Acoustic Alchemy’s early MCA albums—starting with
Red Dust and Spanish Lace and continuing with 1988’s Natural Elements and
1989’s Blue Chip—were all later rereleased on GRP. One of the band’s most
remarkable recordings was 1996’s live in the studio date Arcanum, which
featured new arrangements of classics, a few new tracks, and full
orchestration. Recorded over three days at Pinewood Film Studios in England
(home to all the James Bond films), the sessions were filmed by director Aubrey
Powell for a television documentary of the band, released on video as Best Kept
Secret; GRP re-released this on DVD in July, 2006 with extra archived live
performance and documentary footage. In 2002, Acoustic Alchemy also released
Sounds of St. Lucia, a CD/DVD live concert package based on a performance
recorded by BET television. Acoustic Alchemy recently released in conjunction
with Universal Music The Very Best of Acoustic Alchemy Vol 2 which they will be
promoting throughout 2009.
Guitarists Greg Carmichael and Miles Gilderdale
celebrate a remarkable two decades plus since 1987’s Red Dust and Spanish Lace
established the British ensemble as an ever evolving, powerhouse force in
contemporary jazz. Their thousands of fans around the world may be feeling
nostalgic, but the duo, while keeping their trademark acoustic guitar synergy
front and center, is clearly committed to forging ahead. Carmichael explains
the energy is the result of a natural chemistry he’s developed with Gilderdale
over the years since Gilderdale (formerly a backing guitarist with the band)
became Carmichael’s full partner after the passing of founding member Nick Webb
in 1998 and the release that year of Positive Thinking.