Chances are, you spent your whole life listening to Nathan East.  

You just never knew it…until now!

For more information, visit Yamaha Entertainment Group: Nathan East.

Fourplay’s keyboardist Bob James, bassist Nathan East, drummer Harvey Mason, and guitarist Chuck Loeb make a stop at one of their favorite places —Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley in downtown Seattle — August 7-10. The Grammy-nominated, contemporary jazz supergroup’s been in the middle of its “Night of Fourplay” tour world-wide to promote the 2012 hit recording Esprit De Four, with plans to record a silver anniversary album next.

Yesterday, East confirmed the recording plans: “We’re in the process of writing our next album, which will be a celebration of Fourplay’s Silver Anniversary! It’s hard to believe that it’s coming up on 25 years since our first release in 1991, but I guess time flies when you’re having fun.”

(continue reading…)

In advance of Fourplay’s annual appearance in Philadelphia on June 25 at the Keswick Theater in Glenside, PA, I asked two of these world-class musicians, bassist Nathan East and drummer Harvey Mason, to reflect on their careers and their own recently releases solo projects.

(continue reading…)

Chuck Loeb @ Jazz Alley

“Get Lucky,” the monster hit single by French duo Daft Punk, turned one year old earlier this month. By coincidence, renowned session bassist Nathan East released a video for his track, “Daft Funk,” which plays on his association with the group, almost a year to the date of the initial release of “Get Lucky” on April 19, 2013.

(continue reading…)

A Conversation with Harvey Mason

Mike Ragogna: Hey, is this The Chameleon?

Harvey Mason: [laughs] This is the Chameleon! Hey Mike, how are you doing, buddy?

MR: I’m pretty good, how’ve you been?

HM: Pretty great! Just fantastic.

MR: Yeah, I know, it looks like it. You’ve got a new album, Fourplay’s been doing great, and everything’s on the up and up with you right now.

HM: Yeah, I can’t complain, everything’s been great, I’ve just been having a great time, loving life and loving music and I’m going to continue to grow.

MR: Speaking of that, what do you think of the new album? What’s your impression of this Chameleon?

(continue reading…)

The Hall of Fame Award (formerly Citation of Merit) was established to recognize and honor individuals who have made outstanding contributions to society, their profession, the U-M School of Music, Theatre & Dance, one of its departments or programs, or to the School of Music, Theatre & Dance Alumni Society. This award has been presented annually since 1977.

Bob James is a two-time GRAMMY award-winning smooth jazz keyboardist, arranger and producer. James is recognized as one of the progenitors of smooth jazz, however, his music has also had a profound effect on the history of hip hop music, having been sampled often. Two of James’ songs – “Nautilus” from 1974’s Oneand “Take Me to the Mardi Gras” from 1975’s Two  – are among the most sampled in hip hop history. He was discovered by Quincy Jones at the Notre Dame Jazz Festival in 1963, and subsequently recorded his first solo album, Bold Conceptions, that year for Mercury Records.

(continue reading…)

By now most know about Bob James’ deep connection and involvement in efforts to rebuild Japan after the 2011 tsunami.

Bob’s role in this effort has continued, as the movement has continued to grow in support.  Now “Music for Tomorrow” benefits concerts are being featured from shows held in Strasbourg, New York, and New Orleans to further the cause.

The documentary will air in Japan on NHK General TV, and is being screened on May 3rd at Rias Hall in Ofunato-city.

Screening

Don’t miss the release of “Music for Tomorrow” and your opportunity to lend support!

Chameleon, the scintillating Concord Records debut from multi-GRAMMY® nominated Harvey Mason, finds him drawing upon the rich jazz-funk legacy of the 1970s and recasting seven of that era’s most enduring classics with an early 21st-century sheen. A legendary session drummer, producer, composer and recording artist, Mason is among the most recorded and in-demand musicians of all-time.

(continue reading…)

Harvey Mason, the GRAMMY-nominated drummer of Fourplay, was one of the cornerstones of Herbie Hancock’s Head Hunters ensemble. Chameleon also features some of the brightest young jazz talents on the scene today, including several NEXT Collective alumni: trumpeter Christian Scott, bassist Ben Williams, pianist/keyboardist Kris Bowers, and guitarist Matthew Stevens.

(continue reading…)