(Smooth Jazz) Fourplay :: Studio Discography (1991-2015) 14CD [MP3.320kbps.CBR.COVERS.INFO]

Cast
- Bob James: Yamaha C7 Midi Grand Piano, Synthesizers, Keyboards and Programming
- Lee Ritenour: Gibson 335, Gibson L-5, Gibson Midi-Max Guitar Synthesizer, Gibson Chet Atkins Classical/Electric Guitar, Roger Sawdoski Classical/Electric Guitar
- Nathan East: Yamaha 5-String Bass, TRB 6-String Bass
- Harvey Mason: Gretsch Drums, Gibraltar Racks, Brady Snare Drums, Vic Firth Drum Sticks
Recorded @ Ocean Way Recorders, Sunset Sound, Starlight Studios, Pyramid Studios
Produced by Foreplay
Producer: Don Murray, Jeff Gillette, Khaliq Glover, Femi Jiya
Reviews
Fourplay is the debut album by jazz group Fourplay made on September 17, 1991. The cover showed four pictures of the original group on a variety of musical instruments (such as a guitar, piano keys and a drum).
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This CD was the debut of Fourplay, a popular quartet comprised by keyboardist Bob James, guitarist Lee Ritenour, bassist Nathan East and drummer Harvey Mason. The music sounds less like a Bob James smallgroup as a major soloist. The style is between jazz, R&B, and pop with an emphasis on lightweight originals, soulful and moderately funky rhythms, and predictable radiofriendly music.

Cast
- Bob James: piano, keybord
- Nathan East: bass
- Lee Ritenour: guitar
- Harvey Mason: drums
Record and Mastering by Don Murray
Обзор
'Between the Sheets' - второй альбом американского квартета Fourplay, выпущеный в 1993 г. на Warner Bros. Records. На этом диске Fourplay представлены в оригинальном составе, с Lee Ritenour на гитаре. В отличие от него, имена остальных участников не были на слуху, но тем не менее с их игрой знакомы миллионы. Так, Harvey Mason, кроме всего прочего можно услышать на "Captain Fingers" Lee Ritenour'а и на "The Swing Of Delight" Santan'ы. С Georg'ем Benson'ом он записал Breezin', ставший трижды-платиновым, и два последующих альбома: "In Flight" и "Weekend in L.A." Nathan East играл с Barry White'ом, Lionel'ом Richie, Clapton'ом, записывался с Whitney Houston, Madonn'ой.
На мой взгляд, именно эти два музыканта делают Fourplay узнаваемым. Чётко выстроенный ритм, прецизионная и лаконичная игра на ударных и виртуозное, но и одновременно строгое исполнение партии баса прослеживаются во всех композициях коллектива. Слушая Fourplay, невозможно не обратить внимание на звучание их записей. Здесь и шелковисто-мягкие верха, и взрывные барабаны, и клокочащий бас. Вместе с тем всё сбалансировано и уравновешено. Fourplay "не сдавались" до последнего, записываясь на аналоговой аппаратуре. Представленный диск - AAD.

Review
The third outing from Fourplay (Lee Ritenour, Nathan East, Bob James and Harvey Mason clubbing together) is another lightly sauteed jazz offering, low-key and relaxed. Vocals this time are contributed by Phil Collins, East, Patti Austin and Peabo Bryson (the latter two on an undistinguished version of "The Closer I Get to You"), but the main attraction for most is likely to be Ritenour's flexible guitar work.

Recorded
@ Larrabee Sound Studios, O'Henry Sound Studios, The Enterprise And Masong Studios, Starlight Studios & Sunset Sound Studios
Cast
- Phil Collins
- El DeBarge
- Chaka Khan
- Dan Shea
- David Thomas
New tracks:
- 03 - Higher Ground
- 04 - 4 Play and Pleasure
- 11 - Any Time of Day
- 12 - Why Can't it Wait Till Morning [remix]

Cast:
- Bob James: Piano, Keybord
- Nathan East: Bass
- Larry Carlton: Guitar
- Harvey Mason: Drums

Review
Review by Robert L. Doerschuk
Breaking from their routine, Fourplay created most of the material on Heartfelt in the studio, through a process of free jamming followed by assembly of the best parts through Pro Tools editing. The differences in the results are subtle and, on balance, not necessarily positive. Though all four players are true virtuosos, the band's mellow feel encourages each to avoid excess, or its positive alter ego, adventurism, in their solos, while the improvisational core of the project tends to weaken the compositional foundations. The strongest cuts are those written by one member or two in combination; on these, from the Pat Metheny-inflected title track to Nathan East's velvety vocal showcase "Let's Make Love," the quartet's taste and fundamentally conservative aesthetic shine most brightly.

Номинант на Лучший инструментальный поп альбом премии «Грэмми»: 49-я ежегодная церемония вручения наград «Грэмми» состоялась 11 февраля 2007 года в Staples Center (Лос-Анджелес, Калифорния). Награды вручались за записи, сделанные за музыкальный год с 15 сентября 2005 по 14 сентября 2006.

Cast:
- Nathan East: vocals, bass guitar
- Larry Carlton: guitars
- Harvey Mason: drums
- Bob James: keyboards
Producer: Fourplay
Номинант в категории 'Лучшее инструментальное поп исполнение' премии «Грэмми» за композицию 'Fortune Teller': 51-я ежегодная церемония вручения наград «Грэмми» состоялась 8 февраля 2009 года в 6-й раз подряд в Staples Center (Лос-Анджелес, Калифорния). Награды вручались за записи, сделанные за музыкальный год с 1 октября 2007 по 30 сентября 2008.
Review
Energy is the 11th studio album by jazz group Fourplay, released on September 23, 2008. The cover show the four members: keyboardist Bob James, guitarist Larry Carlton, bassist Nathan East and drummer Harvey Mason. Energy grafts a variety of sounds – R&B, pop, African and more – to Fourplay’s unwavering jazz foundations. In addition to vocals by East – a charter member since the band’s inception in 1990 – the album also features a vocal track by Esperanza Spalding, the upright bassist, composer and vocalist who has recently taken the jazz world by storm with her self-titled recording debut earlier this year on Heads Up. Fourplay's first single from Energy "Fortune Teller" was nominated for a Grammy in the category Best Pop Instrumental Performance at the 51st Grammy Awards 2009.

Cast:
- Bob James (keyboards and programing)
- Nathan East, Chuck Loeb (guitar)
- Harvey Mason (drums and percussion)
- Guest vocalists: Anita Baker, Ruben Studdard
Producer: Fourplay