Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 17, 2026

Reference Point

Released in 1990, Reference Point is the first album by Acoustic Alchemy released for jazz label GRP and their fourth album overall. The song "Caravan of Dreams" was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1990 for Best New Age Performance.

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Jul 17, 2026
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Reference Point
Studio album by
Acoustic Alchemy
ReleasedAugust 7, 1990
Recorded1990
Studio
  • Hansa-Haus Studios (Bonn, Germany)
GenreSmooth jazz
Length38:03
LabelGRP 9614
ProducerJohn Parsons
Acoustic Alchemy chronology
Blue Chip
(1989) 		Reference Point
(1990) 		Back on the Case
(1991)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStar 1

Released in 1990, Reference Point is the first album by Acoustic Alchemy released for jazz label GRP and their fourth album overall. The song "Caravan of Dreams" was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1990 for Best New Age Performance.234

Containing some of the band's more popular tracks, such as the title track "Reference Point", "Same Road, Same Reason" and "Cuban Heels", the nine-track album is also the only album by the band to offer a cover track: "Take Five".

Awards

32nd Annual Grammy Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1990 "Caravan of Dreams"234 Best New Age Performance Nominated

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Reference Point"
4:30
2."Missing Your Touch"
  • Nick Webb
  • Greg Carmichael
  • John Parsons
4:40
3."Take Five"Paul Desmond4:35
4."Same Road, Same Reason"Greg Carmichael4:49
5."Make My Day"Greg Carmichael4:08
6."Caravan of Dreams"
2:55
7."Homecoming"
  • Nick Webb
  • Greg Carmichael
  • John Parsons
5:30
8."Cuban Heels"Greg Carmichael3:25
9."Lullaby for the First Born"
  • Nick Webb
  • Greg Carmichael
3:31
Total length:38:03

Personnel

Acoustic Alchemy

Additional musicians

  • Terry Disley – keyboards (1–8)
  • Klaus Sperber – bass guitar (1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8)
  • Bert Smaak – drums (1, 4, 5, 7, 8)
  • Mario Argandoña – percussion (1–5, 7, 8)
  • Serge Maillard – Roland 808 programming (2), programming (3)
  • John Parsons – Roland 808 programming (2), programming (3), steel-string guitar (4)
  • Ludwig Götz – trombone (3, 5)

Production

  • John Parsons – producer, mixing
  • Klaus Genuit – recording, mixing
  • Joseph Doughney – digital editing, post-production
  • Michael Landy – digital editing, post-production
  • The Review Room (New York City, New York, USA) – digital editing and post-production location
  • Ted Jensen – mastering at Sterling Sound (New York, NY, USA)
  • Suzanne Sherman – GRP production coordinator
  • Andy Baltimore – GRP creative director
  • David Gibb – graphic design
  • Jacki McCarthy – graphic design
  • Andy Ruggirello – graphic design
  • Dan Serrano – graphic design
  • Keith Russell – art direction
  • Kevin Calvert – photography
  • Stewart Coxhead for The Art and Music Corporation, Ltd. – management
References

References

  1. Music, All. Reference Point at AllMusic
  2. Collar, Matt. "Acoustic Alchemy". AllMusic. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  3. "Acoustic Alchemy". Jazz Monthly. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  4. "33rd Annual Grammy Awards (1990)". Grammy.com. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
External links