Doc's Jazz Music Reviews

This is a great group to listen to in the “Smooth Jazz” or “Easy Listening” categories. Many of their songs are definitely “feel good” music. They have been around awhile with a major change taking place when co-founder Nick Webb died. The current front men for the band are Greg Carmichael and Miles Gilderdale. The distinctive pattern on many of their songs is the dueling guitars featuring an acoustic and electric guitar or variations on this theme.

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Without question, this is the finest Acoustic Alchemy outing since their 1987 smooth-jazz classic, Red Dust and Spanish Lace. Back then, the current leader, Greg Carmicheal, co-led the group as a duet with his partner, Nick Webb, who died from cancer in early 1998. With a new, expanded version of Acoustic Alchemy, Carmichael has significantly retooled the sound of the group, with the help of San Francisco keyboardist Terry Disley and Incognito member Richard Bull.

The stamp of Bull's acid-jazz leanings is evident on "The Panama Cat" and "Trailblazer," while "Hats of Magic" and "Hold on to Your Heart" are two of Carmichael's prettiest guitar ballads ever. Loyal fans shouldn't fear Alchemy's change of direction; while the band seems headed more toward London, Carmichael still remembers that his first American records came from MCA's Nashville office. He does enough serious pickin' on "Kidstuff," "Tete à Tete," and the Dobro-enhanced "Big Sky Country" to help bolster the claim that jazz and bluegrass are cousins. --Mark Ruffin

In the wake of the loss of Acoustic Alchemy's co-founder Nick Webb, his prior partner, Greg Carmichael, has created a whole new ensemble vibe by collaborating with formerly supporting members of the duo. The biggest differences on this CD is that Carmichael is more open-minded about spontaneous interaction and lays back a bit on the strings so that rich atmospheres can fill the picture.

On "The Angel of the South," his and Miles Gilderdales" dark guitar lines snap along over Frank Felix"s rolling samba bass groove and hypnotic percussion fills. It"s a shame Guy Barker"s Latin trumpet doesn"t enter the fray sooner. "The Panama Cat" is a simmering retro-soul blues, with a reflective acoustic easing over a jumpy wah-wah line throughout.

The title track"s reggae beat will remind Alchemy fans of the classic "Jamaican Heartbeat," but its moody ambience and occasional hypnotic piano swirls - courtesy of Terry Disley - make it sound like a 3rd Force tune. "Hats of Magic" creeps along coolly with sound effects, a trip-hop groove, and the dreamy interaction of guitar and Snake Davis" sax. For those averse to the exciting changes, "Big Sky Country" is typical, loping Alchemy stuff all the way. Another unique idea is having Steven Jones produce second versions of both that tune and "Trail Blazer" with an all-Nashville cast complete with appropriate steel-guitar, harmonica, dobro, and violin. Webb would be proud of his compadre's ability to move on.

--- Jonathan Widran, JAZZIZ Magazine Copyright © 2000, Milor Entertainment, Inc.