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Back in the Dayz – Airborne Anthology by: Randall Parrish – Jazz Review
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“After decades of making inspiring contemporary jazz to critical acclaim the esteemed ensemble has d...“After decades of making inspiring contemporary jazz to critical acclaim the esteemed ensemble has decided now is the perfect time to take a look back and showcase some of the quality music that has characterized the group’s recording existence.
With two brand new tunes destined to become classic numbers Airborne makes it evident that the group is presently at the height of their musical flight and offers great optimism for the future. Airborne is recognized for continually bringing imagination, positive energy, and deep passion to their jazz compositions.
With Back in the Dayz – Airborne Anthology the past of Airborne is explored and celebrated with the still to be forged future greatly anticipated. The group’s extended harmonious shared recording experience has bred this lofty level of congruous cohesion. If their glorious precedent is any indication; then grand inspirational thought-provoking musical vistas filled with hope lie ahead for us all.
Good music is timeless.”
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Review: Back in the Dayz – Airborne Anthology by Brian Soergel
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““You’d expect a contemporary jazz group that is called “musical peacemakers” to have a happy, upbea...““You’d expect a contemporary jazz group that is called “musical peacemakers” to have a happy, upbeat sound. You get that with this veteran band, but as this anthology shows, you also get top-quality musicianship with heft and plenty of sway”
On Back in the Dayz, you’ll find the Airborne recipe intact: jazz, world music, R&B, Latin, smooth/contemporary jazz..
One thing this anthology can show is the breadth of a band’s work with plenty of tropical vibe and urban grooves.
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Review: Back in the Dayz – Airborne Anthology by Chris Mann
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“Everything about the bright, brassy music of Airborne with its strong melody and ripples of percuss...“Everything about the bright, brassy music of Airborne with its strong melody and ripples of percussion suggests that their outlook is a very positive, optimistic one and they aim to be as inclusive as possible.
The songs on this anthology reflect that: many tastes will find things to like, whether it’s soul, Latin, reggae or some quite complex jazz”.
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Review - Jonathan Widran - All Music Guide
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“One has to admire Airborne, a veteran jazz band that has made inroads into the hearts of jazz fans ...“One has to admire Airborne, a veteran jazz band that has made inroads into the hearts of jazz fans across the world over the years. They are a supercharged carnival of musicians that add a much needed dose of global adventure to jazz.”
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Back in the Dayz - Review – Smooth & Soul - HBH
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Back In The Dayz - Airborne Anthology is an amazing collection of America's super group, Airborne. C...Back In The Dayz - Airborne Anthology is an amazing collection of America's super group, Airborne. Contemporary jazz isn't dead.”
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Interview by Sandy Shore - Smoothjazz.com
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How long has the band been playing together?
Airborne was formed in the early 1980’s. Our first m...How long has the band been playing together?
Airborne was formed in the early 1980’s. Our first musical release was in 1988. The band celebrates years of recordings, jazz festivals, concerts, clubs, gigs, and the whole ups and downs of being musicians. We can honestly say that the years have been very rewarding to us. To live a life of music is a wonderful experience and a precious gift. We feel honored and blessed as we continue to perform and record and look toward the future with a smile.
Would you please share a few highlights from the years together?
We love the process of each new recording project and release. The intervention of ideas, the collaboration of musicians, creating the jazz sound that is Airborne today. Bringing life and love to each new composition. Keeping faith and watching the growth in the band's material and popularity.
Recording and producing for other artists in genres as Gospel, Jazz, and R&B.
To perform at jazz festivals, concerts, and clubs with different jazz artists and groups. To share words, thoughts, stories, and just to listen to musicians from all over the world. Music is truly an international language.
Where is the band based and how does your location factor into your music?
We are from New Haven, CT, USA. Tri-State Area - Urban based. I guess you can call us city dwellers. There is a magic in the city that absorbs many musical art forms. The sounds of the city are cool but hot. Influences of Jazz, R&B, Latin and Blues are all around you capturing your inner emotions.
We also have a deep passion for the music of the Caribbean. Both the city and the islands have influenced us greatly. Over the years Airborne has created its own trademark contemporary jazz sound of island passion and urban emotion.
You refer to yourselves as a "multi-cultural" jazz band... how come?
Our hometown of New Haven is very rich in ethic and cultural diversity. Each member is unique and brings these diversities and backgrounds to create the jazz sound. Airborne has been praised as being a living spirit of musical brotherhood. The love of jazz is shared by many cultures.
Can you give us an idea of how deep the band's commitment is to the recording arts and education?
We do support the Arts. We are on the New England Foundation for the Arts and the CT Commission on the Arts performing arts touring rosters. We bring "A Century of Jazz" an Arts in Education program into the schools. A demonstration of a variety of jazz forms and styles, supported by a historic narration, a musical insight, a question and answer session, and an inspirational workshop.
This program instills a positive attitude and direction towards musical and social growth. The no limits approach combined with a structured musical lesson plan illustrates the value of jazz education in our society.
