Acoustic Alchemy

Acoustic Alchemy is an English smooth jazz band formed in England in the early 1980s by Nick Webb and Simon James.

Acoustic Alchemy
OriginLondon, England
GenresSmooth jazz, jazz, New Age[1]
Years active1981–present
LabelsMCA, GRP, Higher Octave, Narada, Heads Up
Associated actsDown to the bone
Websiteacousticalchemy.co.uk
Members
Past members

1981–1989: Early days

Acoustic Alchemy was formed around the acoustic guitars of Simon James (nylon string) and Nick Webb (steel string), often backed up by double bass, percussion, and string quartet the Violettes. The band made two albums that were unprofitable. In the mid-1980s, James left, and in the 1990s he formed Kymaera, a similar, though more Latin oriented band.

In 1985, Webb discovered Greg Carmichael, a guitarist with a London pub band called the Holloways (not affiliated with the indie band of the same name) who became James' successor. The new pairing found work as an in-flight band on Virgin Atlantic flights to and from the United States.[1] Six weeks after sending demos to MCA, the band was called to record their first album, which was released in 1987 titled Red Dust and Spanish Lace. Appearing on the album were Mario Argandoña on percussion and Bert Smaak on drums. The album was the first of many to be recorded at the Hansa Haus Studios, in Bonn, Germany, where they met sound engineer Klaus Genuit, who worked on many of the band's albums. Two more albums followed for MCA: Natural Elements (1988) and Blue Chip (1989). The title track from Natural Elements became the theme music for the BBC TV programme Gardeners' World.

1990–1998: Mainstream success

Acoustic Alchemy were soon moved to jazz label GRP as MCA bought GRP in February 1990. Six more albums followed, starting with Reference Point (1990), featuring a cover of "Take Five" by Dave Brubeck and Back on the Case (1991). Reference Point was nominated for a Grammy Award.[1][2] Webb uncovered fourteen early tracks from 1982 to 1987 featuring Simon James which were released on the compilation Early Alchemy (1992). The New Edge (1993) and Against the Grain (1994) followed.

For their eighth album, Arcanum (1996), the band re-recorded some of its popular tracks. The album was recorded in London's Pinewood Studios with the string section of the London Metropolitan Orchestra. The collection included three new tracks, "Columbia", "Something She Said", and "Chance Meeting". Personnel on the recording was Webb, Carmichael, Sheppard, Murphy and Parsons. It was produced by Aubry "Po" Powell, who worked with Pink Floyd, Paul McCartney, Jimmy Page, and Robert Plant.

Positive Thinking (1998) was to be Acoustic Alchemy's last album with original frontman Nick Webb. It was recorded over a week's time in a Manor House near Bath, England, in Monkton Combe. Recorded by Steve Jones, the musicians were Greg Carmichael (guitar), John Sheppard (drums), and Dennis Murphy (bass).

Webb was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer before working on the album and died on 5 February 1998.[3][4]

1999: Reform and changes

After Webb's death, Greg Carmichael brought in Miles Gilderdale as his partner, and the band moved label to Higher Octave Music. The debut album on the label, The Beautiful Game, (2000) was more experimental, borrowing from several genres of music. It featured the introduction of Anthony "Fred" White on keyboards.

AArt (2001) was released a year later and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album.[5]

Radio Contact (2003) contained "Little Laughter", the band's first song with a vocal, performed by Jo Harrop.[6] Harrop was a backing vocalist who was discovered by Gilderdale during a session with Latin singer Enrique Iglesias.

Early in 2006, bassist Frank Felix left the band to concentrate on other projects. The position was filled by two bass players: former Incognito and Down to the Bone bassist Julian Crampton for UK dates and guitarist Gary Grainger (brother of longtime drummer Greg Grainger) in the U.S.

GRP re-released a concert/documentary video of Acoustic Alchemy entitled Best Kept Secret on 25 July 2006.[1]

This Way (2007) included guest appearances by trumpeter Rick Braun and Down to the Bone. Roseland followed in 2011.[7]

Discography

Singles
  • "The Earl of Salisbury's Pavane", GRP Christmas album Vol. 2 (1991)

