Nathan East contemporary bass video

[ZenderBender]

Has anybody seen this? How is it?


Also, can any of your recommend some Nathan East? (I have a bit of Fourplay, but can't stand the idea of listening to smooth jazz just to hear Nate. Therefore, I'd like to hear some of his work as a studio player.)

[4-string]

Check out Eric Clapton & Friends concert for the Crossroads centre in Antigua, from 1999 I believe. Gadd/East lay down some serious groove, especially on Mary J Blige's stuff.

[JTE]

Get a copy of Clapton's "One More Car, One More Rider" and observe carefully how Nate and Gadd drive the whole band through so many different feels. Pay careful attention to how Mr. East reinterprets bass lines- his, Jack Bruce's, Carl Radle's, etc.

Then get a copy of EC's "Unplugged" and again pay attention to his way of being totally supportive, inventive, and musical. How he creates memorable bass lines that don't intrude but still stand out.

Also get Whitney Houston's first album- it's the first thing I heard from Nathan East that made me go "Who's doing that!!".


jte

[KJung]

+1 to the above.. he's killing on some of the Michael McDonald Motown and Motown II tracks also.

I hate to say it, since he's one of my major influences and I just love him to death as a person and a player... his instructional video sucks... IMO

[AMJBASS]

Ha! I would agree. The DVD is really focussed towards beginning players. Not what I expected when I got it. Awesome player though! His work with Clapton is outstanding.

[TheSpook]

Originally Posted by JTE

Get a copy of Clapton's "One More Car, One More Rider" and observe carefully how Nate and Gadd drive the whole band through so many different feels. Pay careful attention to how Mr. East reinterprets bass lines- his, Jack Bruce's, Carl Radle's, etc.

Oh wow...I didn't realize East (who is a huge fave of mine via his Fourplay stuff...don't be afraid to listen to it, especially "Bali Run" and "101 Eastbound") played a lot with Clapton and was featured on the One More Car... concert. That's a DVD I seriously need to get...the only clips I've seen having been on VH1 Classic five years ago, but I ADORE the version of "Sunshine of Your Love" on that. As a matter of fact, I think I like that version more than the original, and considering how much I like the original too, that's saying something.

[ZenderBender]

Originally Posted by KJung

+1 to the above.. he's killing on some of the Michael McDonald Motown and Motown II tracks also.

I hate to say it, since he's one of my major influences and I just love him to death as a person and a player... his instructional video sucks... IMO

I've only heard "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" off the McDonald motown cover albums. Is that Nathan or Abe on that cut? Also, he is really buried in the mix, so it is quite difficult to hear him on that track.


On the Motown albums, does he just copy the Jamerson lines or does he create new grooves for the old songs?

[JTE]

"Oh wow...I didn't realize East (who is a huge fave of mine via his Fourplay stuff...don't be afraid to listen to it, especially "Bali Run" and "101 Eastbound") played a lot with Clapton..."

Nathan's been Clapton's main bassist pretty much since after "Behind The Sun". Duck Dunn played the original "Behind The Sun" sessions, but when Warner Bros. objected to releasing the album because it didn't have any "hits". Clapton went into the studio with a bunch of LA session players including Steve Lukather and Natan East. They recorded about four songs that wound up on the album including "Forever Man". Nathan's played with Clapton pretty much since then.

Dave Bronze played on "From The Cradle", and Willie Weeks did the last tour. And there's been a few other projects without Nate (some old Scotish guy played and sang with EC at The Royal Albert Hall and at Madison Square Gardens a few years ago) including Pino Pallidino on individual tracks. But the go-to guy for Clapton at least until last year has been Nate.

Plus he SINGS the Jack Bruce parts with utter joy and abandon on "White Room" and "Sunshine..." on "One More Car, One More Rider". He and David Sancious just look like they're havin' too much fun playing "Sunshine..." with Clapton.

jte

[adube810]

i saw nathan a few months ago with herbie hancock at my school. easily in the to 5 best shows ive been to

[DWBass]

Originally Posted by ZenderBender

I've only heard "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" off the McDonald Motown cover albums. Is that Nathan or Abe on that cut? Also, he is really buried in the mix, so it is quite difficult to hear him on that track.

Buried? Not on my systems. The bass tracks on both of my cd's are all prominent in the mix!

[ZenderBender]

Originally Posted by DWBass

Buried? Not on my systems. The bass tracks on both of my cd's are all prominent in the mix!

I don't know. Maybe it is Nathan's tone. From what I've heard (Fourplay), Nathan has a very "modern" tone with no midrange presence. So, when he plays fingerstyle, it's all pure bass with no midrange and can be difficult to hear, and slaps are all high-end. To be honest, I've never been that enamored of Nathan's tone. I like a more middy tone because I think that the central component of the tone of the instrument is the midrange. Great tone = Lee Sklar with James Taylor, Paul Denman with Sade, Bernard Edwards, Anthony Jackson, etc.

[Polk Salad]

Originally Posted by KJung

... his instructional video sucks... IMO

Are you talking about "The Business of Bass" or does he have another one?

[ZenderBender]

Originally Posted by Polk Salad

Are you talking about "The Business of Bass" or does he have another one?

He has another one, from back in the day. It was just reissued. I considered getting "the business of bass," but I got annoyed at how commercial the previews were. "Nathan East and his YAMAHA bass and YAMAHA PARAMETRIC EQUALIZER!" yada yada yada yada yada....

[Robster22]

Wanna see Nathan East rock it up with EC buy the "Knebworth" 90 concert DVD..Great Show

[Delberthot]

I first got to see Nathan when i was 14 and touring with EC. fantastic.

I bought "24 nights" the double album from the Royal Albert Hall right after it. Such a fantastic version of White Room.

Who can forget knebworth? The last time i can remember so many fantastic musicians doing a big gig together.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMzOuWMTPYQ

At the time he was using a white TRB6P which I think had been modified for him and trace Elliot bass gear and being a young lad at the time bought a white Bass Collection 5 string which was close enough for me at the time and a trace combo.

didn't he write "Easy Lover"? He did quite a fair bit with Phil Collins as well.

I've always liked his playing but haven't taken the time to find out what else he's played on. Need to start doing some digging now.

[bass71]

I think he's on all the well known Barry White singles. Listen carefully, there's some tasty bass playing goin on there..... love it..

[bottomzone]

I don't hate to admit it that Nathan is one of my main influences!! His DVD The Business of Bass was well worth the money for me. I was blessed with the opprtunity of being invited to a studio session that Nathan was doing. Gene Page, who was a personal friend of my brother, was in charge of the session. Even with all the talent and recognition that Nathan has, he impressed my as a very cool, down to earth and humble person!!!


A Groove is a Terrible Thing to Waste!

[Humblerumble]

Yes I have both dvd's and I like the business of bass much better. Actually it is the reason I started gassin for the NE Sig bass. And this is kinda cool. I posted on his my space site the other day something like Thanks For Designing this sweet bass yada yada. I looked the next day and he had posted back on my site "Sounds great .....So glad you are enjoying your bass!!....Best always .......Nathan"

[Arnold]

He plays a great version of "Let's Stay Together" on the tribute to Jeff Porcaro CD.

[DWBass]

Check him out on the Michael McDonald 'Motown' & 'Motown 2' cd's! Some serious killer playing!