Jazz Education is very vital for our newer generations. Teaching thoughts of imagination, personal expression, and self discipline to help them achieve whatever goals they dream. Emotions soar high in young hearts and jazz music gently provides an enrichment and fulfillment to their wandering passion. Jazz is a true American art form.
What are you most proud of at this point in your life and career?
To have the music of Airborne known and loved throughout the World is a dream come true. We have always kept a high musical integrity to our compositions yet still instilled a coolness and groove to our sound helping us to cross over to many different formats.
To be honored by the World Peace Organization for Excellence in World Music and as Humanitarians.
There has always been a message of Peace, Love, and Global Unity in the music of Airborne. We have been proclaimed by journalists as the Musical Peacemakers of Contemporary Jazz. We have always lived our lives and career trying to help and give back to the community. We can all make a difference if we just try.
That’s why we set a Non- Profit Cause –
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Interview with John Beaudin of Smooth Jazz Now
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Not many groups have stood the test of time like Airborne. Coming in around the time that the NAC fo...Not many groups have stood the test of time like Airborne. Coming in around the time that the NAC format was really starting to cook, 1988, this outfit grew with every project, gig and album. Having just released their most powerful album yet, New Horizon’s, it looks like the world is ready for this, a full dose of positive, social conscious fusion. We sat down with the band to chat about all the twisting, yet beneficial roads taken.
John - Lets' talk about this great new album...It's your seventh, How did you approach this one?
Airborne - Well, this new CD of ours which is our 7th, we approached it from a place of influences from our last 3 CD's. There is always a concept in a Airborne CD and our plan for New Horizons was to keep that Smooth Jazz feel of our 2008 "Winds of Change" CD, but we also wanted that World Fusion sound that was on the 2007 "Turbulence" CD, and to somehow insert the fire of our 2004 "Heavy Vibes" CD that had hot Latin rhythms and R&B vocal arrangements.
So we took all those thoughts and mixed them with some new ideas and came up with the contemporary jazz sound of this 2010 "New Horizons" CD. We are very happy with the way it came out.
Airborne / Contemporary Jazz / Smooth Jazz & Vocals / World Fusion
John - Tell me about the new single 'Diggin' the Atmosphere
Airborne – Diggin the Atmosphere was composed by Thomas Borino (Piano). It’s a feel good tune with a strong groove bearing very pleasing melodic content. As you said John, it lifts you up and takes you to a better place. We call it Jazz in the Sky.
John - feel you hit a nice balance of Jazz and mainstream music, sure it's jazz but you hit a vibe that folks who are new to Jazz would appreciate
Airborne - I think we hit a nice vibe for people who are new to Jazz would like the Airborne sound, because we do put a lot of time and effort into developing a good melody, melody is very important, nothing beats a wonderful melody over a solid groove that is nice to listen to and sticks with you. That combination will always attract people.
The fact that we add as we say air candy vocals to our instrumentals even draws a listening ear. We do have some vocal duets on this CD and in our live performances we always do some R&B Classics that are crowd pleasers that really rock the house.
On this new CD "New Horizons we added two classic R&B Covers, the first time we ever did any cover songs, we added Bobby Hebb's "Sunny" and Billy Holiday's "God Bless the Child".
John - Tell me about the individual songs and give us a story behind it
Airborne –
Sunrise was the first single for the New Horizons CD. It a nice smooth jazz tune with an inspirational vibe and beautiful melody.
Take me Away is our Cool Island Chill song with its relaxing Caribbean influences. It has a touch of the Airborne trademark sound of island passion and urban emotion.
Diggin the Atmosphere is our Jazz in the Sky song that lifts you to a better place with melodies that lay over such a great in the pocket groove.
A Saturday Afternoon is a very compassionate contemporary jazz ensemble piece.
Sunny is an Airborne arrangement of a Bobby Hebb tune. New Horizons was the first CD we ever did a cover song. It’s classic R&B that heats up a audience.
One World is Salsa Jazz with a Message that is Hot, Vibrant and very Festive. Chanting the message we are One World, One People searching for peace and happiness.
Gate 7 is a magical musical journey taking you onboard to many different places and styles of melodious contemporary jazz.
Thank God it’s Friday is very groovy cool jazz. Meet you at Smokey Joe’s Café on Friday.
God Bless the Child is Airborne’s version of the amazing Billie Holiday composition. We arranged a soulful flavored duet to this unforgettable tune.
From Jazz to James is Contemporary Jazz to Old School Funk. It starts with a jazzy new age feel, to edgy world fusion, and ends with funk influences of James Brown
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Review - New Horizons - Randall Parrish – JazzReview.com
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The new release from the notable contemporary jazz group Airborne is titled New Horizons and feature...The new release from the notable contemporary jazz group Airborne is titled New Horizons and features smooth jazz guitar, keyboards, and reed instruments in conjunction with passionate Latin infused grooves to craft a CD cool as an island breeze. Airborne has long been referred to as the “Musical Peacemakers” of contemporary jazz. On New Horizons, the group’s 7th release on Tilt Records since their inception in the late 1980’s, their peaceful theme is abundantly present on many of their songs.
