Four80East

Last updated
Four80East
Four80East Positraction Promo Skyline.jpg
Four80East founding members, Tony Grace (left) and Rob DeBoer (right).
Background information
Origin Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Genres Jazz, electro jazz, contemporary jazz, acid jazz
Years active1997-present
Labels Native Language, Boomtang Records
MembersRob DeBoer and Tony Grace
Website www.four80east.com

Four80East is a Canadian electro jazz ensemble from Toronto, Ontario, with Rob DeBoer (keyboards, bass and guitar) and Tony Grace (percussion); accompanied by various session musicians. Although Four80East began as a studio concept, they have evolved into a live act. Their music is known for its percussive, melodic flow and bass grooves.

Contents

History

Four80East began as a studio project when DeBoer and Grace, who had been writing, arranging and producing for other artists on their Boomtang Records label (cf. The Boomtang Boys), put together material of their own and released it as The Album, in 1997. The Album was well received by critics and the public alike. [1] The group's name comes from the address of Boomtang's recording studio, The Speed of Sound, at 480 Richmond Street East in Toronto. [2]

In 1998 they had released music video titled Four80East: Eastside and styled black & white, based on music track from The Album under same name Eastside. Video had been filmed on locations in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Director was Jeremy Hood, filmed by Domenico A. Galloro. Budget was estimated as CA$20,000 [3] Filming studio was Raje Films. [4]

The pair's second album Nocturnal, was released in 2001; [5] DeBoer and Grace wrote all of the songs for the album, and enlisted tenor saxophonist Jon Stewart, flutist Andrew McPherson, and trumpeter Ivana Santilli to contribute instrumentals. [6]

The album Round 3 came out in 2002, [7] and included contributions from harmonica player Carlos Del Junco. [8]

Their fourth album, En Route, containing instrumental dance music, was released in 2007. [9]

Four80East's fifth CD, Roll On, came out in 2009, followed by a sixth, Off Duty, in 2012.

Four80East LIVE, a collection of 15 select songs recorded from three different shows, was released in early 2014.

The group is also featured on the 2007 compilation album, The Weather Channel Presents: The Best of Smooth Jazz .

Band members

Permanent members

Albums

Studio albums

YearAlbumPeak chart positionsLabel
US
Jazz

[10]
US
Con.
Jazz

[11]
1998The Album2918Boomtang
2001Nocturnal2615
2003Round 3
2007En Route2510
2009Roll On2010
2012Off Duty2611
2015Positraction
2020Straight Round
2021Mixed Up (remixes)
2023Gonna Be Alright
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart.

Live albums

YearAlbumPeak chart positionsLabel
US
Jazz

[12]
US
Con.
Jazz

[13]
2014Four80East – Live!Boomtang
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart.

Extended plays

YearAlbumPeak chart positionsLabel
US
Jazz

[14]
US
Con.
Jazz

[15]
2019Four on the Floor – (EP)11Boomtang
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart.

Singles

YearTitlePeak chart positionsAlbum
Smooth Jazz
Airplay

[16]
2007"Noodle Soup"3En Route
2010"Down to It"
(Jack Prybylski with Four80East)
25Jack Prybylski – Out of the Box
2012"M-Powered"
(Marcus Anderson featuring Four80East)
12Marcus Anderson – Now
"Sandbar"23Off Duty
2015"Cookie Strut"5Positraction
2019"Cinco Cinco Seis"1Mixed Up
2020"Ba Ba Brazil"6Straight Round
2023"This Time Around"2Gonna Be Alright
2024"Gonna Be Alright"24

References

  1. Sean Miller. "interview with Rob DeBoer and Tony Grace of Four80East Sean's radio program Jazz Pulse". Archived from the original on 2023-03-29. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  2. "Four80East". Hitsradio | Free Internet Radio. Retrieved 2024-11-28.
  3. Jeremy Hood (director), Domenico A. Galloro (cinematographer) (1998). Four80East: Eastside (music video). Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Raje Films. Archived from the original on 2023-12-11. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
  4. "IMDB resume for Domenico A. Galloro". Archived from the original on 2016-09-16. Retrieved 2023-12-12.
  5. "Four80East: Nocturnal". All About Jazz, By DAVE HUGHES February 1, 2001
  6. " Four80East Nocturnal". AllMusic review by Paula Edelstein
  7. Lucy Tauss (March 2003). "Round 3 Four80East". JazzTimes . Retrieved August 1, 2011.
  8. "Four80East: Round 3". Jazz Times, 03/01/2003 By Lucy Tauss
  9. "En Route by Four80East". Jazz Review, 13.03.2007 by Sheldon T. Nunn
  10. "Four80East: Jazz Albums". Billboard .
  11. "Four80East: Contemporary Jazz Albums". Billboard .
  12. "Four80East: Jazz Albums". Billboard .
  13. "Four80East: Contemporary Jazz Albums". Billboard .
  14. "Four80East: Jazz Albums". Billboard .
  15. "Four80East: Contemporary Jazz Albums". Billboard .
  16. "Four80East: Smooth Jazz Airplay". Billboard .