X

Fourplay | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 8, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: RCA Victor
• ASIN: B000GG4XCE
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,201 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #50 in Music > Jazz > Smooth Jazz

Editorial Reviews

Japanese only SHM-CD (Super High Material CD - playable on all CD players) pressing. BMG. 2008. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Smoothjazz.com Review, August 16, 2006

By 

Sandy Shore (Monterey, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: X (Audio CD)

Fourplay is the quintessential Smooth Jazz super group. The precision and impeccable execution with which they perform their music is a marvel to behold, both on disc and in person. X is an extraordinary album, in that it encompasses the signature sounds of Bob James, Larry Carlton, Nathan East, and Harvey Mason with a dynamic and freshness that's at once timely and timeless. Since I really don't need to tell you anything more about these guys than you already know, let's run the tracks down. "Turnabout" - Classic Bob James... elegant, tasteful, robust; "Cinnamon Sugar" - Tasty, tasty, tasty, and my bet for the next single... Larry upfront and shining; "Eastern Sky" - Ethereal and powerful... glistening with synth and Nathan's fretless bass work and wordless vocals; "Kid Zero" - Harvey wrote this gem...engaging, signature ensemble Fourplay, with lots of Nathan on bass and scatting; "My Love's Leavin'" - Huge first single, featuring Michael McDonald's awesome new spin on the Steve Winwood classic; "Screenplay" - Very hip, very sophisticated and complex, with great solos from Bob and Larry; "Twilight Touch" - A languid, sensual ballad...gorgeous melody, solos from Larry, Nathan and Bob with a sultry synth backing; "Be My Lover" - Duet vocal refrain from Larry's wife, Michelle Pillar and Nathan highlights another potential hit single; "Sunday Morning" - Larry's guitar work gives this gentle bluesy ballad a captivating, down home feel. So, there you have it...the stunning new Fourplay - X. Smooth Jazz just does not get any better than this. Period! ~SCOTT O'BRIEN

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Almost... but not quite, September 27, 2006

By 

Olukayode Balogun (Leeds, England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: X (Audio CD)

This is a welcome return to form by the smooth jazz quartet comprising Bob James on keys, Harvey Mason on drums, Larry Carlton on guitar and Nathan East on bass. I've been a Fourplay fan from the start but found the last two albums rather iffy to say the least. Heartfelt was saved, for me, by a mere three songs: "Tally Ho!", "Goin' Back Home" and "Making Up". The only song I really liked on Journey was "Rozil".

But this, album number 10, is a complete and solid set. I particularly like the Jaco-esque stuff Nathan East does on "Eastern Sky" and "Twilight Touch", and some of Harvey Mason's drum patterns are particularly exciting. I was sure they were using a drum machine until a couple more listens - and a throrough scanning of the inner-sleeve notes - persuaded me otherwise. I still wonder though.

They are trying new things but equally trying not to stray too far from their comfort zone, so on the one hand, the trademark Fourplay sound is still intact (which I think is a good thing) but then on the other, like an earlier reviewer remarked, it would be so much better to see them be even more brave, daring and adventurous.

Michael McDonald's appearance on "My Love Is Leavin'" is pure class (now that's a REAL singer!) and "Sunday Morning" is pure bliss. So much so that like most good songs I enjoy, I thought it ended way too soon.

Maybe it's unfair to compare Fourplay's work now with their earlier stuff after all, Lee Ritenour is a very different guitarist to Larry Carlton. Besides, should it really be about the guitarist? This is a foursome after all and there's also a keyboardist, a bassist and a drummer. The replacement of one member shouldn't really make that much of a difference.

But it did. I have to tell my own truth: To me, this is album ALMOST as good as their earlier stuff...

But not quite.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars not very brave, September 21, 2006

By 

Dr. Michael S. Weig "weig123" (Germany) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: X (Audio CD)

Bob James - the mastermind of smooth Jazz. "H", "Touchdown", "Grand Piano Cannyon". Eternal pieces of Art. Brave and thoughtful new directions in Jazz. We owe him a lot.
But the recent releases of Fourplay -including "X" - don't meet my expectations at all: predictable, repetitive, overproduced Computer-music.
The typical Fourplay sound squeezed out like a lemon in another CD.
Larrys guitar playing takes a nice direction on "Tournabout" - but then the song falls back again to old routine. "Screenplay" is a good one (one of two songs that were done by Bob). The rest, hmm... some nice solos constricted in predictabiltiy.
Don't get me wrong, I like all of the guys. Every single member of the group has done great things in the past.
So - a bit more breveness, Yes Please!