Larry Carlton Leaves Fourplay, Chuck Loeb Steps In February 18, 2010 – The Smooth Jazz super-group Fourplay is evolving to their 3rd stage. Legendary guitarist Larry Carlton is leaving the band and his replacement will be Chuck Loeb. It’s sad to see Larry go but lets’s remember Chuck Loeb is one of the most underrated guitarists on the planet.
Stage one of the band featured original guitarist Lee Ritenour. Here is the official statement from the band;
Fourplay has had the distinct privilege of enjoying the past 12 years of its 20 year history with legendary guitarist Larry Carlton.
As Larry takes his leave to delve further into his solo career, the band extends their heartfelt gratitude for his contributions and wishes him continued success in all his pursuits.
Larry Carlton will remain an integral part of our musical family & legacy.
Fourplay now welcomes its newest member, multi-faceted virtuoso guitarist, Chuck Loeb.
His musical contributions will undoubtedly enhance the creativity and pursuit of excellence Fourplay has enjoyed in the studio and on the stage.
Fourplay thanks its many loyal fans and promises that this latest incarnation will inspire the band to explore new avenues of creativity while maintaining its core musical values. - by John Beaudin
Review - Fourplay - Energy Heads Up International Oct. 8, 2008 - I was never much good at physics during my school years as I would have rather been jamming to my favorite cassettes or hanging with my friends. As I understand it when any two powerful forces come together there is a type of ‘Energy” that is formed and since 1990 Fourplay has blessed the Jazz world with some incredible music.
Now they are back with their Heads Up International debut CD “Energy.” The group member’s bios read like a who’s who of Jazz, with Bob James, Larry Carlton, Nathan East and Harvey Mason once again giving us a disc filled with some impressive and quality music. More
Fourplay Putting Energy in Your September July 7, 2008 – Get ready for a new CD and DVD from Smooth Jazz super-group Fourplay. Bob James, Larry Carlton, Harvey Mason and Nathan East will release ‘Energy’ on September 23rd on Heads Up. The live DVD. ‘Fourplay in Capetown’ is also set for release before Christmas. Bob James won the ‘George Benson Lifetime Achievement Award’ at the Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards in 2006. ‘Energy’ will feature Bob’s daughter Hillary James on vocals and bassist Esperanza Spalding and of course East will sing on this one. Fourplay are currently on the road with the Legends of Jazz tour sponsored by AARP. – by John Beaudin
Fourplay
Set to Release Next Album This Summer February
8, 2008 - The leading crossover jazz label Heads Up International
has signed an exclusive recording agreement with contemporary
jazz giants Fourplay. The famous band's current lineup features stars such as keyboardist
Bob James, bassist Nathan East, guitarist Larry Carlton and
drummer Harvey Mason. They have pioneered the genre since
17 years, by adding R&B and pop to their jazz background
and have already released 10 albums.
As
the label's president Dave Love puts it: "Fourplay
has been a formidable and high-profile entity in contemporary
jazz for almost two decades, with a track record of musical
innovation that speaks for itself. Each artist in the band's
lineup is an immense talent in his own right, but the synergy
of all four players adds up to an even greater whole. We're
very excited to have them on the Heads Up roster, and we're
very much looking forward to a great record this year"
Their
debut still untitled CD with Heads Up is set to be released
in summer 2008. All Smooth Jazz lovers will be thrilled
by this upcoming event! For
more information: www.fourplayjazz.com - By Akbar Nour
Anita Baker will also
release a holiday album with Blue Note. "Christmas
Fantasy" hits stores October 4th, and will feature
appearances by Joe Sample, Larry
Carlton, Nathan
East,
Ricky Lawson, and all four members of The
Yellowjackets. Barry Eastman, who co-produces here,
also wrote three original tunes for the outing.
Diana Krall will deliver
her first Christmas album in 2005. The outing, "Christmas
Songs" will be released on Verve November 1st.