The triumvirate which comprises Airborne is expertly piloted by group leader Thomas Borino on piano and keyboards. His brother, Greg Bornio is the group’s impressive guitarist, while Thomas Sansone delivers high-quality performances on varied saxophones as well as flute. In addition, all three gentlemen offer vocals and receive composing credits.
The opening cut, “Sunrise,” is a groove-laden instrumental, led alternately by piano, guitar, and flute. Aptly titled, since the sunrise marks the first appearance of the sun on the horizon, and the CD is named New Horizons. Airy buoyant background vocals help bolster the floating carefree and sunny environment, and the flute generates an illusion of morning bird chirps. The pretty mid-tempo “Take Me Away” comes next and features a joyful steel drum tropical Caribbean island melody. Softly indistinguishable vocals, fresh and breezy acoustic guitar, and light cheery keyboards provide the musical backbone to this superbly blissful song.
The magnetic “Diggin the Atmosphere” dances along with pleasing piano and puffs of flute augmenting the loping melody amid brief punctuating stabs of gripping electric guitar. The whispery sea-siren vocals alluringly keep repeating the song’s title refrain. The back-to-back combination of “Diggin the Atmosphere” and “A Saturday Afternoon” forms a formidable one-two punch of smooth jazz elegance. “A Saturday Afternoon” is a delightful ensemble piece, with brilliant sax, biting guitar and crisply cool keyboards combining again with soft background vocals to weave a wondrous textured melody that is truly unforgettable.
Bobby Hebb’s classic hit “Sunny” is given an updated contemporary spin, complete with Latin-jazz/rock guitar and gospel-tinged alternating male and female lead vocals. The guitar-work on this song, and some others, echoes the brothers Santana (Carlos and Jorge) while celebrating Al DiMeola and George Benson jazz flavors. Thomas Borino’s assured keyboards masterfully anchor this stimulating song.
The vibrant “One World” has a moving Calypso beat with Caribbean steel drums adding flavor against Latin horns and insistent driving percussion effects together with more Caravanserai Santana-like burning guitar riffs and sparkling flute. The syncopated rhythms blend with jazz fusion to create a dynamic global statement. This Latin effervescence continues on “Gate 7,” another quality- packed complex cut.
“Thank God It’s Friday” contains an old-time New Orleans/Cab Calloway feel with brass instrumentation and a repeated exhortation “Thank God it’s Friday, if it wasn’t for Friday I’d lose my mind.” It’s a deviation from the surrounding songs, and a mark of how diverse Airborne’s musical reach extends.
Billy Holiday’s bittersweet blues standard “God Bless The Child” is joyously performed with a Dr. John vibe. The song, honored by induction into the Grammy Hall of Fame, has been covered by numerous artists, in a multitude of genres since its long ago appearance. A few of the more notable recordings belong to Blood, Sweat, & Tears, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, and Stanley Turrentine; although no artist I’ve heard has put such a jubilant spin on it.
“From Jazz To James” encompasses various jazz styles. Wes Montgomery mellow expressive tones, Maynard Ferguson big band bop, and jazz fusion are presented. When some guttural grunts and horn music in the familiar manner of the King of Soul James Brown are added, t
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Review – New Horizons – Jazz Review - Dr. Ana Isabel Ordonez
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Airborne appears again in the spotlight with their recent, New Horizons, an original patchwork of ja...Airborne appears again in the spotlight with their recent, New Horizons, an original patchwork of jazz, classic pop forms and world music. Its language is constructed, revealing some bright moments.
Airborne, the well known multi-cultural contemporary jazz group from New Haven, Connecticut, USA has the ability to do it all well. New Horizons takes the listener into soundscapes through lyrical ways exploring the individual player's idiosyncrasies which in exchange creates color schemes available to all listeners.
These musicians can really spark a fire from their voices. They explore music styles with absolute mastery of phrasing and exploding emotions, crossing all dynamics.
The music carries great intensity and energy. "Thanks God is Friday" and "We are all Children of this World" are creative tracks filled with different intonations and attacks.
"New Horizons" is a piece where interpretation, instrumentation, orchestration and multi-rhythmic creation are colliding to offer a great contribution to World Music. “A Saturday Afternoon” intermingles reeds, strings and keyboards accompanied with melodic vocals. "From Jazz to James" combines talent, originality and confidence, without a doubt carrying the test of purely spontaneous and expressive Pop but also Funk jazz sounds.
New Horizons is truly an interesting release that holds your attention from the first track to conclusion with its musical approach. Through twelve tracks, Airborne offers an eclectic vision of their music world.
