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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Be sure to tune in as each member of Fourplay sits down with Coffee Talk Jazz Radio to chat about the new album “Esprit de Four”, touring, and much more…

Harvey Mason = Sept 4

Chuck Loeb = Sept 11

Bob James = Sept 18

Nathan East = Sept 27

Show times: 7 pm – 10:30pm (Pacific)

Fourplay – November 6th, 2011

The #1 Jazzgroup, Fourplay, visited De Boerderij in Zoetermeer (NL) on November 6th, 2011 during their European tour, SmoothJazz Europe had the honour to have an interview with all four members.

We talked about being a team, being four sidemen, being successful, having fun etc. Accompanied by a cellphone’s ringtone and a cooling fan, we had a great time!

Listen to the interview!
Part 1: The Succes
Part 2: The Four Sidemen
Part 3: The Newest Member
Part 4: The Supportive Individual
Part 5: The Music or the Paintings
Part 6: The Label SmoothJazz
Part 7: The Audiences

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