IN EVERY SPORT, THERE ARE PLAYERS THAT, WHILE YOU MAY NOT EVER REALLY NOTICE THEM, THEY ALWAYS SEEM TO BE ON THE WINNING AND CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM. YOGI BERRA WAS ONE OF THOSE GUYS, MAGIC JOHNSON ANOTHER. THEY ONLY KNOW HOW TO SUCCEED.

BOB JAMES IS ONE OF THOSE TYPES OF GUYS. HE’S BEEN ON COUNTLESS SESSIONS THAT HAVE BEEN BEST SELLERS. HE WAS THE KEYBOARDIST IN RESIDENCE FOR THE CLASSIC CTI ALBUMS IN THE 70S THAT SET THE STANDARD FOR JAZ Z RECORDINGS. HIS WORK WITH GROVER WASHINGTON JR MADE JAZZ A HOUSEHOLD NAME. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME THAT HAPPENED?!?

BESIDES ALL OF THAT, HIS BAND FOURPLAY HAS BEEN A  PERENNIALLY…  Continue Reading Here at Jazz Weekly…

“Every Fourplay member, whether current or an alum, has played a role in elevating the contemporary jazz game and popular music in general, and on Silver these jazz legends once again show that the whole is greater than the sum of the individual  parts. This is a welcome celebration of twenty-five years of excellence.” Recommended.

Soul Tracks

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“Silver is jam-packed with sophistication, mastery, melody, and musical majesty…Never disappointing and always more than entertaining (in fact, therapeutic), this iconic band will always stand at the very pinnacle of jazz with few equals.”

TheSmoothJazzRide

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“Fourplay celebrates its 25^th anniversary with an inspired outing that includes former guitar members Larry Carlton and Lee Ritenour as guests.”

Bass Player

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“Most people listen to groove jazz simply for unobtrusive background noise. Silver, however, transcends background music, with each song engaging listeners from start to finish. If you are new to the subgenre, it would be wise to start your collection with this ten song album from one of the best groove bands still working today. Happy 25th Anniversary, Fourplay. Here’s to another quarter century!”

Black Grooves

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“All of the songs have that great feeling of consistent quality and deep grooves that Fourplay and these high-profile guest artists bring to the studio. That sense of fellowship permeates Silver from start to finish and you can be assured that this recording is definitely one that is definitely ‘Sterling Silver.’”

AXS.com

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“These guys have made smooth jazz in a way that gives it a good name. Lots to love here.”

Jazz Weekly

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Fourplay: Silver
by George W. Harris • November 2, 2015

The number of jazz bands that are commercially successful is pretty small; ones that are successful for 25 years could probably fit into a phone booth, if you could find one. Playing swinging yet accessible music since George Bush #1 was president, the team of Nathan West/b, Bob James/key, Harvey Mason/dr and the recent newcomer of 5 years hence Chuch Loeb/g deliver ten silver plated tunes in celebration of the anniversary.

~ CONTINUE READING FULL ARTICLE