Sonny,

A few years ago, my wife Cindy and daughter, Chaia, saw Fourplay at Jazz Alley. I wasn’t able to make it for health reasons, but Cindy went, and Chaia took my place. They brought a gift for the guys, and you were so courteous and helpful; a real gentleman, and you made them feel so special. I will always be grateful for that!

This morning, in my morning devotions, I was listening to Fourplay, Live in Japan, and recalled that time, during Argentina, and many other times that I am grateful for in my life. It was a healing moment. I broke down, but it was a good breakdown!  I wanted to pass that along to you. It’s amazing what music can do.
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NAMM Yamaha Show: Jamie Cullum, Bob James, Nathan East, and Chris Gero perform at NAMM 2015, held in Nashville, Tennessee at the end of January.

February found Fourplay back together in the studio to record their 25th Anniversary album, Silver, at the place where it all began…Sunset Sound.

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Get the newest from Bob James, LIVE at the Milliken Auditiorium!

 Official Japan release date is February 28, 2015.

Japan Dates
February 28: Yamagata – Terrsa Hall
March 1: Tokyo – Cotton Club
March 3: Yokohama – Motion Blue
March 5-7: Tokyo – Blue Note

East is a session bass player without equal. He’s performed on more than 2,000 recordings with a list of artists that includes Michael Jackson — on the “Bad” album — Phil Collins, Kenny Loggins, Al Jarreau, Eric Clapton and hundreds more.

He was even one of the composers of “Get Lucky,” a worldwide hit for Daft Punk.

“It’s been one of those careers where I just wake up every day and pinch myself,” he says.

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Bob James and Nathan East met up at NAMM at the end of January to get together with some friends. 

Held at the Anaheim Convention Center, the start studded weekend long event presented the opportunity for some terrific collaborations.

Including a special performance featuring Jamie Cullum, Bob James, Nathan East, and Chris Gero in on the act.

Check some of the photos from the show below!

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Chuck Loeb strolled across the red carpet at the 2015 Grammy Awards, after being nominated for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album for Jazz Funk Soul. (continue reading…)

On Sunday, Nathan East performed at the Grammys for the second straight year, this time celebrating his own hugely successful debut solo album.

Nathan performed with an all-star jazz quartet with Robert Glasper, Billy Hart and Joe Lovano at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles.

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After more than 1,500 recording credits, bass player Nathan East earned a Grammy nomination for his debut solo album on Franklin-based label Yamaha Entertainment Group.

Michael Jackson, Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Beyonce, Phil Collins, Wynonna Judd, Eric Clapton and Daft Punk are each linked by another, lesser-known, legend — Grammy-nominated artist Nathan East.

With a genre-spanning career and a track record of supporting music industry legends, the 58-year-old East already had an unrivaled career as a bass player before he partnered with Franklin-based Yamaha Entertainment Group for his first solo album. The album, titled “Nathan East,” is nominated for best contemporary instrumental jazz album.

While it marked East’s first album as a solo artist, he has more than 2,000 record credits to his name, making him one of, if not the most, recorded musicians ever. The Grammy recognition also represents validation for East’s record label home, Yamaha Entertainment Group, which is a division of the leading instrument company Yamaha Corporation of America.

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