Fourplay

小簡介
Fourplay是由四位大師級(jí)的當(dāng)代爵士樂手所組成的樂團(tuán)，擔(dān)任鍵盤樂手的Bob James擁有深厚的古典樂底子，因此出自他指下的每一個(gè)音符，都經(jīng)過精雕細(xì)琢的仔細(xì)忖度。而有「金手指」之稱的Lee Ritenour，更被許多的Fusion吉他樂手視做精神宗師。Nathan East的貝斯聲線鋪陳出舒軟暢快的進(jìn)行動(dòng)向，不似一般搖滾樂團(tuán)的張牙舞爪，確仍維系著樂曲脈動(dòng)的生命力。擔(dān)任鼓手的Harvey Mason，則以充滿開創(chuàng)性的精神為樂團(tuán)所創(chuàng)造的音樂搭建出多樣骨架。四位當(dāng)今情調(diào)爵士樂壇的巨星所組成的樂團(tuán)，當(dāng)然是空前的夢(mèng)幻組合。
This all-star group — comprised of keyboardist Bob James, guitarist Lee Ritenour, bassist Nathan East, and drummer Harvey Mason — was formed in 1991 after the quartet came together on part of James' Grand Piano Canyon album. They have since recorded a number of CDs for Warner Bros. that have all been big sellers, not surprising considering the popularity of James and Ritenour. Larry Carlton took over the guitarist's spot in the late '90s, first appearing in Fourplay on the band's successful 1998 album, 4. The group's music borders on jazz with some strong improvisations mixed in with large doses of pop and R&B.
Fourplay爵士四人行
1990年，名爵士鍵盤手 BOB JAMES 正錄制他個(gè)人專輯 《GRAND PIANO CANYON》 當(dāng)時(shí)找來了圈中好友一起合作為此專輯進(jìn)行制作。過后 JAMES 便蒙起了念頭想組成 一支爵士組合，于是便與這些好友們成立了 FOURPLAY，除了 JAMES 之外，其他成員為貝司手 NATHAN EAST、吉它手 LEE RITENOUR 及鼓手 HARVEY MANSON。對(duì)于爵士喜好者來說，這些人的名字絕對(duì)不陌生，個(gè)個(gè)來頭不?。?
1991 年，他們的第一張同名專輯 《FOURPLAY》 正式與大家見面。此專輯一推出便受各界矚目，更在全球句權(quán)威性的 BILLBOARD 爵士音樂專輯排行榜中一飛沖天登上冠軍寶座。雖然如此，但卻也曾引來了一些傳統(tǒng)音樂人的負(fù)面批評(píng)，指他們的音樂曲風(fēng)太過前衛(wèi)而不該被歸類于爵士音樂。但從專輯銷售量證明了他們的音樂受到了大家的熱烈歡迎，為爵士音樂寫下了新的一頁。
1993 年第二張專輯 《BETWEEN THE SHEETS》里的同名主打歌‘BETWEEN THE SHEETS’找來了爵士歌后 CHAKA KHAN 與 NATHAN EAST 合唱。其中EAST 在歌里以磁性的假音呈現(xiàn)，若沒特別注意的話肯定認(rèn)不清誰的聲音！如今‘BETWEEN THE SHEETS’已成了 SMOOTH JAZZ 的經(jīng)典之一。
隨后的第三張專輯 《ELIXIR》 把這支樂團(tuán)帶上高峰，我也是因?yàn)檫@張專輯開始注意他們的音樂。里面的歌曲如 ‘ CLOSER I GET TO YOU ’ 、 ‘ DREAM COME TRUE ’ 、 ‘ WHY CAN’T WE WAIT TILL MORNING ’ 等歌曲首首皆非常動(dòng)聽。
FOURPLAY 的特色末過于他們?cè)诿渴赘枨锒几髯园缪萘俗约鹤钅檬值慕巧?，誰也占不了各自的光彩。JAMES 浪漫的彈奏、EAST彈而優(yōu)則唱的專業(yè)、CARLTON 那扣人心弦的獨(dú)特、以及 MANSON 質(zhì)撲自如卻不失水準(zhǔn)的瀟灑，全都寫在他們的專輯上。四位都很有次序地把各自風(fēng)格在每首歌曲里盡情發(fā)揮，呈現(xiàn)出層次感的精彩。
Fourplay的四位樂手都是大師級(jí)的當(dāng)代爵士樂手，由四位當(dāng)今情調(diào)爵士樂壇的巨星所組成的樂團(tuán)，當(dāng)然是空前的夢(mèng)幻組合。
吉他手：Lee Rit
可以說是一代吉他宗師，甚至是Smooth Jazz吉他手，從blues到j(luò)azz，對(duì)即興爵士演奏，不沉迷商業(yè)化的演奏，又低調(diào)，主流。無一不表現(xiàn)出他的才華與大師氣質(zhì)
鍵盤手：Bob James
多年的吉他演奏生涯使得他擁有堅(jiān)固的古典吉他功底，出自他手下的音符都是經(jīng)過精雕細(xì)琢的仔細(xì)忖度，絕對(duì)是歷史上優(yōu)秀的作曲家。Jazz，F(xiàn)unk的先驅(qū)，他早期曾為SARAH VEUGHAN 擔(dān)任KEYBOARD伴奏，工作之余積極參與錄音的工作，并和當(dāng)時(shí)頗負(fù)盛名的QUINCY JONES、DIONNE WARWICK、ROBERT FLACK 等共事，1973年他加入了一間叫CTI 的音樂工作室，并為ERIC GALE、GROVER WASHIN GTON等JAZZ樂的好手監(jiān)制唱片發(fā)行
貝斯手：Nathan East
中學(xué)時(shí)開始學(xué)習(xí)小提琴，14 歲才開始學(xué)習(xí) bass，除了在當(dāng)?shù)氐慕虝?huì)表演外，他也加入學(xué)校里的軍樂隊(duì)，在當(dāng)時(shí)影響他的人有 Ron Carter 及 Ray Brown 等，貝斯溫柔中帶著跳躍，又不張牙舞爪，平淡中帶著快樂，迸發(fā)出無比的激情，由于他在音樂上的杰出表現(xiàn)，YAMAHA 因此推出以他命名的紀(jì)念琴。
鼓手：Harvey Mason
從小耳濡目染眾多大師的演奏，又受到眾多指點(diǎn)。樂隊(duì)的靈魂人物，構(gòu)架了一首首名曲
以下是專輯介紹：
1991：Fourplay
Warner Bros.
1993：Between the Sheets
Warner Bros.
1994：Elixir
Warner Bros.
1998：4
Warner Bros.
1999：Snowbound
Warner Bros.
2000：Yes, Please
Warner Bros.
2002：Heartfelt
Bluebird
2004：Journey
Bluebird
2006：X
RCA
Fourplay is a contemporary jazz quartet in the United States. The original members of the group were Bob James (keyboards), Lee Ritenour (guitars), Nathan East (bass), and Harvey Mason (drums). In 1997, Lee Ritenour left the group and Fourplay chose Larry Carlton as his replacement. In 2010, Larry Carlton left Fourplay and was replaced by Chuck Loeb.
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 eighteen 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's contemporary jazz charts for 33 weeks. Their next LP, 1993's Between the Sheets, reached number one, went gold, and received a Grammy nomination. In 1995, their third gold album, Elixir, also reached the number one position and remained on the charts 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.
Links：www.fourplay.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourplay
http://baike.baidu.com/view/1080653.htm?fr=ala0_1_1