DVDs

Albums
YearTitleMembers
Steel string guitar Nylon string guitar Electric guitar Bass Keyboards Drums Percussion Other instrument
1987 Red Dust and Spanish Lace Nick Webb, John Parsons Greg Carmichael – Werner Kopal Rainer Brüninghaus Bert Smaak Mario Argandoña –
1988 Natural Elements Nick Webb, John Parsons Greg Carmichael – Konrad Mathieu Rainer Brüninghaus Bert Smaak Mario Argandoña –
1989 Blue Chip Nick Webb Greg Carmichael John Parsons Klaus Sperber Rainer Brüninghaus Bert Smaak Mario Argandoña Karl-Heinz Wiberny (saxophone)
1990 Reference Point Nick Webb Greg Carmichael – Patrick Bettison, Abe White Terry Disley Dan Tomlinson Mario Argandoña Randy Brecker (trumpet, flugelhorn), Terry Dee (harmonica)
1991 Back on the Case Nick Webb Greg Carmichael – Klaus Sperber Terry Disley Bert Smaak Mario Argandoña Ludwig Gotz (trombone)
1992 Early Alchemy Nick Webb Simon James – Jeff Clyne, Ron Mathewson – – Mario Argandoña The Violettes (string quartet)
1993 The New Edge Nick Webb Greg Carmichael – Dave Pomeroy, Patrick Bettison Rainer Brüninghaus, Terry Disley Dan Tomlinson Mario Argandoña Derrick James (saxophone)
1994 Against the Grain Nick Webb Greg Carmichael John Parsons Paul Harriman Mike Herting, Terry Disley Bert Smaak Mario Argandoña –
1994 Greatest Hits Various
1996 Arcanum Nick Webb Greg Carmichael John Parsons Dennis Murphy – John Sheppard Mario Argandoña Tony Rice
1998 Positive Thinking... John Parsons Greg Carmichael Miles Gilderdale Dennis Murphy Rainer Brüninghaus John Sheppard Mario Argandoña –
2000 The Beautiful Game Miles Gilderdale Greg Carmichael Miles Gilderdale, John Parsons Frank Felix Anthony "Fred" White Geoff Dunn Scooter de Long Terry Disley (piano)
2001 AArt Miles Gilderdale Greg Carmichael Miles Gilderdale Frank Felix Anthony "Fred" White Pete Lewinson Richard Bull Terry Disley (piano), Fayyaz Virji (trombone), Snake Davis and Jeff Kashiwa (saxophone)
2002 The Very Best of Acoustic Alchemy Various
2003 Sounds of St. Lucia: Live Miles Gilderdale Greg Carmichael – Frank Felix Anthony "Fred" White Richard Brook – –
2003 Radio Contact Miles Gilderdale Greg Carmichael Miles Gilderdale Frank Felix Anthony "Fred" White, Jamie Norton Greg Grainger Mario Argandoña Neil Cowley (piano), Jo Harrop (vocal), Eddie M (saxophone)
2005 American/English Miles Gilderdale Greg Carmichael Miles Gilderdale Frank Felix Anthony "Fred" White, Jamie Norton Greg Grainger, Bert Smaak – Eddie M (Saxophone)
2007 This Way Miles Gilderdale Greg Carmichael Miles Gilderdale Julian Crampton Anthony "Fred" White Greg Grainger, Bert Smaak – Neil Cowley (piano), Terry Disley (piano), Rick Braun (flugelhorn), Jeff Kashiwa (saxophone)
2008 The Very Best of Acoustic Alchemy Vol. 2 Various
2011 Roseland Miles Gilderdale Greg Carmichael Miles Gilderdale Julian Crampton Anthony "Fred" White Greg Grainger
2014 Live in London Miles Gilderdale Greg Carmichael Miles Gilderdale Gary Grainger Anthony "Fred" White Greg Grainger
2018 33 ​1⁄3 Miles Gilderdale Greg Carmichael Miles Gilderdale Gary Grainger Anthony "Fred" White Greg Grainger

References
  1. Bush, John. "Acoustic Alchemy". AllMusic. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  2. Garrison, Kurt (November 2013). "MCG Jazz Hits a High Note". Pittsburgh Magazine. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  3. "Acoustic Alchemy Nick Webb Memorial". acoustic-alchemy.net. Archived from the original on 3 January 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  4. Oliver, Myrna (7 February 1998). "Nick Webb; Guitarist for Acoustic Alchemy". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  5. "Nominees for 44th Annual Grammy Awards". United Press International. 27 February 2002. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  6. Tauss, Lucy (October 2003). "Acoustic Alchemy Radio Contact". JazzTimes. Archived from the original on 4 January 2014. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  7. "Official website". acoustic-alchemy.net. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
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