NASHVILLE, Tenn., July 15, 2014 – The second single from the self-titled debut solo album by heralded bassist Nathan East is an infectious and funky new take on "101 Eastbound," a song originally released more than two decades ago by the world-renowned jazz quartet Fourplay, on their self-titled Platinum-selling debut album. (East is a founding member of Fourplay)
The single, newly imbued with an exotic flair that captures the vitality of East's diverse range, was just shipped to radio and is already the second most added.
"'101 Eastbound' was written with my brother (Marcel East) and goes way back," said Nathan East, who picked up the bass in middle school and went on the road with Barry White and the Love Unlimited Orchestra at the age of 16. "I always had in the back of my mind that if I did a solo record, it would be a good song to do a different twist on it. So we updated it with this kind of a sun goddess Earth, Wind & Fire feeling groove."
This opening track on the album features East on vocals and on his signature Yamaha BBNE-2 five-string bass guitar finessing lilting chords to warm bossa nova rhythms and Michael Thompson on guitar shifting up a gear into an infectious groove.
"It was cool to change directions and go from the little teaser of the Brazilian and then go back to this funky version of the song," said East, who took a break from touring with White to complete his education, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in music from the University of California, San Diego.
"We brought in Tom Scott (saxophone) and the guys on horns for extra flavoring on ‘101 Eastbound,'" said Chris Gero, founder and vice president of Yamaha Entertainment Group, who co-produced the album with East. "Jeff Babko (piano, keyboard) does an amazing solo and the late Ricky Lawson is a master on drums."
Additional musicians on "101 Eastbound" include Ray Parker, Jr. (guitar), Rafael Padilla (percussion), Chuck Findley (trumpet), Andy Martin (trombone) and Joel Peskin (tenor and baritone saxophone).
View "101 Eastbound" Behind the Scenes at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8Td0rZnV0k&list=UUFLnyX7Ln13POdrwF_s8SGg
Released March 25, 2014 on Yamaha Entertainment Group, Nathan East debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart and went No. 1 on the iTunes and Barnes & Noble Jazz Albums charts. The album features collaborations with Eric Clapton ("Can't Find My Way Home"), Stevie Wonder ("Overjoyed"), Michael McDonald ("Moondance"), Sara Bareilles ("I Can Let Go Now"), Ray Parker Jr. ("Daft Funk"), Bob James and Chuck Loeb of Fourplay, David Paich of Toto and more.
It's a fitting lineup for East, who for more than three decades has toured and recorded with a Who's Who of legends including Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, Beyoncé, Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston.
The first single from Nathan East, "Daft Funk," touched on East's relationship with techno rockers Daft Punk and went to No. 1 on the Groove Jazz Music and Smooth Jazz Top 20 with Allen Kepler charts and No. 2 on the Billboard Smooth Jazz Songs chart. "Daft Funk" remixes are also available.
East performed on Daft Punk's Random Access Memories, the 2013 GRAMMY Album of the Year and Best Dance / Electronica Album. Millions of fans have heard East's signature bass line on their "Get Lucky" track, the 2013 GRAMMY Best Pop Duo / Group Performance and Record of the Year.
"Performing on ‘Get Lucky' at the GRAMMYs and playing on Daft Punk's album was so much fun we decided to celebrate that and keep the party going," said East. "So Michael Thompson and I wrote ‘Daft Funk' in the spirit of that music."
East is one of the most recorded musicians in history and has played on songs recorded by George Harrison, Quincy Jones, Lionel Richie, Babyface, Barbra Streisand, Michael Bublé and Anita Baker, to name a few. East has also been a touring member of many bands including Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, Toto, Kenny Loggins, Al Jarreau, Herbie Hancock, David Foster and even Elvis Presley.
Nathan East includes three songs co-written by East, a mix of instrumental and vocal compositions and imaginative rearrangements of standards including "Sir Duke" and "Overjoyed" (the latter featuring Stevie Wonder on harmonica), "Moondance," "Yesterday" (accompanied on piano by East's 13-year-old son Noah East) and "America the Beautiful."
As East's music has gathered momentum over the past few months, critics have lavished praise:
"East stays true to his own style." – USA Today, Korina Lopez, 1/9/14
"A striking debut. Blinding brilliance. Ultra-musical, ear-grabbing moments … swirl of energy, enthusiasm, surprising twists and slammin' performances." – Bass Player, Chris Jisi, April 2014
"The most anticipated debut solo album since Thomas Edison invented the thing." – Jazz Times, Travis Rogers, 5/17/14
"An extremely eclectic album filled with so many delightful surprises and engaging musical avenues. An absolutely unparalleled performance." – Music Connection, Eric A. Harabadian, 2/17/14
"The album puts another exclamation point on a man whose career has been stellar ... bonafide jazz personified." – Smooth Jazz Ride, Ronald Jackson, 3/3/14
"Substance over flash." – Premier Guitar, Jason Shadrick, 2/24/14
"A superbly played set with the feel of a celebration." – All Music Guide, Andy Kellman, April 2014
"The recording itself is a marvel." – Sounds of Timeless Jazz, 2/28/14
"The world will never grow tired of brilliance. Holding his reign at No. 1, Nathan East shines bright like a diamond with his debut solo album." – SmoothJazz.com, Sandy Shore, July 2014
After having completed a national tour of Guitar Center stores, offering bass clinics and meet and greet opportunities, East and Fourplay (Bob James, Chuck Loeb, Harvey Mason) will continue their 2014 tour in August with dates in Seattle (Aug. 7–10) and then travel to Korea, Japan, England and Germany in September and return to the U.S. for dates in Oakland and San Francisco in October. Fourplay is also participating in the 8th Annual Capital Jazz Super Cruise Oct. 18 – 26. Other performers on the cruise include Patti LaBelle, Ruben Studdard, Spyro Gyra, Raheem DeVaughn, Jonathan Butler, War, Urban Jazz Coalition, Naturally 7 and Kirk Whalum.
