Tickets are now available for the fourth annual Bob James Jazz Festival.

Separate tickets for each concert of the two-night event may be purchased at The Marshall Democrat-News office, Square Corner and Vox Box, or online at bobjamesjazzfest.org/tickets/2014.

Bob James Jazz Festival will be held Friday and Saturday evenings, May 16-17. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. the first night at Eckilson-Mabee Theatre on the Missouri Valley College campus. Saturday, the concert kicks off at 6 p.m. at Bueker Middle School’s Harold L. Lickey Auditorium, and doors will open at 5:30 p.m.

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Hi Nathan, it’s very nice of you to participate in an interview with me. You are part of the Toto family so many fans would love to hear some more about this great bass-player who is playing for them now on the Toto stage. We’ll be talking about your Toto connection soon but first we all like to learn some more about you so an obvious but important question to start an interview with a musicians is, when did you start playing music, who taught you and which musicians inspired you to start playing music? And do you play more instruments besides the Bass-guitar?

As young children several members of our family took private piano lessons including me.  At about age 10 or 11 I can remember watching one of the Charlie Brown television specials listening to the music and being very drawn into the “cool piano” being played by Vince Guaraldi. This inspired me to inquire at my jr. high school about studying piano at school.  Piano wasn’t available but I was offered any of the stringed orchestra instruments to study, violin, viola, cello or contra bass.  I chose cello primarily because the violin and viola seemed too small and the upright bass was a bit too big. I then played cello in the school orchestra for the next three years.

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With the highly anticipated solo album by Nathan East scheduled for release on March 25, 2014, the legendary Bob James reflects on his deeply connected history with the storied bassist.

Fourplay rang in the holidays, with what has developed into a yearly closeout party each December, at the legendary Blue Note Jazz Club in New York City. 

The entire Fourplay family would like to thank everyone who has contributed to an amazing year, and wishes everyone a wonderful 2014!

France’s Culture Jazz has selected ‘Quartette Humaine’ among its Top 5 Records of 2013.

CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE!

Jazz band Fourplay played at Blue Note Jazz Club all of last week, and we had the pleasure of checking them out Sunday night for their last NYC show. The light and soulful Jazz sounds were just the thing we needed, especially on these cold winter nights like we’ve been having. For those of you who have not been, the Blue Note boasts compact seating for an intimate experience, we suggest red wine and their delicious New York Cheesecake for the full effect. 

 All four musicians were extremely talented and complimented each other well blending their styles and showing their versatility playing both up-tempo and low-tempo songs.  Nathan East started the night off with his whispery scatting and holiday themed melodies which progressed seamlessly into hypnotizing Jazz breakdowns. At several times during the set we were completely engulfed in the rambunctious chord progressions and percussions.  Bob James delighted the audience with smooth and calming piano riffs interspersed with high energy sounds from the band. The verve of the whole performance was one that made you think of nothing but its many shining moments. 

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An amazing evening….

Having seen Fourplay in the Netherlands several months ago, a man and a woman decided to adventure across the ocean to experience one of the group’s legendary year ending performances at the Blue Note in New York City.

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Don’t miss Fouplay tonight…

Last show of the year…

Blue Note New York

Best bet

Jazz supergroup Fourplay is in the middle of a weeklong stand at the Blue Note. If you’re not familiar with them, think of them as a jazz Steely Dan, a collection of solid studio players with some rock inclinations.

The group features piano luminary Bob James, fresh off touring with David Sanborn on their “Quartette Humaine” album, bass player Nathan East, whose bassline to Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky” has swept the world, guitarist Chuck Loeb and drummer/producer Harvey Mason.

They’re in their 20^th year together and their Blue Note shows tend to be a homecoming party. 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., $35

~ Source Article

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