Acoustic Highway is American musician Craig Chaquico's first solo album as a contemporary jazz artist after 16 years playing lead guitar, composing songs, and co-producing for the San Francisco-based rock bands Jefferson Starship and Starship. Acoustic Highway, co-written and co-produced by keyboardist Ozzie Ahlers, was released on June 11, 1993, through the Higher Octave label.
Background
When Chaquico left Starship in 1990, he began looking for a new musical direction, opting for a solo career as a jazz and
New-age music instrumentalist.
Recording
The album was recorded at Chaquico's Lunatunes Studio in Mill Valley, California, mixed at Auravision Studios in Ojai, California, and mastered at Quad Tech Studios in
Los Angeles.
Music and lyrics
The album features nature-conscious songs such as "Return of the Eagle", "Mountain in the Mist", and "Land of the Giants". According to Mike Boehm, Chaquico produced "rippling, glistening, fluid tones" by processing his customized
Washburn Guitars acoustic guitar through electronic effects.
Chaquico includes elements that draw from new age, contemporary and
smooth jazz compositions while containing subtle undertones of Native American influences.
Chaquico's original recording of his jazz track "Sacred Ground" was included on the original
Harley Davidson Road Song Collection in 1994, alongside classic rock songs such as "Born to Be Wild", "Rockin' Down the Highway" and a song by his former band, Jefferson Starship, "Ride the Tiger".
Critical reception and accolades
Besides becoming Billboard magazine's #1 Indie New Age Album of the year, it also won the
Bammies (Bay Area Music) Award for Best Independent Album of 1993.
It charted in the top 10 of the GAVIN Adult Alternative chart in the same year.
[http://www.americanradioresearch.com/Archive-Gavin-Report/90/93/Gavin-1993-10-01.pdf ]
Track listing
All tracks were written by Craig Chaquico and
Ozzie Ahlers.
