The New Cool, an acoustic offering by Fourplay founders Bob James (keyboards) and Nathan East (bass), will be released September 18 via Yamaha Entertainment Group. Recorded entirely in Nashville, the album was co-produced by Yamaha label president Chris Gero with James and East.

JazzTimes is pleased to present this exclusive premiere of the entire album!

Listen to the FULL ALBUM HERE!

Silver is the third album to feature the group’s newest member, guitarist Chuck Loeb.  Here he joins the all-star lineup of bassist Nathan East, keyboardist Bob James and drummer Harvey Mason. Silver features special guest appearances from guitarists Larry Carlton and Lee Ritenour and saxophonist Kirk Whalum.

Following the theme of the occasion, most of the 10 new original compositions comprising Silver play off of the anniversary, bearing titles such as “Sterling,” “Precious Metal” and “A Silver Lining.” Just like its namesake, Silver shines, each track a brilliant example of what has made this formidable ensemble—each of whom also has a highly successful career outside of the band—one of the most respected in the jazz world.

Silver is available for pre-order at Amazon.com

Article by VALERY AMADOR

On the 25th anniversary of the group’s formation, Fourplay offers their fans 10 great songs from a new album simply titled Silver. This album reveals the group’s ability to remain brilliantly creative after so many years together as they continue to bond and produce their truly distinct and recognizable sound.

The members of Fourplay – bassist Nathan East, keyboardist Bob James, guitarist Chuck Loeb, and drummer Harvey Mason – wrote all of the compositions including a couple of collaborations co-written with two former members of the Fourplay – guitarists Lee Ritenour and Larry Carlton. Several special guests add their musical visions to Silver including guitarist Larry Carlton and organist Mitch Forman on “Silverado,” guitarist Lee Ritenour on “Windmill,” tenor saxophonist Kirk Whalum on “Precious Metal,” vocalist Chris Wells on “Silver Streak,” keyboardist John Beasley on “Windmill,” and Synth master Tom Keane on “Aniversario.”

The titles of the compositions contain variations on the use of the word silver and you might say the ensemble is on a true “Silver Streak” considering that for the past 25 years their recordings have ranked from “Sterling” to platinum! The set opens with “Quicksilver” which was…CONTINUE READING THE FULL ARTICLE HERE!

Jazz pianist, composer, arranger Bob James and bassist, composer, educator Nathan East are featured in the September 2015 issue of Jazz Inside. Their new duo album, The New Cool is released on the new Yamaha Entertainment Group label and is inspired by the great piano duos of Bill Evans and Eddie Gomez, Oscar Peterson and Ray Brown and others. Together Nathan East and Bob James founded Fourplay 25 years ago. Among the highlights in James’ career include a long term association as the accompanist for Sarah Vaughn, as composer of the theme for the TV show Taxi, and as arranger for numerous albums on the CTI label in the 70s. Nathan East appears on some of the most influential and landmark pop albums in history by artists including Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Quincy Jones, George Harrison and others. This issue of Jazz Inside Magazine also includes an interview with saxophonist Ochion Jewell; CD Reviews, and a comprehensive calendar of hundreds of club, concert and event listings.
READ THE FEATURE ARTICLE HERE! 

Cool: precisely the way I describe the new album from Bob James and Nathan East titled “The New Cool.” The new album will be released on September 18, 2015. James and East step into duo mode with pure ease; that is to be expected since the two have been friends and musical collaborators for over 25 years. Individually and collectively as part of the legendary group, Fourplay, Bob James and Nathan East have been making music for a very long time. It was the obvious next step for the two of them to embark upon a journey together doing what they do best. As friends and collaborators, the ease of which the two fused their talents with just a piano and upright bass was masterful. That camaraderie and spirit shines forth in every note of every song on “The New Cool.” It is comprised of…Continue Reading the Full Article HERE!

While bassist Nathan East and keyboardist Bob James have collaborated before as members of the jazz supergroup Fourplay, they’ve never done anything quite like this. For their new project, they’ve teamed up as a duo for an acoustic jazz album that features a strong emphasis on the dance between bass and piano.

It’s called The New Cool, and it rolls out later this month.

The project got its start with Yamaha Entertainment Group label President Chis Gero sending East and James into a Nashville recording studio decked out with some state-of-the-art equipment provided by his company. They emerged with 11-tracks, more than half of which are original compositions. Their creations run the gamut from minimalistic duets to intricate ensemble arrangements.

(continue reading…)

The New Cool” (www.thenewcoolalbum.com ) is coming. Labor Day Weekend is upon us and shortly after – September 18 to be exact –Yamaha Entertainment Group will release the first duets collection byGrammy winners Bob James and Nathan East. An intimate acoustic jazz set of piano and bass banter from the jazz legend and master musician,iTunes pre-orders for “The New Cool” are surging while the 10-part series of behind-the-scenes vignettes about the making of this extraordinary recording whets the appetite of sophisticated listeners by the thousands. Produced by James, East and Yamaha Entertainment Group presidentChris Gero, this masters’ class is in session boasting a syllabus of original compositions written specifically for this project and a few handpicked classics. With a straight-ahead lean while adventurously exploring all corners of the jazz playground, it’s unlike anything the highly-accomplished duo has ever recorded in their lengthy careers. 

(continue reading…)

Yamaha Entertainment Group has released The New Cool by pianist Bob James and bassist Nathan East. This acoustic duo of James and East offers their fans a new way of listening to their creative efforts aside from their membership in their Grammy Award-winning group called Fourplay. The legendary keyboardist and master bass player perform 11 songs including several of their original compositions as well as a few classics. Singer/songwriter Vince Gill is featured on “Crazy,” while percussionist Rafael Padilla and drummer Scott Williamson appear on “Canto Y La Danza.” Chris Gero, Bob James, Nathan East and Bryan Lenox produced The New Cool.

The New Cool is a celebration of more than 25 years of friendship and musical camaraderie between Nathan East and Bob James. The Grammy Award-winning artists extend the boundaries of their musicality on such songs as “The New Cool,” and “Oliver’s Bag,” both of which are minimalist, bluesy duets to the lushly appointed, beautifully orchestrated “Waltz for Judy” featuring the Nashville Recording Orchestra. The waltz reveals another layer of Bob James’ virtuosity as a pianist and Nathan East’s electric bass guitar wizardry in an orchestral setting. Their rendition of the Latin classic “Canto Y La Danza” features the stellar bass work of Nathan East in several different tempi and the pianism of Bob James at its very best accompanied by Padilla and Williamson.

(continue reading…)