1 00:00:00,720 --> 00:00:01,480 Speaker 1: Taking a Walk. 2 00:00:01,639 --> 00:00:06,080 Speaker 2: I think when we got together, our joke was we 3 00:00:06,080 --> 00:00:09,240 Speaker 2: were the modern jazz quartet of the nineties. That was 4 00:00:09,320 --> 00:00:12,040 Speaker 2: kind of like our We looked to the modern jazz 5 00:00:12,080 --> 00:00:17,119 Speaker 2: quartet as another quartet that we wanted to emulate in 6 00:00:17,200 --> 00:00:20,599 Speaker 2: terms of their classic style and sound. 7 00:00:20,680 --> 00:00:23,360 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Taking a Walk Podcast with your host 8 00:00:23,400 --> 00:00:27,120 Speaker 1: Buzz Night, where Buzz talks with musicians that are making 9 00:00:27,120 --> 00:00:31,720 Speaker 1: it happen with great performances and productions. Today, Buzz speaks 10 00:00:31,720 --> 00:00:34,400 Speaker 1: with Nathan East, a founding member of the chart topping 11 00:00:34,479 --> 00:00:37,920 Speaker 1: jazz group for Play. He's been churning out hit songs 12 00:00:37,920 --> 00:00:42,479 Speaker 1: with artists like Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Beyonce, Stevie Wonder 13 00:00:42,560 --> 00:00:45,960 Speaker 1: and many more, and he'll join Eric Clapton on tour 14 00:00:46,000 --> 00:00:49,879 Speaker 1: as well. Nathan East joins Buzz Night now on the 15 00:00:49,920 --> 00:00:51,240 Speaker 1: Taking a Walk Podcast. 16 00:00:52,640 --> 00:00:54,760 Speaker 3: Oh, Nathan, it's so nice to have you on Taking 17 00:00:54,800 --> 00:00:55,280 Speaker 3: a Walk. 18 00:00:56,000 --> 00:00:57,760 Speaker 4: Hey, it's nice to be here on this walk with you. 19 00:00:58,800 --> 00:01:02,320 Speaker 3: So, since it is called taking a walk, if you 20 00:01:02,320 --> 00:01:07,600 Speaker 3: could take a walk with someone living or dead, who 21 00:01:07,600 --> 00:01:09,800 Speaker 3: would you take a walk with and where would you 22 00:01:09,840 --> 00:01:11,480 Speaker 3: take that walk with him? 23 00:01:11,760 --> 00:01:16,840 Speaker 2: I think Jesus Christ down the shures of Tory Pie. 24 00:01:17,280 --> 00:01:21,440 Speaker 2: I don't know, there's wow, there's a lot of people, 25 00:01:21,480 --> 00:01:24,399 Speaker 2: but yeah, I think Jesus Christ be on first on 26 00:01:24,480 --> 00:01:24,880 Speaker 2: my list. 27 00:01:26,080 --> 00:01:30,039 Speaker 3: That would be that would be a significant walk. I 28 00:01:30,040 --> 00:01:33,080 Speaker 3: would say, yeah. 29 00:01:33,680 --> 00:01:36,920 Speaker 2: I mean, you know, we we spend uh, we spend 30 00:01:36,959 --> 00:01:40,200 Speaker 2: a lot of time here and there's a lot of 31 00:01:40,560 --> 00:01:46,600 Speaker 2: a lot of questions and uh without answers. 32 00:01:47,280 --> 00:01:49,240 Speaker 4: Might I say amen to that? Sir? 33 00:01:50,640 --> 00:01:55,160 Speaker 3: Yeah? Well, can you share how your musical upbringing really 34 00:01:55,200 --> 00:01:59,480 Speaker 3: shaped your career and particularly that moment that you knew 35 00:02:00,120 --> 00:02:03,160 Speaker 3: that the bass was going to be your calling? 