Collective Force

The image of three interlocking triads on this compilation's cover helps illustrate the intent and appeal of 3rd Force. At their best, the group's members--multi-instrumentalists William Aura, Craig Dobbin, and Alain Eskinasi (plus an ever-changing list of guest lead instrumentalists)--cross-pollinate melodic New Age, smart grooves, and understated jazz textures to produce a brand of pop-minded lite jazz that is clever, fluid, and often infectious. Not every track succeeds as memorably as the smart and sassy "In the Full Moon Light" (with Rick Braun on flugelhorn) or the sweetly propulsive "You Gotta Be Real" (Peter White on acoustic guitar), but the 3rd Force formula is, for the most part, consistently attractive. Two new selections (both largely generic) open Collective Force, so if you own all or most of the four albums sampled here, you may not need this collection. Yet for those new to 3rd Force, or anyone inclined toward smooth-jazz with a melodic-pop nexus, Collective Force makes a very tasteful introductory package. --Terry Wood