Fourplay are a kind of jazzy supergroup comprising four members (well done those that guessed that already), and while they may not be household names, the people they have written songs for and worked with as individuals certainly are. They have individually worked with legends such as Steely Dan, Phil Collins, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Barbara Streisand, Duke Ellington, Herbie Hancock, Eric Clapton and Joni Mitchell. They have individually won countless Grammy Awards in various categories, have written soundtracks for Hollywood movies, produced, composed and arranged countless hit songs and albums, and are some of the most in-demand session musicians in the world today. In short, these are four extremely talented and busy individuals that have the credentials to support the claim.

Collectively they are almost a side-project by their own definition. This does of course sound rather patronising, and when you hear these guys play, you quickly dispel the notion that this is just a hobby band. Their musicianship is first-rate, and their instinct and groove is undoubted. They got their mojo workin’ alright.

I guess you’d best describe them as a jazz outfit, but there are numerous other styles creeping in from classical, blues, R&B, latin, and even pop. They have a great understanding when it comes to fusing styles, and no doubt their varied experiences have a bearing on that.

Fourplay - An Evening Of (insert your own smutty "Evening of Fourplay' joke here!) is in two parts, but both were recorded at the same, very intimate, venue. At first glance I thought it was a studio jam, but this was dispelled when the camera panned the small crowd for the first time. The appreciative crowd can be seen lapping it up, and with good reason, the band is musically as smooth as any act you care to mention.

While it’s difficult, and often pointless, to compare bands, I’ll attempt it. I can hear some definite Steely Dan grooves, with a hint of Ottmar Liebert, and a smidgeon of the musicianship of Simply Red and Sade. See? I told you it was difficult and a bit pointless.

While the emphasis is on the music, there are some vocals, both lead and backing, and even these guys are extremely gifted singers. There are some ‘special’ guests such as Chaka Khan and Phillip Glass to add some variety to the show. There are plenty of those traditional jazzy lyrics of the “Zee bop de de bop, zha bada ba da… da da deedle da da bada ba…� kind. You know the thing, where they babble on incoherently and it sounds like the guy is just rattling off the phone book, or a Chinese menu? And no, there are no subtitles, but something tells me they wouldn’t help anyway.

If you fancy yourself a bit of a jazz legend in your own living room, then take just one look at this DVD and you’ll probably want to pack the whole thing in. They are that good! Otherwise, just sit back and enjoy.

Oh, one small annoyance. There is no time counter encoded, and while you can skip tracks, there is no display to tell you this, and it appears only to play as one chapter.

Track listing:

Almost as glossy as the band themselves, the video is pretty fine and in full frame, so therefore it's not 16:9 enhanced. Being filmed in a small venue there is excellent sharpness and many close-up shots of busy hands and flying fingers. The blue lighting causes the odd problem or two, but this is mild. There is the mildest evidence of shimmer, but no problems anywhere else. Colours are great, with fine black levels and no problems with shadow detail. Skin tones are superb and there are some instances of backlighting that at first looked like edge enhancement, so don’t be fooled.

There is no problem with grain, or marks or flecks, and no layer change on this single sided, single-layer disc. There is essentially nothing of note to complain about.

What this DVD does scream for however, is a full 5.1 audio, and not because of any faults in the Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo mix on offer, but merely because the music and the venue is perfect for it. Cameras are able to get up very close and personal with the players and the action and hearing the band in full 5.1 glory would have been nice. You'll need to hear their DVD-A for that.

The purists will love the rich sounding stereo track. There is a great range and excellent fidelity, from Nathan Lane’s six-string bass to Lee Ritenour’s excellent fretwork high on the guitar neck. The drums are well recorded and are aggressive or passive as needed. The piano sounds gorgeous (in this guy’s hands it couldn’t fail), and vocals are clear and well synched, even the jazzy bee-bop stuff.

This show has been recorded on high quality recording equipment and while separation of instruments is limited, there is no sense that everything is bunched up or fighting for space. Everything sounds well mixed, well balanced and as smooth as.

There is but one extra included, unless you count the ‘special guests’. It is a very short biography of the band with a separate page listing the acievements and credentials of the four members.

Fourplay: An Evening of is only lacking a 5.1 audio mix to make it truly great. Over a late night drink or two, at the end of a long day, this is rather relaxing and very enjoyable. The band is incredibly talented, it looks great, sounds great in stereo, but if you want a truly mind-blowing, jazz-infused experience, then seek out their DVD-A as well. Pour me another chiraz and press play!