36 00:02:04,400 --> 00:02:09,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean speaking of the spirituality and everything that 37 00:02:09,080 --> 00:02:11,440 Speaker 2: the bass was was on the altar at Christ the 38 00:02:11,480 --> 00:02:15,320 Speaker 2: King Church where my brothers were playing, Raymond and David 39 00:02:16,320 --> 00:02:19,160 Speaker 2: were playing at the folk masses they had in San 40 00:02:19,200 --> 00:02:22,919 Speaker 2: Diego in the seventies basically, and there was an a 41 00:02:23,240 --> 00:02:23,919 Speaker 2: the bass on. 42 00:02:23,880 --> 00:02:26,840 Speaker 4: The altar and I said, does anybody playing it? No? 43 00:02:26,840 --> 00:02:29,240 Speaker 2: Nobody knew whose it was, so do you mind if 44 00:02:29,280 --> 00:02:31,440 Speaker 2: I pick it up? I picked it up and it 45 00:02:31,560 --> 00:02:36,600 Speaker 2: was just that huh, And it was really just felt. 46 00:02:36,800 --> 00:02:39,160 Speaker 2: I was fourteen years old and it just felt like 47 00:02:39,320 --> 00:02:41,040 Speaker 2: magical in my hands. And then all of a sudden, 48 00:02:41,040 --> 00:02:43,360 Speaker 2: I said, man, you could play these notes that that 49 00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:46,359 Speaker 2: kind of affect the sound of the chords, and so 50 00:02:46,400 --> 00:02:48,280 Speaker 2: they let me. They let me play it, and then 51 00:02:48,280 --> 00:02:50,640 Speaker 2: they let me be in the band, and you know, 52 00:02:50,680 --> 00:02:54,600 Speaker 2: I had a gig the next day, and that was. 53 00:02:54,560 --> 00:02:57,120 Speaker 4: It, right, you were in all in. 54 00:02:57,480 --> 00:03:00,280 Speaker 2: I was all in, no looking back, and I I 55 00:03:00,320 --> 00:03:04,320 Speaker 2: have to full disclosure, I had played cello for three years, 56 00:03:04,400 --> 00:03:08,760 Speaker 2: so you know, I was familiar with a bass cleft instrument, 57 00:03:09,360 --> 00:03:12,680 Speaker 2: but there was just something very magical about that moment, 58 00:03:12,880 --> 00:03:17,320 Speaker 2: and it just I kind of never really looked back 59 00:03:17,360 --> 00:03:18,440 Speaker 2: after that. 60 00:03:19,560 --> 00:03:23,000 Speaker 3: And who were some of those bass players early on 61 00:03:23,160 --> 00:03:24,160 Speaker 3: that helped shape you? 62 00:03:25,560 --> 00:03:25,880 Speaker 4: Well? 63 00:03:26,480 --> 00:03:29,040 Speaker 2: In the beginning, you know, I was listening to everything, 64 00:03:29,160 --> 00:03:32,560 Speaker 2: so you know, we had Charlie Mingus and Ron Carter, 65 00:03:33,320 --> 00:03:37,440 Speaker 2: we're big, we're big influences. But then we were playing 66 00:03:37,720 --> 00:03:42,440 Speaker 2: music by Chicago and Blood, Sweat and Tears, so, believe 67 00:03:42,440 --> 00:03:45,760 Speaker 2: it or not, Peter Stera and people like Verding White 68 00:03:45,760 --> 00:03:50,160 Speaker 2: of Earth Wind and Fire were capturing my attention right away, 69 00:03:50,200 --> 00:03:54,720 Speaker 2: you know, and and you know everybody in between, you know, 70 00:03:54,880 --> 00:03:56,080 Speaker 2: Paul McCartney of course. 71 00:03:57,760 --> 00:04:00,360 Speaker 3: So you went on the road pretty early in your career, 72 00:04:00,720 --> 00:04:01,440 Speaker 3: is that correct? 73 00:04:02,840 --> 00:04:03,520 Speaker 4: Fairly early? 