Search - Airborne :: Heavy Vibes

Smoothjazz.com Review

Sandy Shore | Monterey, CA | 03/10/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Tons of percussion...tons of energy...tons of soul...that's what you're gonna hear in the fourth release from one of the most talented contemporary jazz bands around...the Connecticut-based group, Airborne. Their musical recipe, in their own words, "takes a can of straight ahead jazz with Caribbean and Latino influences, pours in a few tablespoons of jazz fusion and a heaping cup of urban street funk; then cooks all ingredients with pure technical talent till it gets boiling hot."  Precisely! You can definitely hear and feel the positive vibes on HEAVY VIBES...on every song...in every performance. This is really a cookin' album!  This band has been around since the late 80's, and has performed extensively worldwide. They've made numerous television appearances, and are heavily involved in musical education as members of the New England Foundation for the Arts' prestigious Performing Arts Roster. They're obviously a powerfully positive force for jazz, and you can't miss the quality and energy on this project.  From the intoxicating Latin percussion that kicks off track 1 ("I See") right on through each and every tune on HEAVY VIBES, you'll find yourself totally engaged in the Airborne experience.  My personal faves on this disc are "Turn Me Around," which reminds me a lot of Spyro Gyra; the soulful vocal duet, "To Be Loved"; and "A Smooth Ride" (The title says it all!). Get yourself a copy of HEAVY VIBES, and you can forget spending money on chemical mood elevators! ~Scott O'Brien"