With the release of
This Way,
Acoustic Alchemy's guitarists
Greg Carmichael and
Miles Gilderdale celebrate a remarkable two decades since
Red Dust & Spanish Lace established the British ensemble as an ever-evolving powerhouse of contemporary jazz.
Carmichael and
Gilderdale's natural chemistry is very apparent on this set of loose and spirited songs, as is the soloing by the complementing musicians on such jazzy tracks as "Egg," which has a very British, blues-drenched, straight-ahead sound. By contrast, "Ernie" has an exotic Latin jazz flavor complete with great solos by
Terry Disley,
Jeff Kashiwa, and trombonist
Dennis Rollins.
Rick Braun makes a guest appearance on "Carlos the King," a racy rock, Latin, and blues fusion that also features
Gilderdale's electric guitar and
Greg Grainger's percussive energy. With as many brilliant players as there are in the ensemble, the concept of two acoustic guitar players is still the emotional heartbeat of the band's sound.
Carmichael and
Gilderdale's outstanding playing on "Out of Nowhere" and "This Way" is a sure testament to that concept. "Out of Nowhere" features a hypnotic, swaying acoustic melody over a gentle guitar harmony and light percussion line. The slow-burning title track features experimental synth textures similar to those heard on the early
Acoustic Alchemy releases of the late '80s that featured the group's founders,
Nick Webband
Greg Carmichael. However,
This Way acquaints both veteran and new listeners with the group's updated legacy of positive and powerful music. ~ Paula Edelstein