Anthony Snape, Victor Wooten, Doyle Dykes, Dr. John Knowles (CGP), Pam Rose and others. The album's tempo moves from break-neck, in-your-face finger-picking tunes such as "Locomotivation," "The Might Mouse," and "The Welsh Tornado" that have their roots in Merle Travis, Jerry Reed and Chet Atkins to more melodic songs such as the title track "Haba Na Haba," – Swahili for "little by little" – which is featured twice both as an instrumental version and a vocal version with Anthony Snape and Pam Rose. The album also includes live favorites such as "Ruby's Eyes," "The Fingerlakes," "Jolly Swagman," and "Papa George" which have never been recorded in a studio.

Recognized as the elite of the elite and arguably the greatest living acoustic guitar player, Emmanuel has mesmerized both fellow musicians and audiences alike with a professional career that spans nearly five decades. Emmanuel's dazzling performance, flawless guitar skills and voluminous repertoire never fail to amaze and engage his legions. From the wilds of Australia's outback to the bustling major cities throughout the world, Emmanuel's flair, unforgettable showmanship and exhaustive world wide touring schedule have created an enviable fan base that continues to grow even larger every year.