Blue Chip (Acoustic Alchemy album)
Encyclopedia
Blue Chip is the third album by Acoustic Alchemy
, released under the MCA
Master Series label in 1989, and again under GRP
in 1996.
The album presented an experiment with pop music in the band's signature style, using strong, memorable melody lines.
The most successful track here is "Catalina Kiss", the album opener and a longstanding live favourite. Using a shuffle rhythm, the track calls upon the saxophone
for embellishments, whilst tonal harmonies between the two guitars evoke a strong melody. JazzTrax presenter Art Good suggested that the track was inspired by an appearance by the band at the 1988 Catalina Island Jazz Festival.
Acoustic Alchemy
Acoustic Alchemy is an English contemporary instrumental and smooth jazz band formed in England in the early 1980s , originally fronted by acoustic guitarists Nick Webb and Simon James...
, released under the MCA
Music Corporation of America
MCA, Inc. was an American talent agency. Initially starting in the music business, they would next become a dominant force in the film business, and later expanded into the television business...
Master Series label in 1989, and again under GRP
GRP Records
GRP Records is an American jazz record company, owned by Universal Music Group and operates through its Verve Music Group. The company's name has had different meanings. In its early days, it stood for "Grusin/Rosen Productions," after the founders...
in 1996.
The album presented an experiment with pop music in the band's signature style, using strong, memorable melody lines.
The most successful track here is "Catalina Kiss", the album opener and a longstanding live favourite. Using a shuffle rhythm, the track calls upon the saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
for embellishments, whilst tonal harmonies between the two guitars evoke a strong melody. JazzTrax presenter Art Good suggested that the track was inspired by an appearance by the band at the 1988 Catalina Island Jazz Festival.
Track listing
| # | Title | Writers | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Catalina Kiss" | Webb/Carmichael/Parsons | 4:33 |
| 2 | "The Blue Chip Bop" | Webb/Carmichael/Parsons | 3:41 |
| 3 | "Making Waves" | Webb/Carmichael/Parsons | 4:51 |
| 4 | "With You In Mind" | Webb/Carmichael/Parsons | 3:58 |
| 5 | "Bright Tiger" | Webb/Carmichael | 4:47 |
| 6 | "Ariane" | Webb/Carmichael/Parsons | 4:53 |
| 7 | "Highland" | Webb/Carmichael/Parsons | 4:42 |
| 8 | "Boulder Coaster" | Webb/Carmichael/Parsons | 5:26 |
| 9 | "Hearts In Chains" | Webb/Carmichael | 3:29 |
| 10 | "No More Nachos (Por Favor)" | Webb/Carmichael | 3:34 |
Personnel
- Mario Argandona – Percussion
- Rainer Bruninghaus – Piano, Keyboards
- Greg Carmichael – Guitar
- Klaus Genuit – Percussion, Engineer
- John Parsons – Guitar, Guitar (Electric), Producer
- Bert Smaak – Percussion, Drums, Programming
- Klaus Sperber – Bass
- Nick Webb – Guitar
- Karl Heinz Wiberny – Saxophone, Woodwind