4

by Fourplay

Overview

Album number four for this popular electric jazz quartet heralded a significant change in personnel; Lee Ritenour exited to run his new record label and Larry Carlton stepped in to fill the guitar slot. On paper, this switch would seem to signal a tougher, funkier edge for this band -- and Carlton's playing on the album is somewhat more rhythmic and upfront than that of his predecessor. But in practice, little has changed for Fourplay; their forte remains smooth-running, polished mood jazz with a gentle rock beat, soft-textured vocals, and good-natured interplay. Indeed, Carlton emphasizes the idea of continuity by adopting Ritenour's velvety octaves and generally taking a restrained approach. Such a concept, though, generally stands or falls on the quality of the material -- and the compositions of Bob James, Nathan East, Harvey Mason, and Carlton are mostly wanting in memorability, although the CD picks up speed near the end with James' funky "Vest Pocket" and Carlton's catchy, looping "Swamp Jazz." Also, sometime guest vocalist El DeBarge returns with a pro forma falsetto performance of another Marvin Gaye song, "Sexual Healing," which neither transforms the tune nor erases memories of its composer. Though 4 was recorded well before Fourplay's first live performances with Carlton in June 1998, their early gigs mostly confirmed the impression left by this low-key album; no one wants to rock this lucrative boat. ~ Richard S. Ginell

Product Details

Release Date:	10/26/2018
Label:	Evolution Ltd
UPC:	4897012133057
Rank:	74309

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Fourplay   Primary Artist
Kevyn Lettau   Guest Artist,Vocals
James DeBarge   Guest Artist,Vocals
Babyface   Guest Artist,Vocals
Shanice   Guest Artist,Vocals
El DeBarge   Guest Artist,Vocals
Michele Pillar   Vocals
Harvey Mason, Sr.   Drums
Heather Mason   Vocals
Bob James   Keyboards
Larry Carlton   Guitar
Nathan East   Bass,Vocals

Technical Credits

Nathan East   Composer
Odell Brown   Composer
Michael "Elvis" Baskette   Assistant Engineer
David McEowen   Assistant Mastering Engineer
Abraham Laboriel, Sr.   Composer
Brad Gilderman   Mixing,Engineer
Brian Virtue   Assistant Engineer
Harvey Mason, Sr.   Composer,Engineer,Producer
Fourplay   Producer
Don Murray   Mixing,Engineer,Mastering
Doug Boehm   Assistant Engineer
David Ritz   Composer
Linda Cobb   Art Direction
Debra Johnson   Production Coordination
Steve Mixdorf   Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Zoren Gold   Design,Photography
Josh Henson   Engineer
Paul Boutin   Engineer
Bob James   Composer,Executive Producer
Ken Freeman   Engineer
Larry Carlton   Composer
Chris Walker   Composer
S. "Husky" Hoeskulds   Assistant Engineer
Robert Vosgien   Digital Editing
Marvin Gaye   Composer