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Review - New Horizons - The Smooth Jazz Ride – Ronald Jackson
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We so often need music in our busy and usually stressful days (especially in these stressful times) ...We so often need music in our busy and usually stressful days (especially in these stressful times) to help smooth out the rough edges. Airborne, the proclaimed “Musical Peacemakers” of contemporary jazz make it all so easy with their new release, New Horizons, a peaceful, breezy, reflective, and vibrant production indeed. As much new age, R&B, funk, spiritual, and world as it is contemporary jazz, it is a carefully woven fabric of tantalizing sound to make those crazy moments in our day a little less crazy.
The opening track, “Sunrise,” is a Hardcastle/Jazzmasters-like groove that cruises along one of our gorgeous coastlines, blissfully oblivious to anything but the tender music. The melody is tasteful, the rhythm cool and happy, the backing vocals so soothing. That’s followed by a colorful island-flavored mid-tempo track aptly titled “Take me Away.” A snappy, zesty little piece called “Diggin’ the Atmosphere” follows, with that Hardcastle vibe still intact and a hint of the British acid jazz group Shakatak’s groove, as well. Very sweet touch of flute and strings here. “A Saturday Afternoon” is up next with a high-steppin’ and bright melody and hook. This one brings an energy in its mid-tempo rhythm that is as hot and exciting as something you’d expect in a faster-paced tune. Nice piano and sax chops here, as well. The alluring backing vocals are very evident throughout this project and make it an even more refreshing piece of work. The energized cover of Bobby Hebb’s “Sunny” is impressive with solid vocals.
Taking an up-tempo turn on Latin turf, “One World” lifts the party to another plateau with smokin’ horn and percussion action, while the group gets a little bluesy with a jazzy swagger on “Thank God It’s Friday” and “God Bless the Child.” The track “From Jazz to James” does a really cool little dance with contemporary jazz that morphs into a funky little James Brown thing (including a take on the JB utterances). Talk about using your creative skills. Then comes the choir element of Airborne as it ventures into a great mix of gospel and jazz with an uplifting and rich tune called “We Are All Children of This World.”
The album culminates with the title track, a moving, poetic, reflective, multilingual track that brings to the forefront the mantra of this group: With love, we can do great things. All things are possible if we live, laugh, and love. Not only great music here, but great food for thought. An unbeatable combination.
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Review - Smooth Jazz Therapy - Airborne - New Horizons
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Smooth Jazz Therapy first became acquainted with the band Airborne through the excellent 2004 CD ‘He...Smooth Jazz Therapy first became acquainted with the band Airborne through the excellent 2004 CD ‘Heavy Vibes’. At the time I commented that this cool Connecticut based collective was re-igniting genuine old school jazz fusion in a way that was part 5th Dimension, part Weather Report, and part Ambrosia with just a hint of Tower Of Power thrown in for good measure. Subsequently, the band’s reputation was enhanced by the 2007 CD ‘Turbulence’ and a year later ‘Winds of Change’ hit the streets. Now Airborne is back with the equally good ‘New Horizons’. It signals a welcome return to the soulful energy, vocal R & B arrangements and Latin grooves from which the band’s reputation was originally built.
As with previous offerings, the sound of Airborne is anchored by guitar man Greg Borino, keyboard player Thomas Borino and saxophonist Thomas Sansone. These principle contributors are often supplemented by a talented gathering of supporting artists and, among these, the vocalist Elizabeth Dellinger is worthy of special mention.
‘New Horizons’ is quickly up and running with the warmly inviting ‘Sunrise’ that features zesty flute from Thomas Sansome and he is also in fine form for the easy grooving ‘Diggin The Atmosphere’. In fact ‘easy grooving’ could be a metaphor for the entire collection and this is particularly so with the band’s competent cover of Bobby Hebb’s classic ‘Sunny’. Totally different, but still worth inclusion, the Runyonesque ‘Thank God It’s Friday’ evokes the smoky jazz clubs of a bygone age and, as the title would suggest, ‘From Jazz To James’ is a rarefied extravaganza of intense jazz rhythms fused with the kind of funk that is reminiscent of JB at his best.
The cut and thrust of the wonderfully gospel flavored ‘We Are All Children Of This World’ contrasts dramatically with the sultry yet thrusting ‘A Saturday Afternoon’ while elsewhere a very different take on Billie Holiday’s seminal ‘God Bless The Child’ proves to be a welcome addition. ‘Take Me Away’ is another uplifting tune that this time glides upon an attractive Latin rhythm and this ‘south of the border’ feeling is also a feature of the energetic ‘One World’.
Finally, the ‘one world’ motif is carried over to the message laden (and closing) title cut which provides a thoughtful ending to an invariably interesting collection.
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Airborne Explores "New Horizons"
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At this point in world history, the concept of maintaining a positive outlook
and vibe isn't just ...At this point in world history, the concept of maintaining a positive outlook
and vibe isn't just a nice idea....it's critical to our survival as a species.
The multi-cultural contemporary jazz group Airborne not only shares this philosophy, but has also imbued every one of their albums with it. NEW HORIZONS, their latest project,contains a dozen brilliantly crafted examples of their trademark jazz/island passion/urban emotion music..and once again shows Airborne to be the pre-eminent voice for positive change for the jazz community.
