Customer Reviews

Panorama: The Best of

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This album is the high point of a "journey" I started a year ago when I bought Chaquico and Freeman's cooperation on "From the Redwood to the Rockies".

For a European living in Thailand this sort of music is not the most obvious choice, since it is very American. But...also very beautiful!! Since then I have bought albums by Acoustic Alchemy, Third Force, Petre White and now this one.

I think it is the best of the ones I have heard ( with Rockies a close second).

The songs are very gentle with smooth rhythms, superb acoutic guitar play and wonderful melodies. It contains however also a number of funky and jazzy elements in particular on "Lights out San Fransisco that give the songs depth and compassion and prevent the album from being the sort of New Age music they feed you in airplanes to fall asleep. In fact, it has nothing to do with that; every time you listen to this album, you have to pay full attention, you will discover something new.

For all fans of acoustic guitar music, do not miss this one and for those unfamiliar with (good) New Age music... start with this one.

A fine compilation of hits from Craig Chaquico and the Acoustic Highway band. This cd shows the variety of expressions and the innovative talent that keeps progressing to higher levels. The CD contains two new songs. The smooth "Beyond Words' and the hot & sassy, 'Cafe Carnival'. A must have for your collection.

This is the only CD that I have in both my car and truck. I also have two copies in my house.I love the way this guy plays.His soothing melodies lift me up every time I listen to them.

This music is high texture - like a nice piece of wicker in a room with all flat surfaces. Great jazz guitar and piano, in the contemporary sense. The music is produced with what I guess is electronic enhancement - which may seem like a turn-off, but it's done very well. When I have this CD playing, people always ask who it is.

Richly textured and well produced (perhaps a bit overly so at times), Craig's music engulfs you. While very relaxing, its nuances and interesting modalities keep it interesting in your head while restful in your heart. With the exception of his `tip of the hat' to his old Starship days in `Find Your Way Back', which kind of sounds silly in this context (and my CD player is set to skip), every track is a Panorama. Definitely, a 5-star effort if it weren't for `Find You Way Back', and what some might call heavy-handed production. I give it a 4 (but I guess I'm rounding downward).

Panorama is the most to say about this album because this album is like a mental vision of a series of events!Since his 1993 debut Acoustic Highway, Craig Chaquico's creative blending of snappy guitar melodies and subtle Native American textures has contributed something of a spiritual nature to smooth jazz. The twelve "greatest hits" tracks of Panorama: The Best of Craig Chaquico bear out this evolution. Earlier material like the soundscape-heavy "Gathering of the Tribes"(my favorite song) and the full of energy "Native Tongue" let his guitar lead the way."Cafe Carnival" is a latin influenced song that makes you wanna dance after you hear it. "Sweet Talk" and "Autumn Blue" added the blistering tenor counterpoint of Richard Elliot's saxophone.This CD is a time travel bridge to Craig Chaquico's days with Starship.All I can say is this album rocks and I always have this album next to me in my car and I NEVER get tired of listening to it.My favorite song from this CD is "Gathering of the Tribes".This is because I found my inner connection listening to that song.When listening to this CD, all my problems and troubles go away.I am in debt to you Craig, for putting a smile on my face when listening to your music......

There isn't a track on the CD that doesn't inspire your soul in some way. Whether being touched by some of the darker, brooding music or the livelier, uplifting sounds. Sometimes artists should just let their music come through and forget about lyrics. Panorama is a perfect example of what other musicians should strive for. This is an excellent CD and the guitar is fantastic.

This is probably the most relaxing music i'vd heard in a long time. I've lent it to several of my friends and they all agree. it takes you to another plain. Chaquico at his best!

Last night, I saw Craig perform with other Guitar and Sax artists at the Bastille in Hanford, CA. All I can say is "WOW"!! What a fantastic evening. Craig played a few selections from "Panorama" which convinced me to purchase the CD at the venue. Craig graciously signed it and I had my picture taken with him. He's very down-to-earth, which is refreshing. He's just like you and I. He's very gracious and sincere. I hope to see him and the guys (Warren Hill, Jeff Golub, and Jeff K.) perform again with a blistering performance of "Guitars and Sax". For those of you considering catching a performance, don't wait, these guys rock!

Connie

My favorite is Cafe Carnival, but all of the tracks are great. The artistry of the guitar playing is to be savored, and the tracks meld into each other. Be careful when you have it in your car because you might get carried away into another world flowing with the music.