Collective Force: The Very Best Of 3rd Force CD

COLLECTIVE FORCE contains 13 digitally remastered tracks taken from previous 3rd Force releases and 2 previously unreleased tracks.

While the global dance community has never failed to make a commotion over European groovemeisters Count Basic, the West Coast-based keyboard trio 3rd Force has slowly amassed a catalog of music as rhythm intensive and melodically irresistible as its titles are pun-inflected (Forces of Nature, Vital Force, etc.). So many of their cuts -- anchored by synth wizard William Aura and enhanced by a host of eager smooth jazz stars like Craig Chaquico, Boney James, and Peter White -- have made it onto the airwaves that Higher Octave Music had no trouble gathering 13 well-known tracks to digitally remaster to form the bulk of Collective Force. 3rd Force's productions can be simple and sparse, as on "Here Comes the Night," which features a gentle acoustic piano intro and then a subtle, seductive groove and dreamy atmosphere behind Peter White's high-toned acoustic melody. Other pieces like "No Doubt" combine hypnotic synth swirls, hip-hop shuffling grooves, and an energetic flugelhorn and trumpet battle off the main melody. The two new tunes perfectly display this dichotomy: "Dance With Me" twines sprinkles of synth-generated tropical vibes, Grant Geissman's echoing electric guitar, and wah-wah snaps under a jumpy electric piano melody; "Sweet Surrender" finds White playing it cool on a lilting melody over a gently rhythmic flow, combining his nylon strings in certain parts with electronic flute and accordion sounds before he echoes those lines solo. ~ Jonathan Widran

3rd Force: William Aura (vocals, keyboards, bass, percussion); Alain Eskinasi (guitar, keyboards, synthesizer, bass, percussion); Craig Dobbin (piano, keyboards).

Personnel: Grant Geissman (guitar, electric guitar, slide guitar); Brian Hughes (guitar); Peter White (acoustic guitar, accordion); Peter Sterling (harp); Tony Karasek (sitar); Richard Hardy (flute, saxophone); Gary Herbig, John Klemmer, Paul Taylor (saxophone); Jeff Elliot (trumpet); Rick Braun (flugelhorn); Craig Dobbin (piano, keyboards); Alain Eskinasi, William Aura (keyboards, percussion); David Thomas (keyboards); Peer Rave (drums); Gerlando Compilati (congas, percussion); Matt Marshall (percussion).

Additional personnel: Peter White, Rick Braun, Paul Taylor, Brian Hughes, Grant Geissman.