Acoustic Alchemy in Oakland

Acoustic Alchemy is a British instrumental jazz group formed in London in the early 1980s by guitarists Nick Webb and Simon James. Greg Carmichael later became Webb’s long-term guitar partner, and the group established its two-guitar sound through albums including Red Dust and Spanish Lace, Natural Elements and Reference Point. “Mr. Chow” and “Lazeez” are among its best-known compositions. In 1996, Acoustic Alchemy recorded the live retrospective Arcanum at Pinewood Studios. Its concert ensemble places steel-string and nylon-string guitars at the front, supported by keyboards, bass and drums. Sounds of St. Lucia: Live later documented the group performing at the St. Lucia Jazz Festival.