3rd Force
3rd Force | |
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Genres | Smooth jazz |
Years active | 1994 | –present
Labels | Higher Octave |
Members | William Aura Craig Dobbin Alain Eskinasi |
Website | www |
3rd Force is a smooth jazz band on the EMI Higher Octave label, consisting of trio William Aura, Craig Dobbin, and Alain Eskinasi.[1]
Career
William Aura founded the band in 1994 after a prolific solo career. 3rd Force was released that same year. After the album's commercial success, the trio continued the studio project with their next release, Force of Nature, in 1995. This album garnered even bigger success than their debut, spawning the popular single Here Comes the Night, featuring guest guitarist Peter White.
After a two-year break, 3rd Force released their third album, Vital Force, in 1997. The album gained 3rd Force's second hit single, You Gotta Be Real, once again featuring guest guitarist Peter White. The fourth album, called Force Field, was released in 1999, resulting in another of the band's singles, Revelation of the Heart, with guest saxophonist Paul Taylor. In 2000, Higher Octave released a best-of compilation of 3rd Force, entitled Collective Force, which featured the band's best hits in both radio and fan favorites, along with two new songs, Dance With Me and Sweet Surrender. In 2002, the band released of its fifth studio album, Gentle Force, which showcased a mellower jazz sound.
Three years later, 3rd Force released Driving Force, which featured a funky lively jazz mix never before heard in 3rd Force's music. The most popular singles from their latest release are "Believe in Me", featuring trumpeter Greg Adams, keyboardist Jeff Lorber, and guitarist Brian Hughes, and You Got It, featuring guitarist Marc Antoine. After a more than ten-year hiatus, 3rd Force reunited to release Global Force in 2016, which featured their No. 1 Billboard smooth jazz radio chart hit, "Big Shot".
Notable guest musicians
Throughout the course of their career, 3rd Force has performed with numerous guest musicians, including guitarists Peter White, Marc Antoine, Acoustic Alchemy, Grant Geissman, Brian Hughes, Craig Chaquico, Earl Klugh, Shahin Shahida of Shahin and Sepehr, and saxophonists Paul Taylor, Tom Scott, Dave Koz, Eric Marienthal, Jimmy Sommers, Bryan Savage, Richard Elliot, Boney James, Eric Darius, Ozzie Ahlers, Euge Groove, Rick Braun, Jessy J, and Lawson Rollins.
Discography
- 3rd Force (1994)
- Force of Nature (1995)
- Vital Force (1997)
- Force Field (1999)
- Gentle Force (2002)
- Driving Force (2005)
- Global Force (2016)
See also
References
- ^ Chris Walker (July–August 2002). "Gentle Force 3rd Force". JazzTimes. Retrieved June 27, 2011.