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. (continue reading…)

Contemporary Jazz group Fourplay Lays It On The Line With The Release Of New Project,

“Esprit De Four” on Sept. 18th, 2012

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Esprit de Four explores the place where four unique perspectives become a single creative force…

Featuring “Put Our Hearts Together,” Bob James’ tribute to the victims of the devastating tsunami that struck Japan in March 2011.

When it comes to making music, four is often the magic number. From the Beatles to MJQ, many legendary quartets have made their mark in the classical, pop and jazz traditions. Maybe it’s the idea of four talented individuals, each approaching the other three from a unique perspective – like inspired travelers hailing from equidistant coordinates on a map – and bringing all of their talents to bear at a single point. Maybe it’s just the sheer mathematical symmetry and balance of the number itself. (continue reading…)

Fourplay lays it down with Firefly!