Smooth-jazz journeymen
Fourplay reunite for
X and deliver more solid, lite-instrumental sounds. Centered around the talents of keyboardist
Bob James, guitarist
Larry Carlton, bassist
Nathan East and drummer
Harvey Mason,
Fourplay also feature here blue-eyed-soul icon Michael Mcdonald who takes an inspired vocal turn on the Steve Winwood tune "My Love's Leavin'. It's a great track that nicely exploits the aesthetic connection and '70s heritage of both smooth jazz and soft-rock. Similarly appealing are James's noirish "Screenplay showcasing Carlton's bluesy chops and James's urbane keyboard style; as well as East's slow R&B ballad "Sunday Morning". This is a softly-funky, superbly crafted and unapologetically low key album. Frankly, that's what longtime fans have come to expect from these masters of smooth and in that sense
X succeeds. ~ Matt Collar