Smooth
Jazz Nominees at the Grammys December
8, 2004 - Looks like the sun won't set any time soon on Norah Jones. The singer
was nominated for five Grammys yesterday including nods
for Pop Vocal Album and Female Pop Vocal for her second
CD "Feels Like Home." The late Ray
Charles was another multiple nominee with seven (his
album had 10 nominations) and the biggest artist heard on
Smooth Jazz radio was Alicia
Keys with eight nominations. Read more. Fourplay 1 Nomination
- Best Contemporary Jazz Album - "Journey"
Fourplay
Hits The Road August
20, 2004 - With their new album in the stores, the boys
in Fourplay are set to
hit the road tomorrow to make sure you test it out. 'Journey'
was released in June and again features the same line up
since the bands 1998 album '4' - Larry Carlton, Bob James,
Harvey Mason and Nathan East. The tour kicks off in Temecula,
CA tomorrow and concludes twenty five shows later in Palmerton,
PA. 'Journey' is the bands first full digital album and
features a cover of Sting's 'Fields of Gold.'Click
here for concert dates.
Fourplay
Continues 'Journey' On June 22 June
2, 2004 - Fourplay has
finally given in to the digital world. The supergroups new
album 'Journey' to be released June 22 will be their first
full digital album after recording in analog for so many
years. The groups eight album will be released on RCA Bluebird
featuring the same line-up for the band since 1998 keyboardist Bob James, bassist/vocalist
Nathan East, guitarist Larry
Carlton and drummer Harvey Mason. 'Journey' will only
have one cover, Sting's 'Fields of Gold.' Longtime producer
Don Murray was behind the controls again. Fourplay has scheduled
eighteen shows from August to November.
Fourplay
Finishes New Album March
30, 2004 - Smooth Jazz super group Fourplay have finally finished their new album. Harvey Mason, Larry
Carlton, Bob James and Nathan East (pictured Left to right) recorded the
album at Firehouse Studio in L.A. On their official website www.fourplayjazz.com bassist extraordinaire East said, "We had fun in
the studio swinging, playing funk, jazz, hip and pop combining
elements that I think will serve up a record that can
be enjoyed by a wide range of listeners." East who
again appears on the latest Eric
Clapton album, the Bluesy "Me and Mr. Johnson."
says there will be vocals on the new Fourplay CD, "The
band continues to push me to sing more which I had the
opportunity to do on this recording. Fourplay is such
a creative outlet for me and I look forward to presenting
this new record to our listeners!" Fourplay's
Nathan East Helps Eric Clapton Stick to the Blues
February
6, 2004 - The legends have always said that he danced
with the devil but Eric
Clapton has chosen to remember Robert Johnson in another
way - paying tribute through the music. Clapton will salute
his Blues hero via his upcoming album "Me and Mr.
Johnson." due March 23rd. The CD will feature Fourplay'sNathan East on Bass.
East has been playing with Clapton since the mid eighties.
Also on the album are guitarists Andy Fairweather Low
and Doyle Bramhall II, drummer Steve Gadd, keyboardist
Billy Preston and harmonica player Jerry Portnoy. Expect
Johnson Blues standard like "Traveling Riverside
Blues," "Love in Vain" and "Stop Breakin'
Down Blues." Clapton has covered the legendary Blues
guitarist music before on the 1974 album "461 Ocean
Boulevard" and his 1992 "Unplugged." Clapton's
last studio album was 2001's "Reptile," The
guitarist will support the album with a European tour
starting in March.
Review Policy - Smooth Jazz Now.com believes money
does not buy a positive review. The music world is filled
with magazines and websites that will play you, or positively review you if you buy advertising. That's
not what we are about. It's a little thing called credibility.
