Guitarist Chuck Loeb's arrangements and playing throughout 2012’s Esprit de Four sound noticeably confident and relaxed. In the Loeb penned opener “December Dream” he segues between atmospheric arpeggios and nimble leads saturated in warm tones, providing a nice balance to Bob James’ wintry piano lines. Crisscrossing this interplay, Nathan East’s bass playing provides a handsome groove for drummer Harvey Mason’s sublime cymbal playing to sparkle over. Mason’s “Venus” finds Loeb exploring more space with freeform runs that never step on James’ romantic keyboard melodies. “Sonnymoon” picks up the pace with a near danceable funk (save for the heady and progressive arrangements), courtesy of Mason and East building a kinetic rhythm section that exercises both exquisite showmanship and a cool restraint that provides enough room for everyone to take a solo (or two). The album also features two versions of “Put Our Hearts Together;” the first an instrumental voyage and the second, featuring an arresting vocal performance by Seiko Matsuda.