Sometimes you have to shake things up, push a little farther,
reach a little higher - even when you're a contemporary jazz
foursome that's been operating at the top of its collective game
for two decades. After twenty years and a dozen albums, in an
industry that has undergone sweeping transformations in the past
decade, Fourplay knows that the only thing that's certain, in
music or any other business, is change. The latest proof of that
axiom is the new face in their lineup - that of guitarist Chuck
Loeb, who makes his compelling debut with the quartet on Let's
Touch The Sky.
Loeb completes the four-man crew that also includes the band's
founding members: keyboardist Bob James, bassist/vocalist Nathan
East and drummer/percussionist Harvey Mason. Let's Touch The Sky
also includes stirring performances by guest vocalists Anita
Baker and Ruben Studdard. The infusion of new blood into the
Fourplay lineup creates an rtunity to bring an even newer
level of energy and inspiration into a band that is already known
for taking chances and pushing the limits of contemporary jazz.
"All four of us have been in this business long enough to know
that there's always pressure to compromise, and we don't want to
do that," says James. "We don't want to end up in the middle of
the pack. We always to be leaders, and take the music to
another level and raise the standards higher. I think the music
on this new record, thanks in large part to Chuck's early
contributions - and to the ongoing team spirit of the band as a
whole - is very much a reflection of that philosophy."
Loeb, who openly admits to being a fan of Fourplay since their
earliest s, sees his new membership status as the
rtunity of a lifetime. "I want to be a part of the legacy
they've built, going all the way back to their first
and right up to their most recent one," he says. "There's been an
incredible level of quality in the musicianship, the writing, the
whole sonic palette that they're famous for. I'm excited to be a
part of the next step in the evolution of all that." That sense
of romanticism combined with optimism defining the project makes
the rhythmic and exotic title track the fitting opener to the
set. Written by James, the song sits atop a comfortable Latin
groove and showcases the interplay between the keyboardist and
his new band mate on acoustic guitar. The follow-up track, Loeb's
driving and intense "3rd Degree" is a reference to his role as
the third guitarist in the Fourplay saga (the original lineup
included Lee Ritenour, who was later replaced by Larry Carlton in
the late `90s). The track is built on a syncopated rhythm that
allows plenty of room for everyone on hand to stretch out and
demonstrate their virtuosity.
Guest vocalists Ruben Studdard and Anita Baker appear on the
soulful "Love TKO" and the dreamlike "You're My Thrill,"
respectively. Studdard was recruited by East, after the two had
appeared together in a live performance in Washington, DC. "They
were filming a television special," East recalls. "There was a
break to reload the cameras, and I just started playing the bass
line of `Love TKO.' Ruben stepped up to the microphone to sing,
and everyone in the room just stopped. I knew right then that we
needed to have him sing this song on a Fourplay record, and when
we asked him, he was very much up for it. The whole thing just
came together so easily."
Mason, who has held down the groove for Fourplay since the very
beginning, says time has done nothing to dull the edge. The band
continues to explore new ways to reach for the next level of
musicianship and creativity. "Let's Touch The Sky is the perfect
title for where we are right now," he says. "In some ways,
bringing someone new into the fold has made us a new band. It
opens up new rtunities and new potential, and we want to see
how high we can take it."