74 00:04:03,720 --> 00:04:07,200 Speaker 2: Had a band that I was in called Power played 75 00:04:07,240 --> 00:04:10,080 Speaker 2: with a Stax review all the people and one of 76 00:04:10,120 --> 00:04:12,800 Speaker 2: the artists was very white, and when he heard our band, 77 00:04:12,600 --> 00:04:14,880 Speaker 2: he just hired the entire band on the spot to 78 00:04:14,880 --> 00:04:15,680 Speaker 2: go tour with him. 79 00:04:15,760 --> 00:04:15,960 Speaker 4: You know. 80 00:04:16,400 --> 00:04:20,760 Speaker 2: So I'm sixteen years old and touring and one of 81 00:04:20,800 --> 00:04:25,320 Speaker 2: our first stops was Madison Square Garden and we played 82 00:04:25,320 --> 00:04:30,480 Speaker 2: the Kennedy Center. We played Kobal Hall in Detroit, and 83 00:04:30,920 --> 00:04:33,760 Speaker 2: you know, the Apollo Theater. So all these places that 84 00:04:34,520 --> 00:04:36,760 Speaker 2: you know, I had heard about, and next thing you know, 85 00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:40,440 Speaker 2: I'm sixteen year old kid and inside of these places playing. 86 00:04:40,480 --> 00:04:41,040 Speaker 4: It was amazing. 87 00:04:42,400 --> 00:04:44,359 Speaker 3: And what did your folks think about all this? 88 00:04:45,200 --> 00:04:46,720 Speaker 4: You know, they were very supportive. 89 00:04:47,520 --> 00:04:53,360 Speaker 2: They were not you know, obviously you know their young 90 00:04:53,440 --> 00:04:56,039 Speaker 2: son is going off with the guys, so they just 91 00:04:56,040 --> 00:05:01,640 Speaker 2: said be careful, and I think they said a little 92 00:05:01,680 --> 00:05:07,040 Speaker 2: prayer and sent me off. My older brother, David, whose 93 00:05:07,080 --> 00:05:08,760 Speaker 2: birthday day is actually today. 94 00:05:08,560 --> 00:05:09,320 Speaker 4: I got to call him. 95 00:05:10,200 --> 00:05:12,760 Speaker 2: He was also in the band, so I think they 96 00:05:12,800 --> 00:05:15,919 Speaker 2: had the comfort of knowing that he was keeping an 97 00:05:15,960 --> 00:05:16,400 Speaker 2: eye on me. 98 00:05:17,800 --> 00:05:21,560 Speaker 3: And was there ever a moment during that first tour 99 00:05:21,720 --> 00:05:24,599 Speaker 3: that you were like, She's what did I get myself into? 100 00:05:26,640 --> 00:05:26,839 Speaker 4: Yeah? 101 00:05:26,880 --> 00:05:30,200 Speaker 2: I mean it was kind of like you learn really 102 00:05:30,279 --> 00:05:36,120 Speaker 2: quickly about a lot of things that have nothing to 103 00:05:36,160 --> 00:05:38,919 Speaker 2: do with music basically, but a lot to do with life. 104 00:05:39,720 --> 00:05:43,320 Speaker 4: And it was an invaluable experience. 105 00:05:43,360 --> 00:05:47,120 Speaker 2: And to this day when I go back down those roads, 106 00:05:47,279 --> 00:05:49,320 Speaker 2: you know, I just I always go back to those 107 00:05:49,320 --> 00:05:51,760 Speaker 2: first early days with Barry White. 108 00:05:52,480 --> 00:05:54,960 Speaker 3: So I want to talk about four Play for a second. 109 00:05:56,000 --> 00:05:59,120 Speaker 3: It's been together twenty years. 110 00:05:59,640 --> 00:06:03,000 Speaker 4: Actually thirty thirty years. I'm sorry. 111 00:06:04,120 --> 00:06:10,119 Speaker 3: Bands are pretty fragile entities, as you well know. What's 112 00:06:10,200 --> 00:06:15,720 Speaker 3: the secret to the longevity and the amazing chemistry and 113 00:06:15,760 --> 00:06:17,960 Speaker 3: that success, you. 114 00:06:17,920 --> 00:06:23,320 Speaker 2: Know, I think just the comraderie in respect. I respected 115 00:06:23,360 --> 00:06:27,680 Speaker 2: all of those guys, Harvey Mason, Bob James, Lee, Rittenauer, 116 00:06:28,279 --> 00:06:32,880 Speaker 2: Larry Carlton, Chuck Loeb, who was the final guitarist with 117 00:06:32,920 --> 00:06:36,200 Speaker 2: the band. But all of those guys, you know, I 118 00:06:36,279 --> 00:06:38,479 Speaker 2: used to listen to their albums, played their music and 119 00:06:38,520 --> 00:06:41,680 Speaker 2: the bands that I was in, and it was one 120 00:06:41,680 --> 00:06:46,279 Speaker 2: of those things where you know, the mutual mutual admiration society. 