New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ Shore Fire Media) The single, newly imbued with an exotic flair that captures the vitality of Nathan's diverse range, was shipped to radio July 1 and is already the second most added this week.
"'101 Eastbound' was written with my brother [Marcel East] and goes way back," said Nathan, 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." Hear more from Nathan and see footage from behind-the-scenes at:
This opening track on the album features Nathan on vocals and on his signature Yamaha BBNE-2 five-string bass 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 Nathan, who took a break from touring with
Barry 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 & Vice President of Yamaha Entertainment Group, who co-produced the album with Nathan. "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).
Dubbed the "most anticipated debut solo album since
Thomas Edison invented the thing" (Jazz Times), 'Nathan East' debuted on Yamaha Entertainment Group at No. 1 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz chart and went to No. 1 on both the iTunes, and Barnes and Noble Jazz album charts. The album features 13 compositions, and contributions from
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, Chuck Loeb,
David Paich and more.
On the heels of a national Guitar Center tour which featured bass clinics and meet and greet opportunities, Nathan heads out in August with
Fourplay (Bob James, Chuck Loeb,
Harvey Mason) to continue their 2014 tour with dates in Seattle, Oakland, San Francisco and Japan.
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.
