A double CD in tribute to Chako's late wife, breaking a 4 year recording hiatus with all-original material. Recorded in 2005.

Reviews:

George Carroll, Ejazz News – January 21, 2016:

This is such a composite example of traditional & conventional mainstream bebop…And jazz guitarist Greg Chako holds sway with his extremely tight jazz sextet…….The

A double CD in tribute to Chako's late wife, breaking a 4 year recording hiatus with all-original material. Recorded in 2005.

Reviews:

George Carroll, Ejazz News – January 21, 2016:

This is such a composite example of traditional & conventional mainstream bebop…And jazz guitarist Greg Chako holds sway with his extremely tight jazz sextet…….The group playing with a lyricism & dominance that is both powerful & original…. Chako’s original music bringing out the best the ensemble has to proffer. Chako’s style of composing certainly explores the boundaries of both composition & improvising, & his choice of players allows his music to be framed in it’s most vital testimony. This group commands your attention, & will enliven your musical sensibilities indeed! – George Carroll, Ejazz News

J Sin, Smother Magazine – January 21, 2016:

Smooth jazz rhythms are domineered by this fine guitar player named Greg Chako. His style is rhythmic and uplifting. Trippy atmospheres are swirled around his traditional jazz background. “Where We Find Ourselves” is a compelling double disc album stocked with some truly enjoyable jazz pieces. – J Sin, Smother Magazine

1. Oscar Groomes, O’s Place Jazz – January 21, 2016:

His prowess on the guitar is evident from the first lick you hear and to me his style is comparable to the great Wes Montgomery and the contemporary Pat Metheny. What impressed me most was not so much his musicianship as his writing. Greg’s original charts are rich and full of refreshing new melodies and rhythms. – D. Oscar Groomes, O’s Place Jazz (Dual Review – Where We Find Ourselves and Two’s Company, Three’s A Crowd)

1. Oscar Groomes, O’s Place Jazz – January 21, 2016:

The music has a cool groove to it, especially “Winter Solstice” one of a collection of 15 tunes over two CDs that swing nicely. They are songs based on standards with fresh melodies and harmonies. Greg is a confident guitarist at ease sharing the stage. There is nice work on trombone by Pat Hallaran. It doesn’t stop there as Andy Bevan (sax) and Robbie Belgrade (cl) also make strong contributions. This is not to slight Chako who displays prowess on his instrument throughout but only to stress the balance. The result is music that is not fatiguing. – D. Oscar Groomes, O’s Place Jazz

Chris Spector, Midwest Record Recap – January 21, 2016:

Talk about a reality check on so many levels. What kind of balls does it take to record a double album of all original jazz in four days and make it sound like a classic Bluenote, World Pacific or Verve date? Someone must have grown up eating Rudy Van Gelder sessions for breakfast to absorb this kind of vibe. Chako straddles being familiar and unique in the same interval with such style that you’re sure you’ve been here before but you know you haven’t. This is simply a delightful heaping helping of cool jazz that moves and grooves and is sure to win you over before the first track is over. Why is this guy recording for his own label? You put the machine behind this cat and you could crash Amazon’s servers. – Chris Spector, Midwest Record Recap

Jim Santella, All About Jazz – January 21, 2016:

With his sextet of jazz improvisers and program of original tunes, guitarist Greg Chako stretches out with a smooth session of aural impressions. Warmth, inner passion and heartfelt charm pervade his writing, which addresses matters of the heart. “Love for Sale,” features tenor and trombone in an uptempo romp that has Chako moving incessantly with guitar splashes in rapid-fire motion. Fast and quick, but always seamless and fluid, the guitarist paints a peaceful landscape throughout this two-CD release that’s recommended for its smooth countenance and adherence to tradition. – Jim Santella, All About Jazz

Norman Famous, The Dotted Line – January 21, 2016:

Greg Chako and his mighty 2-disc collection, Where We Find Ourselves. Like The Bias Project, it’s a worthy, heartfelt effort with great arrangements and stellar playing. Beautifully packaged and dedicated to his late wife, it’s hard to find fault with this. There is one heck of a lot of music here. – Norman Famous, The Dotted Line

Adam Greenberg, All Music Guide (AMG) – January 21, 2016:

Where We Find Ourselves pulls out the berets and bongos for a little more of a post-bop sound. The inclusion of a full band necessarily reduces the time that Chako spends being at the forefront, with other players taking turns at solos (trombonist Pat Hallaran blows a few nice ones) and the band as a whole turning some very nice contemporary melodic lines in tandem. The music is quietly understated, but with flights of fancy still built in. It’s good, and it’s heartfelt in both composition and performance. Worth a spin. – Adam Greenberg, All Music Guide (AMG)

an Lautenbach, Jazz Dimensions, Germany, 2006 – January 21, 2016:

“Easy, mellow and thoughtful: The new release “Where We Find Ourselves” by jazz guitarist Greg Chako, is fresh and shows a lot of variety in cultivated jazz arrangements. Though some of the tunes on this 2-CD set are based on standards he enjoyed improvising on, this new album is more a work of individual compositions, expressing Chako`s current state of mind… The result on one hand sounds like standard jazz, with friendly wind instrumental dialogues and soft choruses of guitar, and on the other hand, a mix of unusual, exotic sounds like that of the didgeridoo! The repertoire is wide, from swing to samba, to creative expressive sounds. You can also hear Kaleb James singing two vocal numbers with lyrics written by Greg Chako himself!” – Jan Lautenbach, Jazz Dimensions, Germany, 2006

Mihoko Wada – January 21, 2016:

“I am listening to your CDs everyday. They are great!! I think it`s a new sound. It is exciting and exotic, while some music is warm and gentle. Each member of the band gives a superb performance. I also could find various kinds of ‘sound’ in this CD. (A lot of percussion appears, too.) It is fresh for me, and will be ‘my daily music’ for the time being…” – Mihoko Wada