If you want to advertise with us, we welcome you and will
do our very best to make sure anyone who visits this site
will know your name, but we won't guarantee you a positive
review. If you work with a magazine that gives you these
guarantees remember it's your reputation that's on the
line, they've already sold theirs. - John Beaudin, President,
Smooth Jazz Now.com
Sacramento Loses Their Smooth Jazz KSSJ 94.7 March 5, 2010 – Smooth Jazz has gone dark in Sacramento. Entercom Communications, owners of Smooth Jazz KSSJ 94.7 FM pulled the plug on the station this week. More
Now 3 Chances to Win “Classic Smooth Jazz 6 Packs” February 27, 2010 – Smooth Jazz Now wants to thank you for listening. Starting Monday March 1st listen for your name andyou could win some of the biggest albums in Smooth Jazz history. More
In Conversation with U-NAM on his latest CD ‘Unanimity’ February 23, 2010 - French Smooth Jazz guitar sensation Emmanuel Abitebol, more known as U-NAM, came to fame with his widely acclaimed somophore album ‘Back from the 80’s’ released in 2007. More
Sade Is Queen Again February 23, 2010 – The new Sade album is kicking some serious butt on the charts. After a 10 year break the sultry singer is back on top of the Billboard Album Charts with “Soldier of Love.” It sold over 500 thousand in its first week of release. More
Record Numbers of Votes Registered for the 6th Annual Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards February 22, 2010 – The annual Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards ballot count ending last Friday (Feb. 19) reflects a dramatic increase in voter interest. Awards co-chair, Mary Kirk, of Wave 94.7FM says, “Thank you to the huge number of fans from all over the world who took time to send in their ballots.” More
In Conversation with Paula Atherton February 19 - 2010 - Smooth Jazz female sax players are not numerous, but there is a collection of talented performers such as Candy Dulfer, Jessy J and Paula Atherton among others. Mrs. Atherton does not only perform sax and other horn instruments, she is also a consummate singer. Read the interview
February 18, 2010 – The Smooth Jazz super-group Fourplay is evolving to their 3rd stage. Legendary guitarist 
Oct. 8, 2008 - I was never much good at physics during my school years as I would have rather been jamming to my favorite cassettes or hanging with my friends. As I understand it when any two powerful forces come together there is a type of ‘Energy” that is formed and since 1990 Fourplay has blessed the Jazz world with some incredible music.
July 7, 2008 – Get ready for a new CD and DVD from Smooth Jazz super-group Fourplay. Bob James, Larry Carlton, Harvey Mason and Nathan East will release ‘Energy’ on September 23rd on Heads Up. The live DVD. ‘Fourplay in Capetown’ is also set for release before Christmas. Bob James won the ‘George Benson Lifetime Achievement Award’ at the Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards in 2006. ‘Energy’ will feature Bob’s daughter Hillary James on vocals and bassist Esperanza Spalding and of course East will sing on this one. Fourplay are currently on the road with the Legends of Jazz tour sponsored by AARP. – by 
December
8, 2004 - Looks like the sun won't set any time soon on 
March 5, 2010 – Smooth Jazz has gone dark in Sacramento. Entercom Communications, owners of Smooth Jazz KSSJ 94.7 FM pulled the plug on the station this week. 
February 27, 2010 – Smooth Jazz Now wants to thank you for listening. Starting Monday March 1st listen for your name andyou could win some of the biggest albums in Smooth Jazz history
February 23, 2010 - French Smooth Jazz guitar sensation Emmanuel Abitebol, more known as U-NAM, came to fame with his widely acclaimed somophore album ‘Back from the 80’s’ released in 2007. 
February 23, 2010 – The new Sade album is kicking some serious butt on the charts. After a 10 year break the sultry singer is back on top of the Billboard Album Charts with “Soldier of Love.” It sold over 500 thousand in its first week of release. 
February 22, 2010 – The annual Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards ballot count ending last Friday (Feb. 19) reflects a dramatic increase in voter interest. Awards co-chair, Mary Kirk, of Wave 94.7FM says, “Thank you to the huge number of fans from all over the world who took time to send in their ballots.” 
February 19 - 2010 - Smooth Jazz female sax players are not numerous, but there is a collection of talented performers such as Candy Dulfer, Jessy J and Paula Atherton among others. Mrs. Atherton does not only perform sax and other horn instruments, she is also a consummate singer.