Sunday, February 22, 2009

FOURPLAY: The Definers Of The Smooth

Bon Schmidt: QE & TC-Part of me wants to hear what you are saying and call it TRUE, but if you want to cuddle the grooves performed in the 70s and 80s, and herald the band that finally defined EVERYTHING that Smooth Jazz stands for, you cannot help but bawl the name of FOURPLAY through the lavender-walled night clubs we ALL call home. Bob James, Lee Ritenour, Nathan East and Harvey Mason. Giants. James—master of the light key touch who singed the sound of Smooth Jazz into the hearts and minds of America through the theme song of the situational comedy TAXI—Ritenour—child prodigy and maybe the most tasty session guitarist of the genre—Mason—who earlier laid the definitive rhythm on George Benson’s Breezin,’ which has become thee modern standard (we gotta get some of that in the mix!)--these guys are leaders and legends. Not a week goes by when I don’t take a small dalliance of time for my person, pour some Harvey’s into the goblet and chill back to Bali Run from Fourplay’s debut 1991 Warner Bros Record (but lets face it, alcohol is totally unneeded when confronted with such a exhilarating groove and splendid beat). While nothing can match the production of the classic LP, the following live video shows the Fab Four of the New Jazz coalescing in musical brotherhood with true celebration in their minds. Bravisimo muchacho.

PS-Miss you Lee, L-O-V-E you LARRY.
PPS-Nice try with Spyro, Tweeze...but everyone knows that the track to beat is Catching The Sun.

1 comment:

  1. Wish I was going to see them in Japan!!!! Come to Milwaukee, guys!!!!!

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