Customer Reviews

An Evening of Fourplay Vols. 1 and 2

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

If you love smooth jazz, with an emphasis on smooth, then you must be aware of the band called FOURPLAY. This live recording is proof-positive of the genius of each member of this extraordinary band. Harvey Mason makes playing the drums look effortless and reminds everyone of us when we first discovered how much fun it seemed being a drummer must be. Bob James is the reference standard for today's would-be jazz pianist, and this DVD shows off his talent very well. Nathan East and Lee Ritenour are dazzling in their performances as are the guests, Phillip Bailey, Phil Perry, and none other than CHAKA KAHN! This DVD is a "Must-Have" for anyone who enjoys seeing and hearing great, smooth, contemporary jazz.

This is a great DVD for obvious reasons.You get a talented group like Fourplay to perform many of their hits in front of a small crowd, and the sound is outstanding.The visuals are perfect, and you get to see each member up close! The guest stars are a nice bonus too! Philip Bailey (of Earth Wind & Fire), Phil Perry (needs to learn some restraint! ), and the 'fabulous' Chaka Khan, who shows why she is popular among Jazz musicians. If you love contemporary jazz, invest in this DVD!

Lee Ritenour is just amazing as is Bob James (Key) Nathan East (b) and Harvey Mason (D). This is one supergroup that really gels live..and is a generous DVD as well(over 100 min.)...but GEEZ when are the idiots that design the covers for these things going to get it right? Nathan East and Lee Ritenour are NOT lefthanded players like they are pictured on the cover...this kind of sloppy artwork always detracts from products...can someone with a brain check these things before they go to press?

I agree with Daniel A. Hess. I am a long time Lee Ritenour fan, and have everything he has released on vinyl, CD, VHS and DVD. The VHS/DVD's vary in quality and performance. Some have good video and fair audio. Some have good audio and fair video. The perfomance,camera work and audio are excellent here, and they look like they're really having fun performing together. Even though I am also a Larry Carlton fan, I wish Lee had stayed with Fourplay.
The only drawback is this should have a Dolby 5.1 or DTS soundtrack.

Simply said, this DVD is a must-have for those who love smooth jazz, the music of Fourplay, especially Lee Ritenour. Lee pretty much 'steal' the show. The synergy that made Fourplay special in the early 90's is clearly demonstrated, and it's a great pity that Lee is no longer with them. Nothing against Larry Carlton who took over after Lee left, but there no longer the powerful synergy and creativity in Fourplay later releases. The audio volume is a bit low, but quality is great. I especially enjoy the beautiful editing, very watchable, unlike the fast cartoon-like editing common in pop/rock that degrade the music and spin the head.

the music is great!.... stereo does not do it justice....wish it was in dolby digital format.

The sound was excellent (stereo -- not Dolby 5.1), and the lighting/editing/cinematography was good. But the musicianship was OUTSTANDING. Bob James was fantastic, Lee Ritenour was phenominal, Harvey Mason was dynamic, and Nathan East was incredible!

Very good concert, very good performances, very good music, very good sound, resuming: 5 stars. But not everything's perfect; in "volume one" you hear a thing while you watch another. The audio-video sync has not been what I was expecting of a DVD (as it has happened in many other occassions). When I buy a concert of such talented musicians, I want to see how're they playing in real time, not that stupid delay. Volume 2 is OK.

This DVD is what having a DVD player is all about. I find it amazing that there are companies pushing to make a 1942 black and white, monophonic Jimmy Stewart movie, yet us jazz and music lovers have a handful of options to select from to keep our palette full. Fourplay has outdone many of the others, because they saw the value in just PLAYING music! We get the benefits, because this is one can can sit back and enjoy, without the remote "skip" control at the ready. Solid performances by one the ever changing FAB FOUR, with great guest performances by the likes of Phil Bailey of EW&F, and Chaka Kahn. So get between the sheets and enjoy this digital masterpiece, it is worth every dime and then some!

This DVD surpassed my expectations on the merits of the performance alone. Sure, the video/lighting could use some work, the audio level is overall a bit low, the packaging a bit cheap, but WHO CARES???? Crank this DVD up on a good stereo, sit back and experience 4 men connecting on a musical and spiritual level, not only with each other, but with the audience as well. Nathan East's bass solo on 101 Eastbound is a lesson in building tension and anticipation in music. The release brought me to tears. Get this DVD and you'll see why improvisation is the highest form of musical creativity.