They truly are the "musical peacemakers" of contemporary (Smooth Jazz). If you're already a fan, getting a copy of NEW HORIZONS won't require a second thought. If Airborne is new to you, acquiring the project will not only raise your positivity as you listen, but will also support the work of creative individuals who really get what being a citizen of this world is all about!
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Interview by Joe Montague for Jazz Police / Riveting Riffs
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Music for Turbulent Times
Turbulence is a word one normally associates with a rough airplane rid...Music for Turbulent Times
Turbulence is a word one normally associates with a rough airplane ride or you hear on a weather report, but it is also the name of the outstanding CD released in August of this year by the New England based jazz group Airborne. In September 2007, I had the opportunity to speak with Thomas and Gregory Borino, the two brothers, who along with lifelong friend Thomas Sansone founded the group twenty years ago. Each one of the three, play several instruments on the album. In addition, they produced, engineered and mixed the project themselves.
In describing what the listener will hear when they don their headphones, earbuds or pump up the volume on their speakers, Gregory Borino says, “They are going to get hit with a lot. There will be some light, smooth mellow stuff, but on some of the endings (to the songs), we are really rocking it out quite a bit. The listener will also hear a big band piece, solos and improv, because improvisation is still an important part of what we do. They will hear a CD that has an edge to it.”
Thomas Borino adds, “You can still tell it is us, even though there are a lot of different kinds of music. We definitely captured an Airborne Sound on this CD.”
“While the songs are different, they are not all over the place. There is a consistency. If you listen to the CD from track one to track nine, it is not like you are thinking, ‘Where did this come from?’ The CD does flow from song to song,” says Gregory.
Gregory who engineered and mixed the CD jokes that it aged him by ten years. “There are a lot of tracks, and we had to make them fit into two little speakers, that took some time. The arrangements are well thought out. We didn’t just bang something out. Everything was listened to, listened to again, and again and again,” he says.
“Festival At Sunset,” is the opening track for Turbulence, and immediately Thomas Borino’s strong keyboarding, Ahser Delerme’s Latin percussion and Laco Deczi’s trumpet transport you to a tropical setting. The song’s upbeat tempo is appealing and each chord bears a smile. The guitars (Gregory Borino) start with mellower riffs, but as the song builds to a crescendo, the fretwork becomes a little edgier. Thomas Sansone, Donte Hall and Elizabeth Dellinger deliver smooth background vocalese.
Commenting on Airborne’s ability to combine the smoother elements of jazz and Latin vibes, without the later dominating the melody and groove, Gregory says, “We also need to give credit to our percussionist Asher Delerme. He is a very smart player. He doesn’t just play a part, he is very intense. When he has a part in the recording process, it is there for a reason. That’s why it is not overbearing.”
Thomas makes the point that although they have lived their lives in the city, that he and Gregory have a heart for the Latin countries, their people and cultures. He believes that strong connection genuinely infuses the Latin vibes heard in Airborne’s music.
While admitting to several other influences in their music, Gregory echoes his brother’s sentiments as it relates to the Latin grooves in Airborne’s music. While attending Boston’s Berklee College of Music, Gregory was in a Latin jazz band, and one might say it was love at first listen, as he was enthralled with the emphasis on percussion instruments. Describing the music as positive, passionate and alive, he feels that Airborne’s interpretation of Latin rhythms creates an upbeat environment in which people can leave the stresses of their day behind. Certainly, the band’s use of Afro Cuban and Brazilian rhythms keeps listeners’ feet moving and their bodies swaying.
It’s “Smooth Sailing” for Airborne
As strong as the Latin rhythms are in Airborne’s music, Gregory says that R&B also has a prominent place. Thomas agrees, “Like Gregory said, we always have been fans of R&B, going back to Motown. That allowed us to cross over to non-jazz lovers.
Turbulence had been out barely a mo
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Smooth Jazz Now - Review - Turbulence
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Airborne is quite a unique smooth jazz ensemble. The New Haven band was formed in the late eighties ...Airborne is quite a unique smooth jazz ensemble. The New Haven band was formed in the late eighties and has since then crossed the "turbulences" of our agitated times. Airborne is more than a jazz ensemble. It is a group of dedicated musicians, who share the same cause and philosophy: bringing peace, love and tolerance to our world through their music. They have stuck to this belief since their beginning and have opened up their music to multi-culturalism.
As the band puts it in the CD liner notes: "Our world is overflowing with physical, emotional and political distress and confusion. Let this wonderful music help open your heart to life's beauty. We can all make a difference in this world of need. If we try to help, support and understand, we can achieve peace."
Airborne's fifth release "Turbulence" conveys a spirit of peaceful serenity, openness to the world's musical cultures and high energy to create a positive vision for the future. The band entails talented members: 6 experienced musicians and a soulful female vocalist. Musically speaking, "Turbulence" successfully adds world rhythms and sounds to an already lively and passionate smooth jazz sound.
