FOURPLAY
''ENERGY''
SEPTEMBER 23 2008
50:12
1 /Fortune Teller
Jeff Babko / Nathan East / Bob James/5:53
2 /The Whistler
Harvey Mason, Sr./5:26
3 /Ultralight/4:17
4 /Cape Town
Marcel East / Nathan East/4:58
5 /The Yes Club
Bob James/5:09
6 /Prelude for Lovers
Kevin DiSimone/feat: Esperanza Spalding/3:09
7 /Look Both Ways
Bob James/6:38
8 /Argentina
Harvey Mason, Sr./5:22
9 /Comfort Zone/4:54
10 /Sebastian
Bob James/4:42
Larry Carlton/Guitars
Marcel East/Arranger,Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Producer, Programming
Nathan East/Bass, Vocals
Bob James/Keyboards
Harvey Mason, Sr./Drums
Esperanza Spalding
REVIEW
by Thom Jurek
As a unit, contemporary jazz supergroup Fourplay has been together since 1991 with only one personnel change. That's saying a lot considering that as individuals, these four men -- pianist Bob James, drummer Harvey Mason, bassist Nathan East, and guitarist Larry Carlton -- are all extremely busy as studio musicians and Fourplay is a side project for all of them. They've managed to record on an average of once every two years and even do some touring, without every sacrificing their chosen m.o. for working together or the quality of the music they produce. In all, they've been remarkably consistent. 2008's Energy is the ninth chapter in the Fourplay legacy, and it's almost exactly what you'd expect if you're a fan: high quality, great sounding, expertly performed smooth, groovy jazz played by masters of the genre. Seven instrumentals and three vocal cuts add a spoonful of pop to these proceedings. The obvious single here is "Prelude for Lovers" with guest vocalist Esperanza Spalding, which melds neo-soul melody and Caribbean rhythms; it's quietly sultry and its refrain contains a serious hook. East appears on two others, which are not so memorable but certainly work in the context of the easy grooves being laid down; in fact, his voice is almost an additional instrument. Other highlights on the set include the opener "Fortune Teller," written by James, Carlton's funky "Ultralight," and "Comfort Zone," with its backbone-slipping groove.
BIOGRAPHY
by Scott Yanow
This all-star group -- comprised of keyboardist Bob James, guitarist Lee Ritenour, bassist Nathan East, and drummer Harvey Mason -- was formed in 1991 after the quartet came together on part of James' Grand Piano Canyon album. They have since recorded a number of CDs for Warner Bros. that have all been big sellers, not surprising considering the popularity of James and Ritenour. Larry Carlton took over the guitarist's spot in the late '90s, first appearing in Fourplay on the band's successful 1998 album, 4. The seasonal Snowbound was released in 1999. It featured traditional and modern holiday songs, all played in the quartet's increasingly slick style. The band ended its tenure with Warner Bros. with 2000's soft babymaker album Yes, Please.
Fourplay attempted to break new ground with with 2002's Heartfelt, which was their debut album for RCA's Bluebird imprint. The album consisted of live studio jamming that was heavily edited and assembled using Pro Tools. In 2004 they issued Journey, more a return to their earlier, smoother form than a building-block progression from Heartfelt. In 2006, Fourplay released X, a final album for RCA/Bluebird. The set featured a guest vocal from Michael McDonald on a reading of Steve Winwood's "My Love's Leavin'."
The group signed with Heads Up International for 2008's Energy, which was notable for a pair of excellent Carlton compositions and a vocal appearance by Esperanza Spalding on "Prelude for Lovers." Fourplay -- now featuring new guitarist Chuck Loeb replacing Carlton -- assembled again for the label on 2010's Let's Touch the Sky, which included guest appearances by Ruben Studdard and Anita Baker. In 2012, Fourplay released Esprit de Four, with guest appearances by Kenny Mason & the Voices of Praise Choir and Japanese singer Seiko Matsuda.
