Keyboardist, arranger and producer Bob James has played a major role in establishing the smooth jazz genre.

“Angela”, the instrumental theme from the sitcom Taxi, is probably Bob James’ most well-known work to date, plus he’s a founding member of the Grammy winning group Fourplay. (continue reading…)

On a visit to Chiang Mai, one could end up at the Airport Central Plaza.  The Plaza is a 5 story mall with virtually everything one can imagine.

Keyboardist Bob James, bassist/vocalist Nathan East, guitarist Chuck Loeb and drummer/percussionist Harvey Mason offer listeners a solid program of brand new compositions written by each of them on their latest release titled Esprit de Four.

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Jazz Group Fourplay Reaches #1 on Billboards Contemporary Jazz Charts This Week with “Esprit de Four”!

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Fourplay has just dropped their latest and arguably finest release yet in Esprit De Four.

I was fortunate enough to catch up with one of the finest guitar players on the planet in Chuck Loeb and he was gracious enough to field a few questions for us.

You contribute three tunes to the new record, “December Dream,” “Sonnymoon,” and “Logic of Love,” … Some of your finest work. How has joining Fourplay changed the way you write or has it?
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Esprit De Four, the 12th release by the jazz quartet Fourplay, is a quiet and confident recording. The confidence can be viewed in light of the fact that pianist Bob James, drummer Harvey Mason, bassist/vocalist Nathan East and guitarist Chuck Loeb never seem to feel the need to raise the volume of their music to compete with performers who often feel the need to scream. The members of this quartet go through the tracks on Esprit De Four with the confidence that the virtuosity and creativity of their musicianship and the quality of their compositions speak plenty loud enough.

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Fourplay may well be the last true super group left on the contemporary jazz scene. Their new release Esprit De Four which may be arguably their best release thus far has just hit the streets and Bob James was kind enough to field a few questions both on the band and on their stellar new release!

Can you tell us about the origin of Fourplay? Also Esprit De Four celebrates the greater good of a rock solid quartet. Is this perhaps the most collaborative release to date?
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