"FOUR PLAY, the Passion behind the Seduction".
Jazz, defined by Webster as "American music developed from ragtime and blues and characterized by propulsive syncopated rhythms, polyphonic ensemble playing, varying degrees of improvisation, and often deliberate distortion of pitch and timbre (Webster 627). By listening to this expertly crafted album by Four Play you may be able to fully understand why Webster gives this definition to jazz; also you may also be able to pick up some other sophisticated nuances and gifts this type of jazz has to offer. .
Four play; a group that consist of a four manned band hence the group name "Four Play", the instruments played are piano, drums, guitar, and bass. In comparison to traditional Jazz most felt the higher the number of members equaled the higher quality of music, well this is not the case with these four gentlemen BOB JAMES, NATHAN EAST, HARVEY MASON and LARRY CARLTON have connected and complemented each others unique sound to create one of the better contemporary jazz sounds today. Continually throughout the album you'll notice lots of jazz intricacies i.e. scat singing, rhythm displacement, improvisation, and other jazz musical tools. The group did a wonderful job of mixing the new school and also incorporating there roots with sounds of the past. Although their style may not seem consistent you can still hear signature sounds with the realm of the compositions. .
This album has 12 tracks. It begins with the traditional early jazz sound, this sound being an up beat danceable one then it transfers to the very complex sound comparable to that of the early bop i.e. (Charlie parker, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie and Thelonious monk). I really and truly enjoy this album front to back but there are a few cuts that were better than others. Track one (Galaxia), an up beat sound that is lead by the piano; its rhythm is kept with the bass guitar.
