The genre-blending debut EP from Al Nesbitt & the Alchemy, Live in Seattle, promises to be a veritable gem that’s not just for guitarists and guitar aficionados, but also for the growing audience of listeners who have come to embrace the unique chemistry of Nesbitt’s instrumental compositions.
Live in Seattle captures Al Nesbitt & the Alchemy’s debut 2024 performance of five songs by four virtuosos: the well-known bass legend Tony “The Fretless Monster” Franklin; drummer Curt “Kirkee B” Bisquera, who has backed many musical giants; keyboardist and longtime musical collaborator Jonathan Sindelman; and nylon-string acoustic guitarist Al Nesbitt, whose compositions provide a fertile launching pad for the group’s musical prowess.
Like so many powerful musical partnerships, the group came together around a gig. After accepting an invite from Seattle guitar icon Tony Abreu to open for his debut of Devilish Swing, Nesbitt found himself scrambling to pull an ensemble together due to the conflicting travel schedules of his usual Seattle players. Deciding to go big, he asked Franklin if he was available, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Last year's A Million Shiny Things was inspired by the macabre events and folklore surrounding the many Hollywood celebrities who congregate at L.A.’s famed Chateau Marmont, a hip hideout and notorious hangout for the rich and famous since the 1920s.
A Million Shiny Things debuted at a one-night-only event held at Madame Lou’s in Seattle. On stage, the dynamic performance cemented the relationship between Nesbitt and the three musicians he had managed to pulled together for the one-time performance.
“From the moment we took the stage, it was obvious something special was happening,” recalls Nesbitt. “We immediately recognized the powerful connection that we had with each other, the music, and with the audience.”
The A Million Shiny Things event set the stage for the Live in Seattle EP, where Nesbitt’s compositions were inspired by a more personal connection with Chateau Marmont – his own experiences at the famous Hollywood haunt.
“Each of the rooms has its own personality,” he explains. “For example, the hotel’s room 53 is on the fifth floor overlooking the Sunset Strip. It’s special, and from the moment I was checked in, I felt a connection to the space and all that had happened there before me. I immediately opened my guitar case on the bed and started writing, piecing together ideas.”
No stay at the Chateau would be complete without some personal indulgence – however, as with so many of the hotel’s patrons, Nesbitt’s recollections of his own adventure there are incomplete, and his ability to recall the events and timing is hazy.
“Honestly, a lot about the weekend is a blur, but so often inspiration is fleeting. It's about being somewhere different doing different things,” he says. “As it was happening, I knew I had that music in me. I just hoped that it would all stick.”
And, speaking of adventures, the recording sessions for the EP were, as Nesbitt describes, “magical.”
“With minimal rehearsal, we were able to create a very unique live experience – strong musically, but also fluid and flowing. I’m so happy to have been able to make music with these legendary players. They were able to key into the dynamic nature of my compositions and be totally in tune with the emotion I was going for – be it a freight train or a quiet passage, the music never loses its intensity. Working with such gifted players in a live setting, well, it was just the ultimate inspiration for me.”
Nesbitt cites guitarists Al Di Meola and John McLaughlin as among his major influences, which may be why he decided to wield an unmodified Godin Grand Concert ACS-SA nylon-string electric-acoustic on Live in Seattle.
And to keep the live feel of the event, tracks were mixed with minimal touch-ups. “We wanted to preserve every sonic aspect of a truly live experience,” Nesbitt explains.
To that end, Nesbitt engaged Grammy Award-winning mixing engineer Steve Smith to oversee the final production. “Steve’s work has been just beautiful. Everything has its own space in the mix, but each track becomes very cohesive and big when it needs to be.”
Live in Seattle is now available on all major streaming services. For more information, head to Al Nesbitt & The Alchemy.
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