Fourplay is a contemporary jazz quartet in the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. The original members of the group were Bob James

Bob James (musician)

Robert McElhiney James is a jazz keyboardist, arranger and producer.-Biography:During the 1970s, Bob James played a major role in establishing the smooth jazz genre. "Angela", the instrumental theme from the sitcom Taxi, is probably Bob James' most well-known work to date...

 (keyboards), Lee Ritenour

Lee Ritenour

Lee Mack Ritenour is an American jazz guitarist who has recorded over 42 albums, appeared on over 3000 sessions, and has charted over 30 instrumental and vocal contemporary jazz hits since 1976. One of his most popular songs was the smash hit, “Is It You” in 1981. Ritenour is considered to be a...

 (guitars), Nathan East

Nathan East

Nathan Harrell East is a jazz, R&B and rock bass player and vocalist. East holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from the University of California, San Diego...

 (bass), and Harvey Mason

Harvey Mason

Harvey William Mason is an American jazz drummer. He has worked with many jazz and fusion artists such as Bob James, The Brecker Brothers, Lee Ritenour, Herbie Hancock's Headhunters and almost all the Mizell Brothers productions with Donald Byrd, Johnny Hammond, Bobbi Humphrey and Gary Bartz...

 (drums). In 1997, Lee Ritenour left the group and Fourplay chose Larry Carlton

Larry Carlton

Larry Carlton is an American jazz, smooth jazz, jazz fusion, pop, and rock guitarist and singer. He has divided his recording time between solo recordings and session appearances with various well-known bands...

 as his replacement. In 2010, Larry Carlton left Fourplay and was replaced by Chuck Loeb

Chuck Loeb

Chuck Loeb is a guitarist who performs numerous styles of music, most notably jazz. Loeb's own solo projects have generally been commercially successful crossover jazz, which has "contemporary" or "smooth" jazz....

.

Grammy-nominated supergroup Fourplay has enjoyed consistent artistic and commercial success by grafting elements of R&B and pop to their unwavering jazz foundations. In a span of twenty years and eleven albums, the quartet has continued to explore the limitless dimensions and permutations of jazz while at the same time appealing to a broad mainstream audience.

Their first record, 1991's Fourplay, sold over a million copies and remained at the number one position on Billboard

Billboard (magazine)

Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...

s contemporary jazz chart for 33 weeks. Their next LP, 1993's Between the Sheets, reached number one, went gold, and received a Grammy nomination. In 1994, their third gold album, Elixir, also reached the number one position and remained on the chart for more than 90 weeks.

Fourplay received a Congressional Record from the United States Congress, House of Representatives recognizing them as distinguished members of the music industry. The award was presented by A. Robert Brown, Sr., Advisor to Congressman Ed Towns of New York at a Fourplay performance in Philadelphia. Fourplay is the only musical group in history to be recognized by the U.S. Congress.

Live

Fourplay launch their new album "Let's touch the Sky" at the newly re-opened Clapham Grand Theatre in London on Thursday 10th November 2011.

Albums

Title	Released	Label
Fourplay	1991	Warner Bros.
Between the Sheets	1993	Warner Bros.
Elixir Elixir (album) Elixir is the third studio album by Fourplay, released in 1994. Among the guest vocalists on this album are Phil Collins, Patti Austin and Peabo Bryson.- Track listing :- Personnel :* Lee Ritenour: guitars* Nathan East: bass* Bob James: keyboards...	1994	Warner Bros.
The Best of Fourplay The Best of Fourplay - Personnel :* Lee Ritenour - guitars* Harvey Mason - drums* Nathan East - bass* Bob James - keyboards...	1997	Warner Bros.
4 4 (Fourplay album) 4 is the fourth studio album by Fourplay, released in 1998. This is their first album with guitarist Larry Carlton.- Track listing :- Personnel :* Larry Carlton – guitars* Nathan East – bass* Bob James – keyboards...	1998	Warner Bros.
Snowbound Snowbound (Fourplay album) Snowbound is the fifth studio album by Fourplay, released in 1999. It is a recording of Christmas songs.- Track listing :- Personnel :* Bob James - keyboards* Nathan East - bass* Harvey Mason - drums* Larry Carlton - guitars...	1999	Warner Bros.
Yes, Please! Yes, Please! Yes, Please! is the seventh album of the jazz group Fourplay which was released by Warner Bros. Records in 2000.-Track listing:-Musicians:*Nathan East - Bass, Vocals, Background Vocals, Chant, Fretless Bass, Performer, 6-String Bass...	2000	Warner Bros.
Heartfelt	2002	Bluebird
Journey Journey (Fourplay album) - Personnel :* Bob James - keyboards* Harvey Mason - drums* Larry Carlton - guitars* Nathan East - bass...	2004	Bluebird
X	2006	Bluebird
Energy	2008	Heads Up
Let's Touch the Sky Let's Touch the Sky - Personnel :* Bob James - keyboards* Harvey Mason - drums* Nathan East - bass* Chuck Loeb - guitar- Crew :* Ken Freeman - engineer, mixing* Andrew Hey - engineer* Sandrine Lee - photography* Mark Wexler - executive producer...	2010	Heads Up

DVD

• Fourplay - An Evening of Fourplay: Volumes I and II, 120 min, 2005
• Fourplay - 2006 - Live at San Javier Jazz Festival

Live

Genre: Smooth Jazz
Original Release: 2006 Unnown
Total Playtime: 01:28:22

01. [08:05] Galaxia
02. [10:18] Chant
03. [11:01] 101 Eastbound
04. [02:26] Blues 4orce
05. [06:25] Turnabout
06. [10:57] Fields of Gold
07. [04:06] Journey
08. [08:58] Tally Ho!
09. [06:40] Amazing Grace
10. [06:40] Bali Rain
11. [03:37] Smiles
12. [09:09] Westchester Lady

Cast:

• Bob James: Piano, Keyboard
• Nathan East: Bass
• Larry Carlton: Guitar
• Harvey Mason: Drums

• Fourplay in Cape Town, 82 min, 2009

Live

Genre: Smooth Jazz
Original DVD Release: 2009 Image Entertainment [ID4929YTDVD]
DVD5 AudioTracks Rip: 2009 GVV-Studio
Total Playtime: 01:21:07

01. [08:27] Galaxia
02. [11:16] Chant
03. [13:04] Blues 4Orce
04. [10:32] 101 Eastbound
05. [03:55] Journey
06. [11:49] Tally Ho!
07. [07:04] Amazing Grace
08. [05:32] Max-o-Man
09. [06:33] Bali Run
10. [01:55] Fourplay in Capetown

Cast:
- Bob James: keyboards
- Nathan East: bass, vocals
- Larry Carlton: guitar
- Harvey Mason: drums