05:28 PM PDT on Thursday, June 9, 2011
By FIELDING BUCK
The Press-Enterprise

The music begins in the Hollywood Bowl this weekend for the super-group Fourplay and then heads to the vineyards.

Fourplay is part of Saturday’s lineup for the 2011 Playboy Jazz Festival and is also returning to Thornton Winery on Sunday.

Both engagements are special, drummer Harvey Mason said in a phone interview.

“It’s probably the largest festival we play during the year,” he said of the jazz festival. The Hollywood Bowl is so organized, and the people just love it there. You have a real party. It’s a great time there … it’s a real serious buzz.”

“It’s always well attended — it’s packed — and the people come there really to hear music.”

The other members of Fourplay are Nathan East, bass; Chuck Loeb, guitar; and Bob James, keyboards.

Fourplay will headline the 2011 Playboy Jazz Festival and perform at Thornton Winery the following night.

Mason and East recently joined James for his concert at Riverside’s Fox Performing Arts Center with the Corona Symphony Pops. They both made an enthusiastic discovery of the Mission Inn.

“He’d gone home and told his wife, ‘We’ve got to go back to the Mission hotel,’ and I did the same thing. It definitely made an impression. I can’t wait to come back there.”

Dianne Reeves, another Saturday artist at the Playboy Jazz Festival, recently performed at UC Riverside.

In a separate phone interview, the singer talked about her love of the festival.

“The people who run the festival … it’s a wonderful family of people who really love the artists and really treat the artists well. So while there’s a party going on out in front, there’s also one in the back as well.”

Reeves said she loves performing on the Hollywood Bowl stage, but enjoys being part of the festival when she is not.

“I just hang out all day. More than anything, I just like to hang out and talk to folks.”

Reach Fielding Buck at 951-368-9551 or fbuck@PE.com

Playboy Jazz Festival

Saturday: 3 p.m. lineup includes Diane Reeves, Fourplay, The Roots with Terrence Blanchard, Eddie Palmieri Salsa Orchestra, “A Night in Treme,” and host Bill Cosby.

Sunday: 3 p.m. lineup includes Buddy Guy, the Lee Konitz New Quartet, John Scofield and Robben Ford, Naturally 7, Harmony 3 with Ronnie Laws Walt Beasley and Stanley Jordan, Geri Allen and Carlos Varela.

Where: Hollywood Bowl, 2301 N Highland Ave., Hollywood

Tickets: $20-$150 each day, plus fees. www.ticketmaster.com

FourPlay at Thornton Winery

When: 4 p.m. Sunday

Where: 32575 Rancho California Road, Temecula

Tickets: $130 for supper package. www.thorntonwine.com

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