Acoustic Serenade

About Acoustic Serenade

Acoustic Serenade: Compass Rose
By A-J Charron GUITAR NOISE
Independent
Acoustic Serenade is Bob Dease, Robert van Buuren, Johnny Heubel, and David Onstad Acoustic guitars, Mandolin, Bouzouki, and percussions. The result? A very beautiful album. eleven tracks of wonderfully well composed and well-executed music. Acoustic Serenade works so well together that their respective styles blend in to make a uniform result which is quite pleasing to listen to over and over again. Nothing is overdone and the guys aren't on power trips trying to overshadow each other. They work together as one and that just adds even more to the music

.Highly recommended...

Acoustic Serenade is an acoustic group from the Mendocino
Coast of California. Members Bob Dease, Robert van Buuren,
Johnny “Qwest” Heubel and David Onstad draw on influences
like Alex De Grassi, Stephen Bennet, Earl Klugh, and William
Ackerman and many more to weave their soulful blend of
acoustic instrumental music. Tom Yates of KOZT has called their
music "Fine, fine guitar work... Jennifer Layton of Indie-Music writes
"their music will soothe the most frazzled of nerves."

Robert van Buuren, a native of The Netherlands who immigrated to
the United States as a child, took up guitar in high school and
was soon found gigging with bluegrass bands on the streets of San
Francisco's Ghiradelli Square. He continued to expand his skill
by studying classical guitar in the Bay Area. After moving to the
Mendocino coast, van Buuren studied jazz and rock guitar, as well
as bass and mandolin. His style, while widely eclectic, is
sometimes compared to William Ackerman and Leo Kottke.

Bob Dease, originally from Los Angeles, began playing guitar and
songwriting as a young child, and knew his life would be
dedicated to music by the time he was in high school. He is self
taught on guitar and has studied songwriting craft with the great
Jack Segal ("When Sunny Gets Blue", "Scarlet Ribbons") and Janie
Bradford from Motown(The Beatles' "Money"). After years on the LA
the club scene, including gigs at the famous Troubadour, he got tired of
the scene, including gigs at the famous Troubadour, Bob got tired of
the traffic and smog, and moved to the coast among the redwood
trees and rugged Oceanside. Bob has also played with the famous
Gregg Allman.

Johny “Qwest” Heubel, grew up in Columbus Ohio, and began
Playing music in Junior high school and became multi-talented
After moving to the north coast in the mid-’90s. Playing all types
Of instruments from a flute, percussion's, guitar, Kora, and others.
Johny has played with many talented musicians and groups
And has opened for Willie Nelson recently.

David Onstad, originally from the San Francisco bay area, moved
To the northern California coast back in the late ’70s. Growing up
At a young age playing piano and guitar, David has become known
For his tasteful guitar leads, riffs, and melodies. David has played
With Pat Simmons of the Doobie Bro’s and has open for Frida’s
Circus, David has a unique style of his own.

After meeting in their local small town, Dease, van Buuren, Heubel
and Onstad joined forces with their multi-talents and started
composing original songs, as well as performing live versions of
their own songs and classic covers like Dobie Gray's "Drift Away"
and Buffalo Springfield's "For What It's Worth". They have
appeared at such venues as the Mendocino Art Fair, the well known
Botanical Gardens' "Art in the Garden", Meyers and Lula’s winery,
And Local Licks live all in Mendocino County.

In early 2005, Acoustic Serenade released its first CD, an
instrumental album featuring David Onstad on 4 songs
simply titled "Acoustic Serenade". They're second
CD, “Firedance” adds even more spice with Johnny Heubel
and was awarded one Of the top 25 best CD,s of 2007 by
Indie-Music. The third CD “Migration” was released in
3/2014. with everyone on board. “Compass Rose” their
fourth CD was released in 2018.