"Guitarist Chako and his band get into a flowing groove right from the start of their double album, powered by the rhythms from the leader痴 guitar. He plays with clarity, generating a ringing tonality and churning out appealing improvisations. Plenty of space is given for the three horns in this tight sextet, with solos that excel and supplement the flowing current that Chako builds into each tune.
The program includes splashes of the music of Latin America, India, and other world cultures to complement the prevalent American format.�Instances of breakaway playing occur in very short spurts, and the tempo changes regularly: Belgrade may switch to tabla and join percussionist DeRose in supplying a spirited beat, or the pace may slow with a romantic ballad, or they may get into their typical swinging mood - a straightahead mainstream adventure!
The set is performed by a talented ensemble and has a mellow, laid-back demeanor showcasing Chako痴 playing, writing, and arranging style." - Cadence Magazine, New York, 2005

"グレッグ・チャコと日本で活躍する5人の一流外国人ミュージシャンは、この2枚組CDのレコーディングのためにシンガポールへ出発した。そんな彼らがファンへのお土産に持って帰ってきたスイング満載の15曲は、この旅が実りあるものであったことをうかがわせる。全曲チャコのスコアで、多くはスタンダードを素材に緻密でインパクトのあるアレンジが加えられたものだ。ミュージシャンの意気と迫力がありありと伝わり、その思いがよく抑制されたクールな流れになって一曲一曲に表現される。何よりすばらしいのは、弦（ギター、ベース）、多種多様なパーカッション、重なりあう管（トロンボーンとサックス、フルート、クラリネット）といった楽器間のバランスである。くっきりした主張と簡潔な正確さの交差する、自然でエネルギッシュなよいチームワークが実現した。
各曲とも均整がとれているばかりでなく、知性と深い感性で処理されている。そのヒップな流れとクールなスイングには西海岸ジャズのフィーリングが色濃い。1枚目の最初の2曲、単純明快な曲想の『Voyage Down』と『Wave of Love』では、歯切れのいいアップテンポにメンバーが全身で呼応する。だが『Winter Solstice』はテンポと雰囲気がやや変わり、ゆるやかなグルーヴから最後はクールなパーカッションとディジュリドゥ（世界最古の管楽器といわれるオーストラリアのアボリジニーの楽器）のデュエットで終わる。1枚目はさらに、情感あふれるボーカルナンバー『Love for Sale』のリアレンジ、巧みなリズム変化をともなう美しいメロディの曲『April Wind』と続く。
だがときどき、もう少しジャムがあるといいのに、と思う。メンバーはみなライブの大ベテランで、語ることは山ほどあるはずだからだ。また、2枚をつうじて所々にもう少し編集が加わってもいいのにとも思う。だが、どこに？　曲はみなすばらしい仕上がりだし、1曲たりとも外せなかったはずだ。たぶん次の機会に東京のどこかのライブで聴けることだろう。
2枚目は『It's Only You』でスインギーなスタートを切り、サンバ、すばやいコードチェンジ、モーダルな曲想へと移る。美しく素直な『Josephine』の後は、すごくファンキーなディジュリドゥとタブラ中心の曲『Dirge for Didge』で、これが『Josephine』とともに2枚目のハイライトである。全員がソロの時間を与えられ、とりわけ『7-Up』ではパーカッションの複雑なソロ、『Takachan』ではギターの小粋でリリカルなソロが楽しめる。『Where We Find Ourselves』は、まさにタイトルどおり。彼らの個性が存分に発揮されている1曲に仕上がったようだ。 " - Michael Pronko, Jazznin` Magazine, Japan Oct/Nov 2005

More critical reviews are on the way, but this is what some recent buyers have expressed about Greg`s newest CD:

"Listening to your play, I had the feeling I was gently floating and drifting with tide in the middle of the wide open sea. The sound is both mellow and brilliant, toward which I feel drawn through and through. I hear so many words through the instruments in the CD. This is the feeling I've never had. I hear the air breathing through trees whispering lovely and the howling voices calling me from far away time and space. I wonder if your sound reads my mind, for it leads me to the place where I can feel happy. You play what belongs to you and none else. And while I listen to your music and find something fine, the music belongs to me or I belong to the music. I cannot write well what I want to tell because of my limited English." - Kaoru Uchida

"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

"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

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)

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

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

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

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

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)

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