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.[2] 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.[2] 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).[2] 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.[2] Six more albums followed, starting with Reference Point (1990),[2] featuring a cover of "Take Five" by Dave Brubeck and Back on the Case (1991).[2]Reference Point was nominated for a Grammy Award.[1][3] Webb uncovered fourteen early tracks from 1982 to 1987 featuring Simon James, which were released on the compilation Early Alchemy (1992).[2]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 in a large house in Monkton Combe, near Bath, England. 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.[4][5]
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.
Radio Contact (2003) contained "Little Laughter", the band's first song with a vocal, performed by Jo Harrop.[7] 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.[8]
Discography
Singles
"The Earl of Salisbury's Pavane", GRP Christmas album Vol. 2 (1991)
^Garrison, Kurt (November 2013). "MCG Jazz Hits a High Note". Pittsburgh Magazine. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
^. acoustic-alchemy.net. Archived from the original on 3 January 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
^Oliver, Myrna (7 February 1998). "Nick Webb; Guitarist for Acoustic Alchemy". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
^"Nominees for 44th Annual Grammy Awards". United Press International. 27 February 2002. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
^Tauss, Lucy (October 2003). . JazzTimes. Archived from the original on 4 January 2014. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
^"Official website". acoustic-alchemy.net. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
External links
Official website
February 07, 2023
acoustic, alchemy, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, december. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Acoustic Alchemy news newspapers books scholar JSTOR December 2010 Learn how and when to remove this template message Acoustic Alchemy is an English smooth jazz band formed in England in the early 1980s by Nick Webb and Simon James Acoustic AlchemyOriginLondon England U K GenresSmooth jazz jazz New Age 1 Years active1981 presentLabelsMCA GRP Higher Octave Narada Heads UpMembersGreg Carmichael Miles Gilderdale Greg Grainger Julian Crampton Gary Grainger Anthony Fred White Eddie MPast membersDennis Murphy Terry Disley Nick Webb John Parsons Simon James Bert Smaak Mario Argandona es Frank Felix John Sheppard Richard BrookWebsiteacousticalchemy wbr co wbr uk Contents 1 1981 1989 Early days 2 1990 1998 Mainstream success 3 1999 Reform and changes 4 Discography 4 1 Singles 4 2 DVDs 4 3 Albums 5 References 6 External links1981 1989 Early days EditAcoustic 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 2 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 2 Appearing on the album were Mario Argandona 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 2 The title track from Natural Elements became the theme music for the BBC TV programme Gardeners World 1990 1998 Mainstream success EditAcoustic Alchemy were soon moved to jazz label GRP as MCA bought GRP in February 1990 2 Six more albums followed starting with Reference Point 1990 2 featuring a cover of Take Five by Dave Brubeck and Back on the Case 1991 2 Reference Point was nominated for a Grammy Award 1 3 Webb uncovered fourteen early tracks from 1982 to 1987 featuring Simon James which were released on the compilation Early Alchemy 1992 2 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 in a large house in Monkton Combe near Bath England 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 4 5 1999 Reform and changes EditAfter 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 6 Radio Contact 2003 contained Little Laughter the band s first song with a vocal performed by Jo Harrop 7 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 8 Discography EditSingles Edit The Earl of Salisbury s Pavane GRP Christmas album Vol 2 1991 DVDs Edit Sounds of St Lucia Live 2003 Best Kept Secret 2006 re release of VHS from 1998 Albums Edit Year Title MembersSteel string guitar Nylon string guitar Electric guitar Bass Keyboards Drums Percussion Other instrument1987 Red Dust and Spanish Lace Nick Webb John Parsons Greg Carmichael Werner Kopal Rainer Bruninghaus Bert Smaak Mario Argandona 1988 Natural Elements Nick Webb John Parsons Greg Carmichael Konrad Mathieu Rainer Bruninghaus Bert Smaak Mario Argandona 1989 Blue Chip Nick Webb Greg Carmichael John Parsons Klaus Sperber Rainer Bruninghaus Bert Smaak Mario Argandona Karl Heinz Wiberny saxophone 1990 Reference Point Nick Webb Greg Carmichael Patrick Bettison Abe White Terry Disley Dan Tomlinson Mario Argandona Randy Brecker trumpet flugelhorn Terry Dee harmonica 1991 Back on the Case Nick Webb Greg Carmichael Klaus Sperber Terry Disley Bert Smaak Mario Argandona Ludwig Gotz trombone 1992 Early Alchemy Nick Webb Simon James Jeff Clyne Ron Mathewson Mario Argandona The Violettes string quartet 1993 The New Edge Nick Webb Greg Carmichael Dave Pomeroy Patrick Bettison Rainer Bruninghaus Terry Disley Dan Tomlinson Mario Argandona Derrick James saxophone 1994 Against the Grain Nick Webb Greg Carmichael John Parsons Paul Harriman Mike Herting Terry Disley Bert Smaak Mario Argandona 1994 Greatest Hits Various1996 Arcanum Nick Webb Greg Carmichael John Parsons Dennis Murphy John Sheppard Mario Argandona Tony Rice1998 Positive Thinking John Parsons Greg Carmichael Miles Gilderdale Dennis Murphy Rainer Bruninghaus John Sheppard Mario Argandona 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 Various2003 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 Argandona 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 Various2011 Roseland Miles Gilderdale Greg Carmichael Miles Gilderdale Julian Crampton Anthony Fred White Greg Grainger2014 Live in London Miles Gilderdale Greg Carmichael Miles Gilderdale Gary Grainger Anthony Fred White Greg Grainger2018 33 1 3 Miles Gilderdale Greg Carmichael Miles Gilderdale Gary Grainger Anthony Fred White Greg GraingerReferences Edit a b c d Bush John Acoustic Alchemy AllMusic Retrieved 19 September 2018 a b c d e f g Colin Larkin ed 1992 The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music First ed Guinness Publishing p 34 ISBN 0 85112 939 0 Garrison Kurt November 2013 MCG Jazz Hits a High Note Pittsburgh Magazine Retrieved 4 January 2014 Acoustic Alchemy Nick Webb Memorial acoustic alchemy net Archived from the original on 3 January 2012 Retrieved 4 January 2014 Oliver Myrna 7 February 1998 Nick Webb Guitarist for Acoustic Alchemy Los Angeles Times Retrieved 4 January 2014 Nominees for 44th Annual Grammy Awards United Press International 27 February 2002 Retrieved 4 January 2014 Tauss Lucy October 2003 Acoustic Alchemy Radio Contact JazzTimes Archived from the original on 4 January 2014 Retrieved 4 January 2014 Official website acoustic alchemy net Retrieved 4 January 2014 External links EditOfficial website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Acoustic Alchemy amp oldid 1123619473, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
