Record Reflections by A. Scott Galloway

25 years ago, a super group of contemporary jazz giants formed a quartet dubbed Fourplay and began the business of making evocative groove-scapes spiced with a tasty dollop of sensuality via soul-pop vocal stars and sexy covers of touchstones by boudoir masters Marvin Gaye and The Isley Brothers. Since that time, they’ve pretty much ditched the vocals and gone deeper into what I call movies for the ears. Fourplay’s new 10-song CD, Silver (Concord Records) – recorded at Sunset Sound Studio in Hollywood where they cut their self titled debut in 1990 for Warner Bros. – marks the band’s 25^th anniversary and is, fittingly, one of its finest most consistent CDs in some time.

Aside from said aural movie wonders, I find the highlights of this album (with all songs referencing silver in some constitution) are the slinky “Horace” (pianist Bob James’ homage to jazz legend Horace Silver, the great pianist and prolific “soul-jazz” composer who passed away in June 2014), the acoustic brushed elegance of drummer Harvey Mason’s “A Silver Lining,” guitarist Chuck Loeb’s “Precious Metal” – the most sensual and romantic of the songs featuring special guest Kirk Whalum – and bassist Nathan East’s “Aniversario,” a tasty slice of funk. Extra special are the returns of Fourplay’s previous guitarists: original member Lee Ritenour (who contributes the rich harmonically layered CD-closer “Windmill,” co-composed with old west coast studio friend “The Mase”) and Rit’s replacement Larry Carlton who joyfully teams with Loeb on the bluesy groove “Silverado” which feels like an Eddie Harris line buffed to signature Fourplay polish.

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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.

Silver is available for pre-order at Amazon.com

Article by VALERY AMADOR

On the 25th anniversary of the group’s formation, Fourplay offers their fans 10 great songs from a new album simply titled Silver. This album reveals the group’s ability to remain brilliantly creative after so many years together as they continue to bond and produce their truly distinct and recognizable sound.

The members of Fourplay – bassist Nathan East, keyboardist Bob James, guitarist Chuck Loeb, and drummer Harvey Mason – wrote all of the compositions including a couple of collaborations co-written with two former members of the Fourplay – guitarists Lee Ritenour and Larry Carlton. Several special guests add their musical visions to Silver including guitarist Larry Carlton and organist Mitch Forman on “Silverado,” guitarist Lee Ritenour on “Windmill,” tenor saxophonist Kirk Whalum on “Precious Metal,” vocalist Chris Wells on “Silver Streak,” keyboardist John Beasley on “Windmill,” and Synth master Tom Keane on “Aniversario.”

The titles of the compositions contain variations on the use of the word silver and you might say the ensemble is on a true “Silver Streak” considering that for the past 25 years their recordings have ranked from “Sterling” to platinum! The set opens with “Quicksilver” which was…CONTINUE READING THE FULL ARTICLE HERE!

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.

~ Source Article

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.

– Source Article