3rd Force Vital Force CD

All-star lead melodic voices work more effectively on 3rd Force's latest, Vital Force, because the primary goal set by the main trio of William Aura, Craig Dobbin, and Alain Eskinasi (multi-instrumentalists all) is to create a playground of vibe and atmosphere upon which others strut their stuff. Once again, and to great effect, the trio relies heavily on machine-generated grooves, easing between light funk and gentle hypnotic suggestions. The melodies are chiefly carried by the likes of labelmates Craig Chaquico and Ozzie Ahlers, not to mention Rick Braun and Peter White. The stars get the label copy, but on the whole, it's the horn section of Gary Herbig and Jeff Elliot that adds the most excitement to the forces underneath. They don't bill it as acid jazz, but it's as close as the smooth stuff gets. ~ Jonathan Widran

Personnel: William Aura (vocals, keyboards, percussion); Peter White (acoustic guitar, accordion); Craig Chaquico, Shahin Shahida (acoustic guitar); Alain Eskinasi (harp, keyboards, drums, percussion); Gary Herbig (flute, oboe, saxophone, horns); Annie Hilsberg (flute); Jeff Elliot (trumpet, flugelhorn, horns); Rick Braun (flugelhorn); Craig Dobbin (piano, keyboards, drums); Ozzie Ahlers (piano); Robert Matt (organ, keyboards); Gerlando Compilati (vibraphone, congas, bongos, percussion).

Audio Mixer: William Aura.

Recording information: Sound Design Studios, Santa Bar.

Photographers: Ed Colver; Benjamin Cziller.

Arranger: 3rd Force.

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

Additional personnel: Peter White (acoustic guitar, accordion); Craig Chaquico, Shahin Shahida (acoustic guitar); Anne Hilsberg (flute); Gary Herbig (saxophone, flute, oboe, horns); Jeff Elliot (trumpet, flugelhorn, horns); Rick Braun (flugelhorn); Ozzie Ahlers (piano); Robert Matt (organ, keyboards); Gerlando Compilati (congas, bongos, percussion).