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Airborne Interview with Smooth Jazz Now 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. 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. 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.’ |
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John – I feel you hit a nice balance of Jazz and mainstream music and sure, it's jazz but you hit a vibe that folks who are new to Jazz would appreciate.
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 and it’s the first time we’ve ever done any cover songs, we added Bobby Hebb's "Sunny" and Billy Holiday's "God Bless the Child". John – Lets talk about the individual songs on the new record. We play “Sunrise” a lot. Airborne – “Sunrise” was the first single for the ‘New Horizons’ CD. It a nice Smooth Jazz tune with an inspirational vibe and beautiful melody. John – “Take me Away’ has a nice cool vacation feel. John – The title song is another one that’s received loads of attention and it’s the new single. |
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John – I like you take on the old hit “Sunny.”
John – I like the Salsa of “One World.” Airborne – “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.’ John – “Yes, from Jazz to James” is catchy contemporary Jazz. Aiborne – “Yes, 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 and Tower of Power. John – I felt like I was in church with “We are All Children of This World.” Airborne – “We are all Children of this World” is hand clapping and foot stomping Gospel Music with a message. It drives and rocks with a horn section and choir. It is our shout of praise that Airborne is still together and making music for over 22 years. |
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John - After 7 albums you have seen much change in this format. Tell me about that?
Our first 2 CD's were high energy contemporary jazz, and a little more raw and edgy and had a very strong fusion background. Our 3rd CD "Lifetones" still had that high energy contemporary jazz sound but introduced the band to a different audience with the addition of a tune called "Island View” which was our first hit smooth jazz single. Then in 2004 we added a percussionist and female vocals which refined and polished are sound a bit. I would say today the Airborne sound is a balance of keeping the edge and fire of the funk, Latin, and fusion eras with the more refine and polished concept of the smooth jazz format in our compositions yet still staying true musically and challenging ourselves to interesting arrangements of quality and having a open mind to ideas of other cultures. John - New Horizon's carries on where 'Winds of Change' left off for me. Do you feel that way? Airborne - I would say “New Horizons” carries on the “Winds of Change” music and message, but takes it a bit further into musical development and arrangements. You still get that Smooth Jazz and Latin feel, but the arrangements are a little more complex. It is a little more interesting CD that overlays many different styles to contemporary jazz. But both CD's does offer that wonderful message of Hope, Peace, and Love |
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John - Do you guys listen to any Pop? Airborne - We listen to all styles of music. There is something to learn from every style of music. Whether it be the rhythm, the melody, ambience, mood, structure, arrangement, vocal, interpretation, and most importantly the emotion and passion. To be a great musician or vocalist you must be humble enough to really have an open mind to different ways of doings things. Being closed minded keeps you in a box with no windows stopping you to see the world and what wonders it can offer us. John - Tell me how it started for you. For instance, what was the first album you ever bought? Airborne - I (Thomas Borino) always knew I wanted to be a musician, so as a young lad I had a newspaper route to earn money to buy an organ. I had to sell a lot of newspapers to buy that organ. I then took traditional piano lessons. Three months after playing I was approached by a band and they wanted me to join the band, but I told them I just started playing, and they said, “Do you have a organ?” I said, “Yes” and they said, “Your in the band.” So at 14 years old that was my start of a very fulfilling music career. The first album I bought was by the Young Rascal's and my first organ solo I ever learned was the organ solo on their song “Good Lovin”. Music was always in our home, (Greg Borino) the band’s always practiced at our house. The whole neighborhood would always gather around our house just to listen to the music and have fun. I started playing guitar at age 10, I then went to ECA, which was a High School for the Performing Arts and then later on I graduated from Berklee College of Music. |
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John - Do you have an all-time favorite album? Airborne – (Thomas Borino), I would have to say I have three all time favorite albums. They are “Light as a Feather” and “My Spanish Heart” by Chick Corea and “Trust” by Herbie Hancock. (Greg Borino) I would have to say three albums also. They are “Birds of Fire” by the Mahavishu Orchestra, “Welcome” by Santana and “Watercolors” by Pat Metheny. The Airborne sound is an influence of all these great artists and albums, the Latin of Chick Corea, the Funk of Herbie Hancock, the Rock of Santana, the Fusion of the Mahavishu Orchesta, and the Beautiful Textures of the Pat Methany Group. The real concept of a band or ensemble is always present in the music of Airborne. The sharing of ideas and coming up with an original jazz sound that was truly our own was our goal. It has been said that even with the wide styles of compositions we produce the group still has an identifiable stamp regardless of what and where we adventure into. The days of a band sound is still alive and well and very much appreciated by everyone. John - Who would you like to work with? Airborne - I would have to say after 22 years we enjoy working with the Airborne musicians, it has been quite a ride and we love what we do and the creative process. We have a great working relationship and it still is fun. |
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May 17, 2013 - After only four weeks Andy Snitzer is sitting pretty at the top spot of the Smooth Jazz Now Top 50 Countdown. "Andy's done well," says John Beaudin Operations Manager at the AirCom Jazz Network, "he dethroned Boney James from the #1 spot," adds Beaudin.
May 3, 2013 - Things keep looking better for Boney James. The popular sax-man has the biggest hit of the year so far on Smooth Jazz Now with 'Batucada.' It's now been #1 for five weeks. "It's always special when a song stands out that much," says John Beaudin Program Director of Smooth Jazz Now.
April 30, 2013 – Good Morning America has announced a huge line up for its 5th Annual Summer Concert Series.
April 25, 2013 – Three gifted smooth Jazz musicians; Rick Braun, Kirk Whalum and Norman Brown came together 11 years ago with their group BWB. These guys put their name on the map with the famous album Groovin’ and are back in full swing with an upcoming release ‘Human Nature’ set for release June 18th.
