I can't help myself. I should exercise restraint but I just can't. I got an advance 'cause I'm writing about it under a print deadline for a magazine so I had to roll way in advance. It is just stunning, so innovative and brilliant and different. It hit me the same way Against The Grain did when it came out which is to say it blows me away. It's hard to say "best yet" re: an AA CD because some of them sound so different that it's apples and oranges but this one is waaay up there.[/QB]

Duo stirs varied musical styles into cool jazz

Web Posted: 04/05/2007 04:04 PM CDT

Jim Beal Jr.
Express-News Staff Writer

Alchemists, the chemists/philosophers/magicians of the Middle Ages, worked to turn base metals into gold and discover the elixir of perpetual youth.
Acoustic Alchemy, the acoustic guitar-fronted band from England and the United States, isn't necessarily trying to spin lead into gold or waste time on the youth-potion deal.

However, guitarists Greg Carmichael and Miles Gilderdale and their collaborators know how to turn a world of musical influences into a style of contemporary jazz that attracts listeners from around the world.

Founded by Nick Webb and Simon James, Acoustic Alchemy took wing when Carmichael teamed with Webb. The duo provided live, in-flight music during Virgin Airlines flights between England and the United States.

The Webb/Carmichael tandem signed to the MCA Master Series label and were there at the right time when Adult Contemporary radio stations hit the airwaves.

In the '80s, Acoustic Alchemy albums such as "Red Dust and Spanish Lace," "Natural Elements," "Blue Chip" and the lush, live-in-the-studio "Arcanum" earned the alchemists an international following.

In '98, though, Acoustic Alchemy suffered a setback when cancer claimed Webb. Gilderdale, who had played guitar with the group, stepped in and Acoustic Alchemy continued. The 2000 release, "The Beautiful Game," signaled a change for the group that included a more full-band sound and more improvisation.

In 2005, Acoustic Alchemy released the CD "American/English," which reflected the fact the band now features Americans and Englishmen making music together.

With "American/English," Acoustic Alchemy expanded on the contemporary jazz foundation to draw from world music, including reggae, Latin sounds and even dance-inducing numbers.

This time out, Acoustic Alchemy is on the road with its new "This Way" (Narada Jazz/Blue Note) CD, an 11-track effort that, like "American/English," brings together jazz, pop, reggae, Latin and even a hint of hip-hop.

The guitars of Carmichael and Gilderdale mix and mingle with Terry Disley (piano), Snake Davis (sax), Fred White (keyboards, trumpet), Julian Crampton (bass) and Greg Grainger (drums), plus guests including Rick Braun (trumpet) and Jeff Kashiwa (saxophone).

While "This Way" will not frighten the group's longtime contemporary jazz fans, there's more improvisation on the new disc. And Acoustic Alchemy still changes influences into a solid musical whole. They're better at it than the alchemists of the Middle Ages.