DoWnLoAd
''ENERGY''
SEPTEMBER 23 2008
50:12
1 /Fortune Teller
Jeff Babko / Nathan East / Bob James/5:53
2 /The Whistler
Harvey Mason, Sr./5:26
3 /Ultralight/4:17
4 /Cape Town
Marcel East / Nathan East/4:58
5 /The Yes Club
Bob James/5:09
6 /Prelude for Lovers
Kevin DiSimone/feat: Esperanza Spalding/3:09
7 /Look Both Ways
Bob James/6:38
8 /Argentina
Harvey Mason, Sr./5:22
9 /Comfort Zone/4:54
10 /Sebastian
Bob James/4:42
Larry Carlton/Guitars
Marcel East/Arranger,Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Producer, Programming
Nathan East/Bass, Vocals
Bob James/Keyboards
Harvey Mason, Sr./Drums
Esperanza Spalding
REVIEW
by Thom Jurek
As a unit, contemporary jazz supergroup Fourplay has been together since 1991 with only one personnel change. That's saying a lot considering that as individuals, these four men -- pianist Bob James, drummer Harvey Mason, bassist Nathan East, and guitarist Larry Carlton -- are all extremely busy as studio musicians and Fourplay is a side project for all of them. They've managed to record on an average of once every two years and even do some touring, without every sacrificing their chosen m.o. for working together or the quality of the music they produce. In all, they've been remarkably consistent. 2008's Energy is the ninth chapter in the Fourplay legacy, and it's almost exactly what you'd expect if you're a fan: high quality, great sounding, expertly performed smooth, groovy jazz played by masters of the genre. Seven instrumentals and three vocal cuts add a spoonful of pop to these proceedings. The obvious single here is "Prelude for Lovers" with guest vocalist Esperanza Spalding, which melds neo-soul melody and Caribbean rhythms; it's quietly sultry and its refrain contains a serious hook. East appears on two others, which are not so memorable but certainly work in the context of the easy grooves being laid down; in fact, his voice is almost an additional instrument. Other highlights on the set include the opener "Fortune Teller," written by James, Carlton's funky "Ultralight," and "Comfort Zone," with its backbone-slipping groove.
BIOGRAPHY
by Scott Yanow
This all-star group -- comprised of keyboardist Bob James, guitarist Lee Ritenour, bassist Nathan East, and drummer Harvey Mason -- was formed in 1991 after the quartet came together on part of James' Grand Piano Canyon album. They have since recorded a number of CDs for Warner Bros. that have all been big sellers, not surprising considering the popularity of James and Ritenour. Larry Carlton took over the guitarist's spot in the late '90s, first appearing in Fourplay on the band's successful 1998 album, 4. The seasonal Snowbound was released in 1999. It featured traditional and modern holiday songs, all played in the quartet's increasingly slick style. The band ended its tenure with Warner Bros. with 2000's soft babymaker album Yes, Please.
Fourplay attempted to break new ground with with 2002's Heartfelt, which was their debut album for RCA's Bluebird imprint. The album consisted of live studio jamming that was heavily edited and assembled using Pro Tools. In 2004 they issued Journey, more a return to their earlier, smoother form than a building-block progression from Heartfelt. In 2006, Fourplay released X, a final album for RCA/Bluebird. The set featured a guest vocal from Michael McDonald on a reading of Steve Winwood's "My Love's Leavin'."
The group signed with Heads Up International for 2008's Energy, which was notable for a pair of excellent Carlton compositions and a vocal appearance by Esperanza Spalding on "Prelude for Lovers." Fourplay -- now featuring new guitarist Chuck Loeb replacing Carlton -- assembled again for the label on 2010's Let's Touch the Sky, which included guest appearances by Ruben Studdard and Anita Baker. In 2012, Fourplay released Esprit de Four, with guest appearances by Kenny Mason & the Voices of Praise Choir and Japanese singer Seiko Matsuda.
DoWnLoAd
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