April 19, 2013 - Boney James is again the most talked about artist on Smooth Jazz Now. His hit 'Batucada' was the most requested tune on our station for the last two weeks. "You have to love a song with this type of staying power," says John Beaudin, Program Director of Smooth Jazz Now.
April 10, 2013 – The hottest new song on the Smooth Jazz Now TOP 50 chart last week was Andy Snitzer's 'Candy' entering at an impressive #5. The tune comes from, 'The Rhythm,' Snitzer's 3rd Native Language album and his 8th overall. The label calls the single “sweet funk/pop” which it is indeed. “I just love this song,” says John Beaudin Program Director of Smooth Jazz Now.
March 27, 2013 – They say “everything is perception” and from the start our image of Rob Tardik has been hard working and positive. With the release of his fourth album LIMITLESS, later this year, we thought we would catch up with Tardik and ask about the sound of the new project.
March 27, 2013 - With the release of Jim Samuel's new album 'Smooth Covers, Smooth Dance' last week and our 90-minute radio special on his career we thought we would delve a little deeper into what makes Samuel tick.
March 26, 2013 - Boney James had the most requested tune on Smooth Jazz Now for the second week in a row. His new single 'Batucada' has only been on the chart four weeks and two of those have been at #1. "Anytime we get a Boney single we know our audience will get it to #1," says John Beaudin, Program Director of Smooth Jazz Now.
March 26, 2013 - Mike MacArthur has an impressive resume. Playing with Diane Schuur and the late great Maynard Ferguson creates great cache for an artist.
March 22, 2012 – Dave Koz will be joined by several of his old pals as he kicks off A Summer Horns Tour 2013.
March 13, 2013 - Boney James doesn't fool around! The famous sax-man has reached the #1 spot on the Smooth Jazz Now Top 50 Countdown and it only took him three weeks. "Ok, really - this is Freakin' Boney James," says John Beaudin, Program Director of Smooth Jazz Now. "Boney is not just known as a superstar, he proves it with every song and every album."
March 9, 2013 – Natalie Cole has found her muse again! The 'Unforgettable' singer told fans on Twitter that she's coming back. The nine time Grammy winner should have a new album out this year.
March 5, 2013 - Canadian singer, Michael Buble is getting ready for his upcoming album “To Be Loved’ hitting stores April 23rd.
March 2, 2013 – I think the reputation of a music reviewer is that of a bitter and jaded curmudgeon living in a van down by the river. Years ago after writing a blistering review of a project that sounded half finished the artist approached me at a club and screamed, “You must spend a lot of time looking for things to hate?” “Actually it's the opposite, I answered, “I use my hours looking for the good stuff, 3/4 of the trip, however, is filled cliched blah!”
March 1, 2013 - For the second week in a row Euge Groove had the most requested song on SmoothJazzNow. As a result his 'House of Groove' easily made it to #1 on the TOP 50 chart. "Euge is like Boney James, Dave Koz or Peter White," says John Beaudin, Program Director of SmoothJazzNow, "They all consistently release music that sticks with listeners." 

December 13, 2012 – SmoothJazzNow has a new artist/interview feature called One-On-One. It’s 20 questions for your favorite Smooth Jazz artists. Most acts will be asked the same questions but we will also change it up on some weeks.
December 13, 2012 – Greg Adams has been out there. Even though many fans know him from his days with Tower of Power that stint seemed to be just an opening act for what was to come.
December 11, 2012 - It's been a great year for Pete Giltin. The guitarist reached #1 on the SmoothJazzNow.com chart and there's no sign of him slowing down. We asked Pete to give us some rare facts - things you might not know about him. Check out the list.
November 18, 2012 - Christmas music is a unique animal. A challenging one. Imagine explaining the concept to an alien, "So we celebrate this holiday and musicians, at least once in their careers, get to record the same 30-40 songs and hope that their versions sticks," MORE
May 1, 2012 - We live in a world where most instrumental music sounds like it was made for a 5x5 vertically moving room and that includes some Smooth Jazz. Interestingly, most Smooth Jazz musicians are technically some of the best players on the planet but many have fallen into this big vacuous hole, an amnesic state, where channelling Bert Kaempfert is common place.
April 4, 2012 – Esperanza Spalding is a groovy chick. I mean, really, when she’s in the room, everyone else disappears and I’m talkin’ more than that big “love-sculpture” hair. She’s the type of musician you might walk up to at a party, ask about her music, and walk away three hours later regretting the question. This lady has a vision so you better have a seat.
October 20, 2011 – This is no ordinary album. In fact, there is nothing normal about this album and that’s what makes this one of the most perfect projects that’s ever come across my desk.
– On her third album Colbie Caillat has decided to strategically give us an uptempo summer-vibe. It still sounds like her smash debut “Coco” but this time it’s Colbie with caffeine and it’s positive and fun
– There are not too many things in life as deliciously lazy as Michael Franks voice. The guy could chill out someone on deaths door. Seriously, angst has no place on a Michael Franks record – he’s good at one great thing..making you feel good!
October 10, 2010 – 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.
Airborne - I think we hit a nice vibe for people who are new to Jazz and would like the Airborne sound. We do put a lot of time and effort into developing a good melody, melody is very important and 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. 
Airborne – “Sunny” is an Airborne arrangement of a Bobby Hebb tune. As I mentioned earlier, ‘New Horizons’ was the first CD we ever did a cover song on. It’s classic R&B that heats up an audience.
Airborne - After 7 Albums we have slightly changed are format for as each day passes by we do grow as artists and composers and our music is greatly influenced by the era or space of time we live in that untimely rattles your emotions and effects the way you write and think. 









