Mannheim Steamroller - Fresh Aire III

Like its namesakes, Fresh Aire III is a series of song-specific themes (the life cycle, the forest) couched within a larger seasonal theme (this time, summer). Listeners will find the same mix of medieval music, progressive keyboard rock, and soft instrumentals that made up the first two Fresh Aire albums in varying amounts. The new wrinkle is music that better leverages the part-time string sections as composer Chip Davis casts his arrangements in a contemporary classical setting. On a piece like "Mere Image," originally written for the Omaha Ballet and chronicling the passage of life from young to old, the music blossoms in the hands of an orchestra. However, sentimentality gets the better of Davis on "Morning," resulting in sub-Sergei Rachmaninoff mawkishness. Balancing out the orchestral pieces are the medieval/prog rock keyboard showcases for Jackson Berkey ("Toccata," "The Cricket," "Midnight on a Full Moon"), again bearing a strong resemblance to the work of Rick Wakeman, and the thoughtful instrumentals painted in watercolor tones ("Amber," "Interlude 6," "The Sky"). At this stage, the notes explaining the program behind the music are less illuminating than didactic; after all, this isn't rocket science. It is, however, a well-balanced alliance of Davis' own musical development and the spirit of nature and history that runs through all of the Fresh Aire releases. Incorporating the sounds of nature into "The Woods Is Alive," writing music set to motion for "Mere Image," these represent incremental steps for Chip Davis as a composer. Mannheim Steamroller wasn't about to abandon their Fresh Aire aesthetics, yet they manage to move forward within those musical parameters with each album. ~ Dave Connolly, All Music Guide

Name Credits Alex Sokol Viola Ann Cannell Violin Beth McCollum Cello Bill Schroen Viola Bob Jenkins Oboe Carol Davis Art Direction, Design, Photography Chip Davis Drums, Recorder, Producer, Mixing Claire Sokol Cello David Hagy Violin David Kappy French Horn David Low Cello Deborah Fuller Violin Don Sears Mixing, Mastering, Producer, Engineer, Synthesizer, Programming Dorothy Brown Violin Eric Hansen Bass Ervin Orban Violin Ginni Eldred Violin Hugh Brown Concert Master Jackson Berkey Harpsichord, Fender Rhodes, Toy Piano, Tack Piano, Synthesizer, Production Assistant, Clavichord, Producer, Piano James Hammond Viola Jim Wheeler Engineer Joe Gastwirt Mastering Joe Landes Violin Joe Rosenstein Violin Kathie Spratt Violin Leslie Carter Bass, Double Bass Lou Lynch Cello Lucinda Gladics Viola Lurene Ekwurtzel Cello Mary Sokol Violin Merton Shatzkin Violin Mike Shultz Bass, Double Bass Miriam Duffelmeyer Cello Mortimer Alpert Violin Pat Morrow Viola Phillip Wachowski Viola Phillip Washowski Viola Ray Still Oboe Ron Cooley Guitar Ron Ubel Engineer Ruth Bransby Violin Steve Shipps Concert Master Sue Robinson Viola Susan Winslow Violin