Fourplay, Spyro Gyra bringing contemporary jazz sounds to Cranston’s Park Theatre on April 19

Posted 3/19/15

Two amazing bands, one great night!

On Sunday, April 19, jazz lovers will descend upon the historic Park Theatre in Cranston when Fourplay, the decorated jazz quartet known for their consistent …

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Fourplay, Spyro Gyra bringing contemporary jazz sounds to Cranston’s Park Theatre on April 19

Posted

Two amazing bands, one great night!

On Sunday, April 19, jazz lovers will descend upon the historic Park Theatre in Cranston when Fourplay, the decorated jazz quartet known for their consistent success, and Spyro Gyra, with their famous jazz fusion sound, take the stage for a smooth jazz supergroup double bill. Tickets are on sale now!

With their contemporary jazz sound – influenced by grafting jazz with elements of R&B and pop – Fourplay has enjoyed an impressive level of success thanks to exploring the genre’s limitless dimensions while simultaneously appealing to the mainstream audience. Their story began in 1990 when keyboardist Bob James reunited with an old friend, session drummer, producer, composer and recording artist Harvey Mason, during the recording of James’ “Grand Piano Canyon” album. Also involved in the recording project were guitarist Lee Ritenour and bassist/vocalist Nathan East, marking the birth of Fourplay.

Within a year, the group released its self-titled debut album, which quickly sold over one million copies, and remained at the top spot on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz Chart for 33 weeks. The original members of Fourplay stayed together for three successive albums, including 1994’s “Elixir,” which featured high-profile guest vocalists Phil Collins, Patti Austin and Peabo Bryson.

Fourplay’s following recordings, including “Yes, Please!” in 2000, challenged the standard definitions of contemporary jazz by incorporating elements of blues, funk and even Celtic music. Critically acclaimed by JazzTimes, the group’s sense of experimentation continued with the 2002 release of “Heartfelt, Journey” in 2004, which featured a delicate cover of the Sting hit, “Fields of Gold,” and 2006’s “X,” with guest vocals by blue-eyed soul icon, Michael McDonald.

Since joining the prestigious roster of artists on Heads Up International, a division of Concord Music Group, Fourplay’s latest recording explores the idea of four perspectives becoming a single creative force. “Esprit De Four,” released in 2012, includes a song with lyrics written by James’ daughter and features Japanese superstar Seiko Matsuda, as a tribute to the victims of the tsunami that struck Japan in 2011. Fourplay is also the only musical group in history that has received a Congressional Record from the United States Congress, House of Representatives, recognizing them as distinguished members of the music industry.

Well before Fourplay came on the scene, Jay Beckenstein began playing gigs with an old high school friend, Jeremy Wall. The two soon formed the band, Tuesday Night – Jazz Jam, with guest musicians, instantly becoming a staple across Buffalo’s jazz and blues scene. One of those musicians, keyboardist Tom Schuman, joined the band when they became Spyro Gyra, and remains a member to this day.

In 1979, Spyro Gyra released “Morning Dance,” which became their most commercially successful album. Two years later, their album, “Freetime,” reached the top spot on the Billboard Jazz Album Chart.

Throughout a storied career that spans four decades, Spyro Gyra has reached countless milestones – they’ve performed more than 5,000 shows and sold over 10 million albums – showing little sign of slowing down, gaining Grammy nominations for each of their last four albums.

The group’s 2013 release of The Rhinebeck Sessions, their 30th studio album, was written and recorded in just three days at a studio in Rhinebeck, N.Y. The album was called “inspired” by JazzTimes, and Travis Rogers of the Jazz Journalists Association picked it for Jazz Album Of The Year. Beckenstein reflects on how this new approach took them in a new direction.

“Our ability to improvise on the fly has become so strong because we have played together so much; it was time to go into the studio with very little planned and see what might come out of it,” says Beckenstein. “I’ve always felt that music, and particularly instrumental music, has this non-literal quality that lets people travel to a place where there are no words. There’s this beauty in music that’s not connected to sentences and I hope that when people hear our music or come to see us, they’re able to share that with us.”

Fourplay and Spyro Gyra will perform at the historic Park Theatre at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 19. Tickets are $35 and $45 and are available by calling 467-PARK or online at www.ParkTheatreRI.com. The Park Theatre is located at 848 Park Ave. in Cranston. Free parking is available for all shows.

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