This exciting musical expedition starts with the exultant Latin "Festival Sunset". Then you embark on a soft mid tempo cruise led by a crew of great musicians: Steven Clarke on bass, Gregory Borino on guitars and Thomas Sonsone on saxophone ("Smooth Sailing"). When you come back on earth, you will be received by Elisabeth Dellinger's soulful voice in a groovy tune ("Can't Fight Love"), remembering Shakatak's unique sound.
Then you will follow the steps of North America's first inhabitants, Native Americans ("Native Search"). After a tonic big band swing ("Hillside Swing"), listen to the powerful "Drums of Peace/Awakening" introduced by African rhythms and chants. Later on, let yourself invited to a Brazilian samba ("As We Journey") and get inspired by the sensual R&B voice of Elisabeth Dellinger. Eventually this bright journey comes to an end with an emotional smooth jazz piece, "The Message."
When listening to this stunning and graceful CD, you will notice that this ensemble plants musical
"seeds of peace" and uses music to help make our dream of a better world come true.
Turbulence is a great musical achievement. So, let yourself be guided by these "musical peacemakers."
Akbar Nour - Smooth Jazz Now
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Winds of Change CD - Review
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The brand new album from New Haven, CT based Airborne is entitled ‘Winds Of Change’ and much of the ...The brand new album from New Haven, CT based Airborne is entitled ‘Winds Of Change’ and much of the publicity surrounding it makes clear that the title, compositions, and even the emotion of the project was inspired by the bands concern for world events. The implicit assertion, irrespective of faith, race, color or wealth, that together we can make this earth a better place is beyond dispute and in articulating this harmonious message Airborne has delivered nine wonderfully uplifting tunes which can be fairly described as some of the best smooth jazz to be heard this year.
‘Winds of Change’ is Airborne’s 6th CD and each subsequent release has demonstrated the growing confidence the band has in its own music and the diversity Airborne is never afraid to display. Although the 2005 album ‘Heavy Vibes’ was replete with top notch old school jazz fusion this, in the main, has been displaced by the world rhythms that permeated much of their 2007 project ‘Turbulence’ and the first rate contemporary jazz which exemplifies ‘Winds of Change’. However, invariably through all of this has been the superb vocals of Elizabeth Dellinger that are at the core of all Airborne’s best moments and writing credits which continue to be predominately shared between band members Greg and Thomas Borino.
The feel good motif of ‘Winds of Change’ is beautifully demonstrated by the optimistic happy vibe of the title track. Reminiscent in part of Bob James’ ‘Sign Of The Times’ it features the sort of high quality backing vocals from Dillenger that fans of Airborne have routinely come to expect. When the track is later reprised as a backdrop to a series of inspirational sound bites Dillenger remains just as good and she returns to add her sparkle to the ‘party ready’ ‘Calypso Night’.
Thomas Sansone contributes excellent flute to the jazzy ‘Magic In The City’ where Thomas Borino on keys is also in fine form and his brother Greg takes the honors on guitar with the energetically up tempo ‘All Tied Up’. Sansone switches to sax for the deliciously evocative ‘Spanish Guitar’ and when the musical spotlight shifts from Europe to South America it’s the lovely shuffling Latin beat of ‘Brazilian Praise’ that affords Randy Bost the opportunity to shine on trumpet.
‘Just One Night’ is a superb slice of smooth jazz for which the entire band plays a part and in similar vein is ‘Rising Higher’. This brass enriched number is real ‘stadium jazz’ while the more studied ‘Better Days Ahead’ has a fine ‘in the pocket’ groove and more excellent guitar from Greg Borino.
Through the years a feature of Airborne has been its cohesion and the way the lead is generously shared between the players. ‘Winds of Change’ offers all of this and a chance to experience the work of a passionate group of musicians who obviously enjoy every second of what they do.
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Smoothjazz.com - Review
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Airborne is a band with a mission… the multi-cultural contemporary jazz group from New England takes...Airborne is a band with a mission… the multi-cultural contemporary jazz group from New England takes flight with their 5th release TURBULENCE setting the objective on using their musical energies for calming an otherwise disruptive world.
In the CD liner notes, the band invites listeners to open their hearts, minds and souls to the music… Music that is, in our opinion, delightful, lively and filled with life featuring hot rhythms, sizzling saxophone and flute, infectious bass lines and caressingly soulful vocals that are effectively woven into the mix.
This is Airborne’s critically acclaimed recipe for jazz fusion. The Connecticut band’s music is genuine and big-hearted… joyful jazz… healing and enriching, just as you would expect from these humanitarians and educators.
TURBULENCE is anything but with its high-spirited, soothing melodies. Tracks like the sophisticated “Smooth Sailing” and the jubilant “Festival at Sunset” bring to mind the sonic qualities of other multi-cultural ensembles such as Fattburger and Pete Escovedo’s Orchestra. This stylish collection of songs also features soul-stirring pieces such as the head-boppin’ “Can’t Fight Love“ as well as songs of great depth like the captivating tune “The Message.”
