On the "Contemporary Bass" DVD, Nathan East (Fourplay, Elton John, Lionel Richie, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Stevie Wonder, Bob Dylan, Ray Charles, Tom Jones, Sting) breaks down his unique style of playing, demonstrating how he builds impeccable chops, creates solos and grooves, plays walking bass lines, and interacts with a rhythm section. The DVD includes an in-depth interview featuring Nathan's candid confessions about his personal triumphs, his start in the music business, his breakthrough into studio playing, and even his favorite superstar to tour with.
Special DVD features include: DVD-ROM Content (The Complete Video Formatted For Your iPod, Printable PDF files of music examples from the DVD), "Victor Wooten: Super Bass Solo Technique" preview, "Randy Jackson: Mastering The Groove" preview.
DVD Video, NTSC, Regions: All
Nathan East's breakthrough came while he was a member of a band named Power. They were hired as the road band for a Stax revue. The recognition brought the attention of Barry White, who hired the band for a national tour. Still a teenager, East became a member of the Love Unlimited Orchestra ("Love's Theme") playing Madison Square Garden, the Apollo Theater, and other major venues. East earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music from University of California at San Diego. He was starting to work on a master's degree when instructor Bertram Turetzky suggested that he already had enough education and that it was time for him to go to Los Angeles to try and start a lucrative music career.
While getting involved with the San Diego club and studio scene, Barry White contacted him to play on some of his recording projects. In early 1980, veteran writer/arranger Gene Page, whom East had worked with on White's sessions, called the bassist to play on a recording session for a commercial jingle. Impressed with East's ability to read music as well as his diverse playing skills, Page used East on numerous projects (Dionne Warwick, Johnny Mathis).
As East's reputation grew on the L.A. session scene, so did his job calls. From that point on, East worked consistently. He did sessions for Joe Satriani ("Joe Satriani"), Larry Carlton ("On Solid Ground") and Kenny Loggins ("Vox Humana," "Footloose"). He toured with Loggins (appearing with the singer on a late-'90s Live By Request installment on the A&E network) and with keyboardist Greg Phillinganes and drummer Steve Ferrone as part of Eric Clapton's late-'80s band.
