Esprit De Four

This is easily one of my favorite Fourplay albums. The music is just wonderful. Apart from the tight cohesiveness of the band, Bob James's and Chuck Loeb's performances are outstanding. This is a great treat for fans of Fourplay. Highly recommended.

I have been Fourplay's number one fan from the beginning and they have never come close to disappointing me and my family. They are truly a supergroup of smooth jazz. The Best of the Best and just like a fine wine they get better with time! The album is amazing for it moves me to a higher plain of thinking and relaxing... It makes you look back to a more gentler and innocent time of your life when you smile alittle bit more and laugh to your heart's content. It's smooth, it's amazing, it,s Fourplay!!!

When Fourplay comes out with a new CD (excluding the label's release of a "Best of..."), it's a Christmas-like event for me. I hear about it...I pre-order...then I can't wait to listen a few times to really sink my listening "teeth" into it. This particular CD definitely has a different vibe to it. It's not the "same 'ol, same 'ol" as others have posted, it's a different musical path with some recognizable Fourplay-isms (like songs endings) thrown in. I would say this different musical path is a reflection of Chuck Loeb now being in the band. Fourplay did something similiar when Larry Carlton replaced Lee Ritenour. For example, Track 1 seems like an old style jazz jam that lasts over 7 minutes long. I can't recall any Fourplay track ever going that long...and it was really cool. Anyone that enjoys jazz will enjoy the CD. My only complaint is Track 10; which doesn't seem to appear on the Amazon listing. It is a repeat of an earlier song on the CD "with" vocals. I love Fourplay tracks with vocals...in fact I have a playlist on my iPod called "FourVocals" (just Fourplay songs with vocals)...but this one seems out of place. I was wondering if someone slipped a "Phantom of the Opera" track in there...that's how different it seemed for me! Maybe some of you will enjoy it, but I skip it every time it comes up. I gave that track a couple listens and it did zero for me. Would I recommend you to buy it? Absolutely! This said, I felt the need to warn you about Track 10, so you didn't think something was wrong with your CD or MP3 player.

I have been a fan of this very dynamic group since their inception. I own every single one of their albums and have even seen them in concert a few times. I usually buy their music the day they release a new album. Their music is always great and always worth having on your ipod. Great driving music or listening to while cooking a meal at home or relaxing with your companion. If you don't own any of their other albums it is definitely worth going back and listening and purchasing their past albums. They release new music every two years (like clockwork). Very contemporary style. No wonder they are consider one of only a handful of jazz super groups. Enjoy!

Since 1991 Fourplay has produced the finest smooth jazz available. Consistent, interesting, entertaining, exceptional quality, great production. A class act all the way around. If you are a fan of their music you won't be disappointed here. It's more of the same great music they have been making for over twenty years.

Having collected each and every project this group has ever recorded I continued my quest and was merely 'satisfied' with this latest offering. Over the years I have heard better from Fourplay, even though this is not purely negative critique. Even as I have followed and attended each and every one their concerts in my area I have been asking myself and other music lovers which direction this group seems to heading. From the first track on their very first CD, Fourplay has always delivered a style that we grew to appreciate. But as of late, throughout their last 2 or 3 CDs, the flavor of their music has taken a twist into an area that has myself and others needing to allow their music to grow on us. I am a true to heart Bob James fan and do see this latest offering in the area of some of Bob's earlier works. Again, this is not a complaint, but not exactly what I was expecting.

If a fan of Fourplay it's an must have for your collection. Recommend.

FOURPLAY CONTINUES TO BLOW ME AWAY. THEIR SOUND IS ALWAYS FRESH. THE LOVE THEY HAVE THEIR MUSIC IS APPARANT AS IN THE JOY THEY HAVE IN PLAYING AS A GROUP. YOU CAN'T GO WRONG CHOOSING ANY OF THEIR MUSIC. THEIR SPIRIT CONTINUES TO BE STRONG. ANGIE