What the world needs is more people who do what they love to do with purpose and confidence and because they love doing it…
Airborne’s TURBULENCE, filled with nine original compositions, is the perfect remedy for chaos.
Sandy Shore - Smoothjazz.com
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Smooth Jazz Therapy - Review
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When in 2005 I reviewed the album ‘Heavy Vibes’ from the smooth jazz and fusion band Airborne I sugg...When in 2005 I reviewed the album ‘Heavy Vibes’ from the smooth jazz and fusion band Airborne I suggested that they were re-igniting genuine old school jazz fusion in a way that was part Tower Of Power, part Ambrosia and very much in the spirit of 5th Dimension. Now New Haven, CT based Airborne are back with their fifth CD release ‘Turbulence’. It retains much of the excellent fusion that grabbed attention the last time around and widens horizons to demonstrate huge empathy with the music of many cultures.
In fact the entire collection is a rollercoaster ride of moods and emotions, writing credits are shared between band members Greg and Thomas Borino, Thomas Sansone, and the superb vocals of Elizabeth Dellinger are at the core of all its best moments.
The hugely expansive ‘Festival At Sunset’ is fuelled by Airborne’s hallmark horn driven sound
and ripples with pleasing Latin grooves. Those same luscious tones and that same Latin intensity are equally prevalent for ‘As We Journey’. Soulful, and with a gospel message buried within, the track is illuminated by the amazing voice of Elizabeth Dellinger and as the band continues to show its versatility they find, in ‘Hillside Swing’, a big band vibe that is uniquely Airborne.
Although ‘Smooth Sailing’ is as melodic and ‘in the pocket’ as its title suggests it might be the complexity that the band often engenders is never too far away. ‘Native Search’ draws clear influences from Native American rhythms while ‘Drums Of Peace / Awakening’ bristles with an African inflection every bit as potent as Lamont Dozier’s seminal ‘Going Back To My Roots’.
The song’s message is delivered in a hugely accessible way and this accessibility is again to the fore with ‘What About Love’. Totally typical of what Airborne do best, the band takes its time to build this smoldering ballad in a way that others might not but, in doing so, produce a track of genuine substance.
Tight, edgy and spliced with wonderful backing vocals, ‘The Message’ could be a synonym for everything that Airborne represents and the band stays in soulful mode for ‘Can’t Fight Love’. Here sumptuous horn riffs abound and the luscious vocals of Elizabeth Dellinger again portray just how influential her input invariably is.
In the final analysis, ‘Turbulence’ is a fresh and eclectic mix that is well worth discovering.
Denis Poole - Smooth Jazz Therapy
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JazzNet247.com - Review
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Airborne are a multi-instrumental and multi-facet jazz band from New Haven, Connecticut and remind m...Airborne are a multi-instrumental and multi-facet jazz band from New Haven, Connecticut and remind me of the great jazz acts from the 80's and 90's such as Surface Noise, Rodney Franklin, Azymuth, Paul Hardcastle, Mezzoforte, Shakatak and some their vocal harmonies resemble the great George Duke and Tom Browne. Not surprising as the band was formed in the late 1980's when this style was particularly en vogue.
'Heavy Vibes' is the band's fourth CD release and is sure to follow on the success of the previous three which enjoyed airplay on many Jazz Radio Stations throughout the US and abroad and received critical acclaim in JazzTimes, Jazziz, Downbeat and Billboard to name but a few.
The album is a collection of smooth jazz, Latin jazz and soulful urban vocals sung by the lovely Elizabeth Delliger and also rotated by saxman Thomas Sansone and Thomas Borino, the latter contribute the spine of the set with some creative piano and keyboard solos from Borino and Kirk Whalum / Najee style sax from Sansone.
The beauty about this album is that it stretches out beyond the jazz idiom and crosses over to the current urban soul and dance charts but the intoxicating driving sounds are also reminiscent of the early Spyro Gyra, Fattburger, Mezzoforte and Shakatak with Gregory Borino's guitars exchanging front and centre stage with the keyboards of Thomas Borino on the opening drive time cut entitled 'I See'.
This is just one of the styles which demands attention on this fine recipe for today's urban vocal / jazz formulae.
Some of the harmonies are straight out of the Spyro Gyra catalogue like those on 'Hip Hop' which remind me of Jay Beckenstein, Tom Schuman and John Tropea on their 'Catching The Sun' set from 1980 like 'Lizard Island' with Sansone's soft flute caressing the melody line and the female backing vocals with that George Duke 'Brazilian Love Affair' appeal.
This is totally a self penned album which is creditable on its own merits for the arrangements and performances.
It is obvious that this is a touring band which has been playing together for some 15 years which results in some fine instrumental exchanges and idiomatic particulars which come from many years of performing together.
