FULLER UP HOME GRIM REAPER PAGE CAUSES OF DEATH SEARCH BY NAME GET IN TOUCH SHAMEFUL DISCLAIMER Fuller Up, The Dead Musicians Directory   Nick Webb  Pancreatic Cancer February 5, 1998 Age 43 OBITUARY BIOGRAPHY LINKS TO ACOUSTIC ALCHEMY MUSIC

OBITUARY 

Jazz Musician Nick Webb Dead At 43    By Julie Taraska / February 6, 1998  Nick Webb, a founding member of Grammy-nominated contemporary jazz group Acoustic Alchemy, died yesterday in London of pancreatic cancer. He was 43. At the time of his death, Webb was working on the group's 10th album, "Positive Thinking," which is scheduled for a May release from GRP Records.   Webb is survived by his wife, Kay, and a daughter,  Alexandra.    Billboard  LOS ANGELES  - Guitarist and composer Nick Webb, a founding member of the contemporary jazz group Acoustic Alchemy, died in London on February 5, 1998 from cancer,   the group's publicist said. He was 43. Webb, a native of England, diagnosed with pancreatic cancer a year ago, and at the time of his death was finishing work on the Grammy-nominated group's 10th album, Positive Thinking, publicist David Millman said. "Nick was a sweet, wonderful man and a wonderful friend," said Webb's chief collaborator, Greg Carmichael, who formed Acoustic Alchemy with Webb in 1987. "Though this past year was quite difficult for him, Nick managed to write some of the most beautiful music of his life. If there's any silver lining, it's knowing that, 'till the very end, he was doing what he loved and that he was surrounded by his adoring family," Carmichael said in a statement. Webb is survived by his wife, Kay, and their daughter, Alexandra. Private services were held in his home county of Wiltshire, England, on February 14. Variety A Recorded Tribute Russ Freeman and Craig Chaquico release their latest project this Tuesday. From the Redwoods to the Rockies demonstrates the influence of Freeman's Colorado environment merged with Chaquico's constant love for nature and Native American culture. Freeman says that this is a much simpler, more mellow side of himself, so don't expect a Rippingtons with special guest Craig Chaquico sound. Special guests include Paul Taylor and David Benoit. Two songs on the album are special dedications: "Fallen Heroes" is for Nick Webb of Acoustic Alchemy and Michael Hedges who both died within the last year.   And "Seattle Child" was composed for Jimi Hendrix. The CD will be filed under Freeman at your favorite record store.   ~Mindspring

 

 

BIOGRAPHY

During the late '80s and '90s, Nick Webb and Greg Carmichael produced a series of mellow albums classified as adult contemporary music, though the guitarists encompass the range of jazz and new age as well. Both grew up in England during the '60s listening to pop/rock, though Webb studied jazz guitar at Leeds College of Music while Carmichael focused on classical guitar at the London College of Music. Originally formed by Webb and Simon James, Acoustic Alchemy later became Webb and Carmichael; the duo initially worked for Virgin Airlines, providing in-flight music on trans-Atlantic trips. Signed to MCA in the mid-'80s, Acoustic Alchemy released its debut album, Red Dust and Spanish Lace, in 1987. After two subsequent releases, the duo signed with GRP in 1990. Their second GRP album, Reference Point, was nominated for a Grammy award. Positive Thinking followed in 1998 in the wake of Webb's February 6 cancer-related death; their jazz content was quite small, but Acoustic Alchemy's albums consistently charted number one on the adult contemporary charts. By 2000, Carmichael unveiled a revamped Acoustic Alchemy that included longtime sidemen like bassist Frank Felix, guitarists John Parsons and Miles Gilderdale and keyboardist Terry Disley, as well as new members such as keyboardist Tony White. That year's The Beautiful Game was the new lineup's first release. — John Bush ~ AMG

 

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