Jonathan Widran - All Music Guide – Turbulence CD Review

One listen to the supercharged carnival of swirling guitars, brass, drums, wordless vocals and Latin and samba action on the opening cut "Festival at Sunset" and nobody's going to be asking for peace anytime soon! "Smooth Sailing" is a little gentler, but there's still a heavy bass bottom (courtesy of Steven Clarke) and the bright give and take between the crackling electric guitar of Gregory Borino and the punchy sax and flute of Thomas Sansone.

Just when you think the plane is grounded somewhere lovely in the U.S., Airborne's off to Africa for the
tribal voice and soundscape heavy "Native Search," which puts the melodic focus on Sansone's flute--a no-no in 2007 at smooth jazz radio but a brilliant touch here, especially paired with Gregory Borino's electric axe.

"Drums Of Peace/Awakening" is similarly jungly and grooving yet also soaring and smooth. Jazz purists
who find all this a bit too poppy may be satisfied with the swinging big band jam "Hillside Swing" that
smacks of cool, "real jazz." Featured vocalist Elizabeth Dellinger has a nice sensual presence on "What About Love," but the vocal textures of "As We Journey" might seem more at home on one of those
70's disco fusion projects--a problem easily solved by simply calling this "retro."

A band named Airborne has probably heard every aviation clich, possible, but here's another
Turbulence really takes off, adding a much needed dose of global adventure to smooth jazz.


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