It is an album which requires a number of plays to eclipse the full menu on offer and the creativity behind the scenes.
One for the more discerning smooth jazz fans and the 'Old School' jazz fusion fans who lived through the last two decades of the twentieth century.
One I thoroughly enjoyed and brought me back to a musical flavor which has personal memories.
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The Urban Music Scene - Review
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This crew is in flight & they are dynamic!
Exquisitely from New Haven, CT., This crew releases th...This crew is in flight & they are dynamic!
Exquisitely from New Haven, CT., This crew releases their 5th CD of choice to the Contemporary Jazz Crowd with a little Urban flair in the mix. It reflects on a societal note of worldwide news & differences to the matter of heart & soul. The music in jazz from these players connects the dots to what you hear in the environment today. Especially to those seeking reminisce to the original Contemporary jazz game & the music it speaks for!
From the beginning of "Festival at Sunset" rips the Latin smooth jazz melody already heard of in the smooth jazz community. Nothing new there right? Well comes..."Smooth Sailing", which doesn't so much go technically according to the name of the title. It does have several different elements added to bring the choice of tune more-so to Contemporary Jazz Status! Like the vocal scats laced throughout that track! When you go to "Can't Fight Love" & hear the congas go smoothly with the vocals, you can almost grasp a feel for the UK's 'Brand New Heavies' & a
midday R&B tempo from USA's group 'Seek'. Or you should know by now that both parties DO mix!
"Hillside Swing" picks up a speed towards a big band camp & does the twist to a little straight ahead jazz flow. Possibly to flex muscles of the band on their ability to dabble in both arts of the game. "Drums of Peace/Awakening" glided my listening path into fully appreciating what they came to play - down to earth Jazz! I mean, they wasted no time in this composition. The sax play coming directly from Thomas Sansone comes through & is truly felt. In fact, this track reminds me of another 'awakening' in the debut CD from Ramsey Lewis's "The Urban Knights"! (Remember Them?)
For independent artists such as them, their true testimony may ride into their consistency & passion for music in this project. The overall feel! It speaks loudly throughout the CD & yes....It’s Recommended!
Terrill J. Hannal - The Urban Music Scene
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Jazz Review - Review
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Airborne’s fifth album, Turbulence meets all your expectations of what you imagine an eminent jazz a...Airborne’s fifth album, Turbulence meets all your expectations of what you imagine an eminent jazz album would be like. The songs are symbolic of contemporary jazz, progressive jazz, and the alluring smooth jazz. Produced by band members Greg Borino (electric/acoustic guitars), Thomas Borino (piano/keyboards/vocals), and Thomas Sansone (saxophone/flute/vocals), the album is made up of a 6-part instrumental unit and one part female vocals furnished by Lady Elizabeth Dellinger.
The songs take the listener from a balmy R&B idling to contemporary swing and club jazz proportions. Rounding out the 6-part instrumental are Dean Kosh (drums), Asher Delerme (African/Latin percussion), and Steven Clark (bass). The band employed a number of additional musicians for Turbulence which surprisingly does not add clutter to the tracks. Moreover, these additional musicians came in as needed to add sunspots of trills and flounce that tickle the melodies with a wider array of hues and party atmospheres.
Tracks like “Festival At Sunset” and “As We Journey” propel a Latin-jazz samba ruffling up the rhythms with alcoves of animated horns. The rotating cycles revolve around the springy vocals in a pleasurable spin. The R&B/Soul tides on numbers like “Smooth Sailing” and “Can’t Fight Love” are intoxicating as Dellinger’s sensuality and magnetism on “Can’t Fight Love” resonates with a Regina Bell vocal shower.
The citrus-sweetness of the flute swirls on “Native Search” are symphonic and tranquilizing while
“Hillside Swing” has ringlets of elevating guitar intervals and swing-laden horns. “Drums Of Peace/Awakening” turns into waves of smooth jazz horns embellished with African textured beats, rippling hand shakers, and syncopated vocal chants. “What About Love” has a touch of cocktail-jazz in its R&B voicing illuminated by Dellinger’s singing, as the sinuous grooves and honeyed tones of “The Message” stoke the embers of the sonically romantic flames.
Though Turbulence has only 9-tracks on it, the average length of the songs is 6-minutes which is double what most 11-track albums offers in there songs. Airborne have produced an album that is a portrait of jazz music’s charms and supple movements making music that is idealistic and proofed for party mixers.
Airborne’s Turbulence gives jazz music a very good feel.
Susan Frances - Jazz Review
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ContemporaryJazz.com - Review
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Airborne is the type of group and Turbulence is the type of recording that represents what I love ab...Airborne is the type of group and Turbulence is the type of recording that represents what I love about contemporary jazz – it’s like unwrapping an unexpected gift and discovering for the first time, something you like but didn’t know existed.
It never ceases to amaze and at the same time perplex me – the sheer talent and
originality of these jazz artists. This is good stuff - check it out!
John Luciano - ContemporaryJazz.com
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