FLY ON

Not long after three of the talented Fowler family (Bruce on trombone, Walt on trumpet, and Tom on bass) became well known for their stints in Frank Zappa's (arguably) best lineup, the entire Fowler Brothers group got together with a few extra musicians (including Chester Thompson) and recorded this album under the band name Air Pocket.

The music style falls somewhere in between fusion and big band jazz, and producer Oliver Nelson (you jazz fans should know his name) keeps the sound smooth and clean. The songs are designed to let the Fowlers loose on solos. Bruce, to my ears, has always been the best of the brothers, and his trombone solos are my favorites on the album.

The Zappa influences are allowed to seep through at times as well, especially in Ho-Lo Redic, where the odd timings and riffs just have to be a nod to Uncle Frank. Another highlight is Easy To Say, a funky tune that gets very frenetic toward the end.

Although the sound is sometimes a bit dated, this is still a pretty good album.