Scooter Chronicles

3rd Force - “Vital Force”

Tracks:

1. In the Full Moon Light
2. No Doubt
3. You Gotta Be Real
4. Give it Up
5. Lift Me Higher
6. Echoes of a Dream
7. Set Yourself Free
8. She Whispered to Me
9. I’ve Got to Know
10. Smiles All Around
11. Thru the Shadows

I discovered this band by accident. Was checking out the new releases wall at the Harmony House on Woodward and 11 1/2 (boy, was that a big store). This one caught my eye because of a sticker on the front saying it featured Rick Braun and Peter White. Both were jazz musicians that I liked. So I said, “What the heck.”

Alain Eskinasi (left back), William Aura (left front), and Craig Dobbin (right).

For their first six albums, this being their third, they were a trio. And their background was new age styled music. All three played a huge array of instruments. I didn’t know they were from a new age background when I picked this up. You can hear it from time to time on songs, especially given the use of a lot of electronic sounds giving it an ambient feel, or on the slower softer songs with acoustic guitar. But I didn’t pick up on that at first. It wasn’t until I had found out the members’ past.

Guest musicians include Rick Braun on flugelhorn (”In the Full Moon Light”), Jeff Elliot on trumpets (”No Doubt”), Peter White on guitar and accordion (”You Gotta Be Real”), Gary Herbig on saxophone and flute (”Give it Up”), Shahin Shahida on guitar (”Echoes of a Dream”), Craig Chaquico on guitar (”She Whispered to Me”), and Yulara on flute and organ (”I’ve Got to Know”).

Because of the guest musicians, this has a very smooth jazz sound to it. But not entirely. It also has a lot of hip and funky hooks and melodies, and they mix some ethnic sounds into it as well. At times it can even sound very hip-hop or R&B like. For something that has new age roots, it is downright cool. The whole album has a lot to offer, and it’s all very enjoyable. I love throwing this into the player from time to time to cruise along to some great tunes.