Gentle Force

3rd Force | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 30, 2011)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Blue Note
• ASIN: B0000667QO
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #69,093 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Thirty seconds into this CD's first track, "Young Again," a hardcore smooth-jazz fan may think it's either Sade, Acoustic Alchemy, Tom Scott, or 3rd Force, and be right three out of four. Eight years ago 3rd Force defined their sound, built around overdubbed reeds and textured keyboards, and then flavored their discs with well-known distinctive smooth-jazz stylists. Their fifth album follows the same path, but leader William Aura's relentless search for new grooves may have broken some new ground with these 10 songs, and newcomer vocalist Rebecca Carlish (heavily influenced by Sade) is ingeniously used on different tracks here via wordless vocals or short bursts of lyrics. On the steamy and sexy "Grateful for Your Love," sax man Jimmy Sommers and guitarist Grant Geissman are intertwined with Carlish without losing the sound of the Force. The contribution of Carlish, if only to hear a fresh take on Sade's style, will make this a must for smooth-jazz lovers, but it's the fresh rhythms, haunting melodies, and sparkling, symbiotic pairings, like guitarists Craig Chaquico and Brian Hughes, that will place it on best-of lists at year's end. --Mark Ruffin

Product Description

Gentle Force by 3rd Force

This product is manufactured on demand using CD-R recordable media. Amazon.com's standard return policy will apply.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "flowing instrumentation on a musical journey is tranquil", May 24, 2002

By 

J. Lovins "Mr. Jim" (Missouri-USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Gentle Force (Audio CD)

Higher Octave casts a spell with their opening track "YOUNG AGAIN", featuring Tom Scott (sax), Greg Carmichael (nylon guitar), Grant Geissman (electric guitar/sitar), Mile Gilderdale (of Acoustic Alchemy on guitar) and Rebecca Carlish ~ dish out smooth portions of creamy textured genre with hints of sensual spices.

This their sixth release ~ "Gentle Force", combines three talented musicians William
Aura(keyboard/bass/vox percussion), Craig Dobbin(piano/keboard/orchestral arrangements)
and Alain Eskinasi(keyboard/percussion/bass guitar) plus all three slip in a pinch of "Groove".

Special guests make their appearances known Greg Carmichael(guitar)~Craig
Chaquico(guitar)~Grant Giessman(guitar)~Brian Hughes(nylon guitar)~John O'Connor(slide guitar)~Bryan Savage(sax)~Tom Scott(sax)~Jimmy Sommers(sax), adding their reflective feelings within each distinctive style.

One cue stands above the rest ~ "JOURNEY TO NOW", captures the theme of Arabian Nights, haunting vibes flow endlessly through the night air giving you peace from within, but the highlight has to be "GRATEFUL FOR LOVE", with 3rd Force newest addition Rebecca Carlish on vocal is extra smooth, not to mention a soulful cry of inner feelings from Jimmy Sommers on a floating melodic sax.

Less we not forget other musicians that left their mark on this CD ~ Mitch Manker(flugel horn)~Richard Hardy(flute)~Gerlando Compilati(congas)~David Thomas(additional keyboard)~Douglas Spotted Eagle(native flute) ~ each incorporating ethnic tones that give this release a special place in our ever growing collection.

Would put this right up there with 3rd Force fourth album "Force Field"(1999) ~ if you enjoyed this, why not sample "Collective Force"(2000), also from Higher Octave and 3rd Force, both albums are certainly worthy of a good listen, gotta love it!

Total Time: 58:19 on 10 Tracks ~ Higher Octave HOMCD-12087 ~ (2002)

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Little Too Gentle... ?, June 21, 2003

By 

RNN "erucu" (New Jersey USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gentle Force (Audio CD)

Maybe I picked the wrong day to play this CD but these 10 down tempo tracks from one of my favorite groups just didn't do it for me. Don't get me wrong, they sound beautiful, at times even exotic, but I like my 3rd Force with just a little more energy. Actually, I don't even think it's only about that. It's the fact the album doesn't change its mood. It just seems to get slower and slower, passing gentle and easing into tired. I might put it on another day and say, "Hey, how peaceful", or something but for today --- Yawn.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars They weren't kidding when they named it "Gentle"..., September 13, 2002

By 

djdjdjdjdjdj9 "djdjdjdjdjdj9" (Wisconsin) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gentle Force (Audio CD)

This truly is 3rd Force's most "gentle" album up to now. Although somewhat eclectic at times ("Journey to Now", for example), this album is quite pleasing. There are instances where I forget I'm listening to a 3rd Force CD, but the trumpet/piano chords bring me back to 3rd Force's usual masse with frequency. I find the change in their music progressive, innovative, and probably good for the future of the band. It's nice to hear Jimmy Sommers working with 3rd Force for a change (verses his recent efforts to sound hip with Genuine and Coolio... What gives, Jimmy???). As usual, you can expect a lot of tracks with Brian Hughes, which on previous albums I found repetetive and somewhat monotonous. However, Hughes' presence on "Gentle Force" is somewhat subdued and melancholy; a pleasant change for Brian. This is by far the most mellow of their albums. If you want a fun ride, try "Force Field."