Jazz pianist, composer, arranger Bob James and bassist, composer, educator Nathan East are featured in the September 2015 issue of Jazz Inside. Their new duo album, The New Cool is released on the new Yamaha Entertainment Group label and is inspired by the great piano duos of Bill Evans and Eddie Gomez, Oscar Peterson and Ray Brown and others. Together Nathan East and Bob James founded Fourplay 25 years ago. Among the highlights in James’ career include a long term association as the accompanist for Sarah Vaughn, as composer of the theme for the TV show Taxi, and as arranger for numerous albums on the CTI label in the 70s. Nathan East appears on some of the most influential and landmark pop albums in history by artists including Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Quincy Jones, George Harrison and others. This issue of Jazz Inside Magazine also includes an interview with saxophonist Ochion Jewell; CD Reviews, and a comprehensive calendar of hundreds of club, concert and event listings.
READ THE FEATURE ARTICLE HERE! 

Sometimes rules need to be broken!
More on this exciting musical collaboration between Bob James & Nathan East (and others!) on this new behind-the-scenes look at #TheNewCool.

THE NEW COOL is coming… 9.18.15.
Pre-order now and get TWO instant tracks from the new album! smarturl.it/tnc-preorder

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Cool: precisely the way I describe the new album from Bob James and Nathan East titled “The New Cool.” The new album will be released on September 18, 2015. James and East step into duo mode with pure ease; that is to be expected since the two have been friends and musical collaborators for over 25 years. Individually and collectively as part of the legendary group, Fourplay, Bob James and Nathan East have been making music for a very long time. It was the obvious next step for the two of them to embark upon a journey together doing what they do best. As friends and collaborators, the ease of which the two fused their talents with just a piano and upright bass was masterful. That camaraderie and spirit shines forth in every note of every song on “The New Cool.” It is comprised of…Continue Reading the Full Article HERE!

While bassist Nathan East and keyboardist Bob James have collaborated before as members of the jazz supergroup Fourplay, they’ve never done anything quite like this. For their new project, they’ve teamed up as a duo for an acoustic jazz album that features a strong emphasis on the dance between bass and piano.

It’s called The New Cool, and it rolls out later this month.

The project got its start with Yamaha Entertainment Group label President Chis Gero sending East and James into a Nashville recording studio decked out with some state-of-the-art equipment provided by his company. They emerged with 11-tracks, more than half of which are original compositions. Their creations run the gamut from minimalistic duets to intricate ensemble arrangements.

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The New Cool” (www.thenewcoolalbum.com ) is coming. Labor Day Weekend is upon us and shortly after – September 18 to be exact –Yamaha Entertainment Group will release the first duets collection byGrammy winners Bob James and Nathan East. An intimate acoustic jazz set of piano and bass banter from the jazz legend and master musician,iTunes pre-orders for “The New Cool” are surging while the 10-part series of behind-the-scenes vignettes about the making of this extraordinary recording whets the appetite of sophisticated listeners by the thousands. Produced by James, East and Yamaha Entertainment Group presidentChris Gero, this masters’ class is in session boasting a syllabus of original compositions written specifically for this project and a few handpicked classics. With a straight-ahead lean while adventurously exploring all corners of the jazz playground, it’s unlike anything the highly-accomplished duo has ever recorded in their lengthy careers. 

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