by Paula EdelsteinWith the release of This Way, Acoustic Alchemy's guitarists Greg Carmichael and Miles Gilderdale celebrate a remarkable two decades since Red Dust & Spanish Lace established the British ensemble as an ever-evolving powerhouse of contemporary jazz. Carmichael and Gilderdale's natural chemistry is very apparent on this set of loose and spirited songs, as is the soloing by the complementing musicians on such jazzy tracks as "Egg," which has a very British, blues-drenched, straight-ahead sound. By contrast, "Ernie" has an exotic Latin jazz flavor complete with great solos by Terry Disley, Jeff Kashiwa, and trombonist Dennis Rollins. Rick Braun makes a guest appearance on "Carlos the King," a racy rock, Latin, and blues fusion that also features Gilderdale's electric guitar and Greg Grainger's percussive energy. With as many brilliant players as there are in the ensemble, the concept of two acoustic guitar players is still the emotional heartbeat of the band's sound. Carmichael and Gilderdale's outstanding playing on "Out of Nowhere" and "This Way" is a sure testament to that concept. "Out of Nowhere" features a hypnotic, swaying acoustic melody over a gentle guitar harmony and light percussion line. The slow-burning title track features experimental synth textures similar to those heard on the early Acoustic Alchemy releases of the late '80s that featured the group's founders, Nick Webband Greg Carmichael. However, This Way acquaints both veteran and new listeners with the group's updated legacy of positive and powerful music.