Air Pocket - 1975 - Fly On

Air Pocket 

1975

Fly On

01. Unforseen (5:23)

02. Delicate Essence (5:35)

03. Colors For Marvin (4:03)

04. Ho-Lo Redic (5:16)

05. Elephant's Graveyard (5:29)

06. Night's Move (6:26)

07. Easy To Say (6:17)

08. Becky (3:52)

Walt Fowler: trumpet, miraphon

Bruce Fowler: trombone

Steve Fowler: alto saxophone, flute

Albert Wing: soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone

Mike Miller: guitar

Stu Goldberg: piano, electric piano, mini-moog, clavinet

Ed Fowler: electric bass

Tom Fowler: electric bass on 4

Chester Thompson: drums

Born into a musical family, The Fowler Brothers - Russ, James (Jim) and Steve, nurtured their desire and appreciation for music through their father; performer and acclaimed guitar teacher, Russell, Sr. In 1969 Russell moved the family from Kansas City, Missouri and settled in Houston, Texas. While Russell Sr. focused on his teaching career, Russ, Jr., Jim and Steve began performing in various Houston bands. Steve Fowler credits listening to Jerry Jeff Walker, Guy Clark and a trip to the Kerrville Folk Festival in 1975 for the direction and inspiration to start writing and performing their own material.

Their first gig in Houston was at the legendary Old Quarter in Houston where they did a guest set during a Lucinda Williams performance. Throughout the 80’s the brothers developed a loyal following and solid reputation in Houston and Austin performing their original material. Jim and Steve continued on as a duo throughout the 90’s and released their Live at the Hops House recording on CD on New Years Eve in 1999.

They became a trio once again when Tony Kozel, longtime friend, songwriter and noted bass player, joined Jim and Steve in 1999. While performing regularly at the Hops House when the club went up for sale, Jim and his wife Pam saw an opportunity and purchased the venue in July of 2000. Now called the JP Hops House, Jim and Pam remodeled the club, added a state of the art sound system and now specialize in featuring live original music. They host the Houston Chapter of the Nashville Songwriters Association and the Fort Bend County Songwriters Association showcase and every Sunday. The Fowler Brothers continue writing and performing and call the JP Hops House their home base. Their music can best be described as singer/songwriter, country/folk or simply stated, “Texas Music”

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.