The twelfth studio album from the mighty Fourplay, and the second record to feature ‘new boy’ Chuck Loeb, is an exciting prospect.  Even more so because I only recently became aware of its impending release.  Shall we get straight to the music FFF’s (Fellow Fourplay Fans)?

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From his roots in Atlantic City, New Jersey to the top of the world, Harvey Mason has been in our ears for decades – whether we knew it or not!

Those that have shared the stage or the recording studio with Mase would be too numerous to mention here – but you certainly need to know how much our guest has accomplished.  His work with the tops in Pop music as well as Jazz – from Sinatra to Donna Summer to Donald Byrd and Herbie Hancock. His production skills and compositions that have found their way to Mary J. Blige, Nancy Wilson, and Notorious B.I.G.  The “first call” status at the Academy Awards, where he has been invited to play 25 times.  And “Modern Drummer Magazine” has given Harvey its highest accolade four times – readers have given him Best Drummer status in the publication’s annual poll.

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If thirteen is lucky for some then all those who appreciate the enduring magic of the fabulous Fourplay will hit the jackpot with the band’s thirteenth CD, ‘Esprit De Four’ which will be released September 18 on Heads Up International, a division of Concord Music Group. In keeping with what has gone before the essence of ‘Esprit De Four’ is in the way, both individually and collectively, the players expertly interpret their own immaculate compositions and with writing credits shared around between band members Chuck Loeb, Bob James, Nathan East, and Harvey Mason, the album feels very much like a delicious throwback to the nineties and the early days of Fourplay.

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Twenty years and counting, the legendary group Fourplay releases yet another inspired work of genius that is nothing short of religious in its listening experience. Songs from the newest collection, ‘Esprit De Four’ is what makes music from Fourplay a pilgrimage to listening enjoyment. Envision the thirty minutes before a sunrise or the thirty minutes after a sunset, when everything in the world takes a moment to reflect in the peacefulness a sunrise and sunset offers, is one testimony to the ‘Esprit De Four’ experience.

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Premier smooth jazz outfit Fourplay have been in business since 1991 when keyboard doyen Bob James set to work with drummer Harvey Mason, bassist Nathan East and guitarist Lee Ritenour to craft an album which successfully blended jazz with soul, R&B and pop. The success of that self-titled set encouraged the foursome to continue and though there’s been the odd personnel change (Larry Carlton replaced Ritenour in the mid 90s and Chuck Loeb replaced Carlton in 2010) the Fourplay sound remains essentially the same – that gentle, often soporific mix of light jazz and soul grooves that proved so effective back in ’91.

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“If there is any one thing that defines Fourplay, besides being one of the most consistent and extraordinarily talented groups ever to grace the contemporary jazz scene, it is that the quartet has loads of class and, as the driving catalyst for one of the tracks on this newest album, Esprit de Four, demonstrates, compassion. The referenced track is ‘Put Our Hearts Together’ and is inspired by and dedicated to the March 11, 2011, Japanese earthquake and tsunami victims. Actually, there are two tracks—the instrumental and the vocal versions of the same tune. It is the group’s collective voice that should call to all of us to remember that we in America are not alone as victims of tragedies. All over the world, we are truly all in this together…A beautifully arranged album that is unmistakably all jazz in its finest form.”

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If there is any one thing that defines Fourplay, besides being one of the most consistent and extraordinarily talented groups ever to grace the contemporary jazz scene, it is that the quartet has loads of class and, as the driving catalyst for one of the tracks on this newest album, Esprit de Four, demonstrates, compassion. (continue reading…)

If thirteen is lucky for some then all those who appreciate the enduring magic of the fabulous Fourplay will hit the jackpot with the band’s thirteenth CD, ‘Esprit De Four’ which will be released September 18 on Heads Up International, a division of Concord Music Group. In keeping with what has gone before the essence of ‘Esprit De Four’ is in the way, both individually and collectively, the players expertly interpret their own immaculate compositions and with writing credits shared around between band members Chuck Loeb, Bob James, Nathan East, and Harvey Mason, the album feels very much like a delicious throwback to the nineties and the early days of Fourplay.

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Get ready for good coffee and a great chat as Chuck Loeb takes center stage.

Although his playing is in the jazz tradition, his composing is steeped in pop and R & B. Chuck is the consummate musician.

In a career that spans four decades, he has proven himself to be a versatile composer, arranger, and producer in a wide range of musical styles and contexts. (continue reading…)

You will have only begun to scratch the surface by identifying the masterful Harvey Mason Sr. as just a percussionist.
Yes, his precision time keeping and versatility have placed him among THE most in-demand and most recorded session drummers of all-time.

He’s been hired by everyone from Barbra Streisand to James Brown to Mary J. to Herbie Hancock to Jennifer Hudson to Frank Sinatra to John Legend to the London Symphony Orchestra.

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