3rd Force is a smooth jazz band on the EMI Higher Octave label,consisting of trio William Aura, Craig Dobbin, and Alain Eskinasi.

Anyone not hip to the diverse sounds coming from the Higher Octave label these days can find a perfect introduction in 3rd force's Force Field. While the electronic keyboard trio of William Aura, Craig Dobbin, and Alain Eskinasi provides thick, acid-jazzy grooves that range from dreamy and laid-back to shuffling hip-hop, trip-hop, and aggressive blues, some of the label's biggest names have a ball strutting their own way up in the mix. Grant Geissman, in particular, goes easy on the nylon string, swampy on the slide guitar, and joyously funky on electric. Brian Hughes' brisk electric work takes center stage on the throbbing "Something Special," and Craig Chaquico's acoustic lines weave in and out of Richard Hardy's wistful sax harmony on "The Closer You Get." Ozzie Ahlers interjects a few lively piano solos on two of the Chaquico-led tunes, but Dobbin's sparkling piano work is just as grand. And on "Revelation of the Heart," Paul Taylor's soprano-sax lines form a call-and-response with the hypnotic piano melody.