Fourplay Celebrates 25th Anniversary with “Silver” Third album by group to feature guitarist Chuck Loeb

The contemporary jazz quartet Fourplay will celebrate its 25th anniversary with the Nov. 20 release of Silver (Concord), the third album to feature the group’s newest member, guitarist Chuck Loeb. Loeb joins original members bassist Nathan East, keyboardist Bob James and drummer Harvey Mason. Silver also features special guest appearances from guitarists Larry Carlton and Lee Ritenour, both early members of the group, and saxophonist Kirk Whalum.

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Contemporary jazz supergroup Fourplay celebrates their 25th anniversary with their most wide-ranging and gratifying recording to date.

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.

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In general terms, an anniversary like 25 years, is a good occasion to assess where the band came from, where it’s at now, where it’s going in the future, and all the roads joining those three musical locations.

With this album we took the opportunity to share these in a musically with all the wonderful friends & fans that we have throughout the world.  It’s inspiring to know that they’ve been on the same journey along with us.

As the newest member of the band (it’s my fifth year anniversary), I am able to understand why these particularly unique group of musicians have enjoyed such longevity, both from a distance as a fan, and as a member.  When a sports team wins a championship, or has enduring success, people always talk of the ‘chemistry’ amongst the players.  This is very much the same in music.  Nathan, Bob, Harvey, and Lee had an immediate musical DNA, which evolved with Larry, and then with myself.  It always amazes me when I bring in a song for the band to try, because as soon as we play it as a group, it takes on that unique ‘Fourplay sound’.

There’s also a shared mutual respect, and a very high level of fun when we get together to make music. This shows in the end result.  It is hard for a member of the band to try to objectively assess the impact Fourplay might have on the history of jazz.  However, in looking at it from the perspective I had as an early listener & fan, I would say that this group weaves sophistication, subtle complexity, and an impressive wealth of musical experience into a very popular musical format, as a true fusion of four musical perspectives. (continue reading…)

FOURPLAY CELEBRATES THEIR 25^TH ANNIVERSARY WITH THEIR MOST WIDE-RANGING AND GRATIFYING RECORDING TO DATE

 Silver set for release November 20, 2015

Longevity among jazz groups is a surprisingly rare commodity. With relatively few exceptions, a run of a few years, at most, is standard; for a collective of jazz musicians to stick together for a decade or more is almost unheard of. That puts Fourplay, who celebrates their 25^th anniversary this year, in a league of their own. Since 1990, bassist Nathan East, keyboardist Bob James, guitarist Chuck Loeb (who joined five years ago) and drummer Harvey Mason have continued to explore together, their efforts resulting in what All Music Guide called one of “the most intuitive, forward-thinking and focused groups in modern jazz.”

On Silver, set for release November 20, 2015 on Heads Up, a division of Concord Music Group, Fourplay celebrates that unprecedented bond with their most wide-ranging and gratifying recording to date. 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.
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Fourplay had the opportunity to celebrate their 25th anniversary with Berks Jazz Fest GM, John Ernesto.

Stay tuned for the 25th anniversary album, SILVER, due to be released later this summer!

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Fourplay was formed 25 years ago, born of a merging of jazz styles and instruments and expertise that forged the Berks Jazz Fest that same year.

A quarter-century later, both are matured, enhanced, reconfigured and still honoring the synergy that created them. So what better way to celebrate both silver milestones than to have Fourplay perform at Jazz Fest, which is exactly what will happen April 18, 7 p.m. at the Scottish Rite Cathedral. Tickets are $49.

Three of the four current members of Fourplay — Bob James, Nathan East and Harvey Mason — have been together since the beginning, crafting the improvisational contemporary jazz sound that still identifies the quartet today.

“We were in the studio recording “Restoration,” (a cut from Grand Piano Canyon),” said keyboardist Bob James, who is generally credited for bringing the musicians together (guitarist Lee Ritenour completed the group then and worked on the first three albums). “And we knew that something special was going on. Whenever you (collaborate) you hope things will click and sometimes they do and sometimes they don’t, but when the vibe is really happening, you feel it.”
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Go behind the scenes with Fourplay, as they record their new album SILVER…

Celebrating 25 years of musical magic!