Air (jazz rock band)

Air was an American jazz rock band mainly active in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

This article is about the jazz rock band. For the free jazz band, see Air (free jazz trio). For the electronic music band, see Air (French band).

Air
GenresJazz rock
Years active1968 (1968)–1983 (1983)
LabelsEmbryo
Members
  • Tom Coppola
  • Googie Coppola
  • John Siegler
  • Mark Rosengarden

History

The band's self-titled debut album was released in 1971 by Embryo Records, which had been founded by Herbie Mann in 1969.[1] The four core band members were Tom Coppola (Hammond organ, Allen organ, piano), John Siegler (bass), Mark Rosengarden (drums), and Googie Coppola (piano, vocals). The album also featured Randy Brecker on trumpet, Michael Brecker on saxophone, Barry Rogers on trombone, David Earle Johnson on congas and timbales, Robert Kogel on guitar, Bob Rosengarden on vibes, plus Jan Hammer and Herbie Mann on percussion.[2][3] Herbie Mann was also the producer.[4]

Tom and Googie Coppola were both influenced by jazz and fusion, including time signature changes. They answered an advert in The Village Voice placed by Moogy Klingman, who introduced them to Siegler and Rosengarden. The group rehearsed in Great Neck, Long Island, working on songs written by Googie. The group was spotted by Mann at a gig in the Village Gate, who wanted them to be his backing band. By the time their debut album was released in 1971, family commitments led to the group splitting up. Thereafter Tom and Googie Coppola played a few times at the Montreux Jazz Festival with the Atlantic All-Stars.[5]

According to its writer, Moogy Klingman, the song "Sister Bessie" is about "...a nun, who took LSD after falling in love with a hippie, and then made love to him, deciding she would leave the church and the convent. Apparently, the hippie had different ideas and left town quickly. This song is about what he might say to her about his hasty exit, if he said anything at all.”[6]

A limited gatefold heavyweight vinyl album, in a die-cut sleeve, was released on August 11, 2016, on the Be With label.[7][8]

References
  1. "Special Merit Picks". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. May 22, 1971. pp. 47–. ISSN 0006-2510.
  2. "High Fidelity". Audiocom. July 1971. p. 118.
  3. Bowler, Paul (August 10, 2016). "No, not that Air". Record Collector.
  4. "Air". AllMusic. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
  5. Hart, Bill (December 20, 2020). "AIR-AIR Revisited; Comparison of Pressings; Interview with Tom Coppola". thevinylpress.com. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
  6. "AIR". thatrealschitt.wordpress.com. February 23, 2008. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
  7. "Googie and Tom Coppola: Shine the Light of Love". Spectrum Culture, Pat Padua, September 8, 2016
  8. "AIR". Sudo.3.pro.tok2.com. Retrieved July 19, 2016.

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