121 00:06:46,520 --> 00:06:48,960 Speaker 2: You know, we were all kind of in awe of 122 00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:51,600 Speaker 2: each other. So I think that that helps a lot, 123 00:06:51,680 --> 00:06:56,279 Speaker 2: you know, and just we we all you know, respected 124 00:06:56,320 --> 00:07:00,000 Speaker 2: each other and had a great time playing making music together. 125 00:07:00,040 --> 00:07:00,240 Speaker 1: There. 126 00:07:01,360 --> 00:07:02,920 Speaker 4: Did you realize. 127 00:07:02,400 --> 00:07:06,560 Speaker 3: Though, as this time and this band was unfolding, that 128 00:07:07,360 --> 00:07:10,200 Speaker 3: this is really, you know, a supergroup. 129 00:07:10,760 --> 00:07:10,960 Speaker 4: You know. 130 00:07:11,000 --> 00:07:14,160 Speaker 2: I have to give it to Bob James for sort 131 00:07:14,160 --> 00:07:17,360 Speaker 2: of having the vision. We were all together making one 132 00:07:17,400 --> 00:07:20,600 Speaker 2: of his records. It's called Grand Piano Canyon. It was 133 00:07:20,600 --> 00:07:23,440 Speaker 2: on Warner Brothers and at the time Bob was was 134 00:07:23,440 --> 00:07:27,000 Speaker 2: an A and R guy at Warner Brothers Records, so he, 135 00:07:27,280 --> 00:07:29,280 Speaker 2: you know, he had the vision and when we were 136 00:07:29,360 --> 00:07:31,760 Speaker 2: all these he checked out the chemistry when we were 137 00:07:31,800 --> 00:07:33,640 Speaker 2: in the studio and he said, you know what, this 138 00:07:33,680 --> 00:07:35,280 Speaker 2: would be a fun band. What do you think you know, 139 00:07:35,360 --> 00:07:38,160 Speaker 2: we'd just just make a record. I'm sure we can 140 00:07:38,160 --> 00:07:41,720 Speaker 2: get a deal here. And Warners signed us sight unseen. 141 00:07:41,760 --> 00:07:43,480 Speaker 2: They hadn't didn't hear anything. 142 00:07:43,160 --> 00:07:46,200 Speaker 4: But we uh, we. 143 00:07:45,960 --> 00:07:48,360 Speaker 2: Went in the studio, made that first record, have had 144 00:07:48,360 --> 00:07:49,240 Speaker 2: a great time doing it. 145 00:07:50,240 --> 00:07:53,720 Speaker 3: And now, how does you know an entity such as that? 146 00:07:53,920 --> 00:07:58,880 Speaker 3: How how does one band member make other band members 147 00:07:59,400 --> 00:08:02,320 Speaker 3: better through their particular actions? 148 00:08:03,200 --> 00:08:04,080 Speaker 4: Excellent question. 149 00:08:04,640 --> 00:08:07,720 Speaker 2: I think every one of the guys in the band 150 00:08:08,560 --> 00:08:12,360 Speaker 2: had very high standards. And you can just take a 151 00:08:12,400 --> 00:08:17,600 Speaker 2: group of notes and each person says how can we 152 00:08:17,640 --> 00:08:20,360 Speaker 2: make these notes better, how can we may arrange them, 153 00:08:21,080 --> 00:08:24,040 Speaker 2: put some kind of dynamics, And you know, when you 154 00:08:24,080 --> 00:08:26,600 Speaker 2: have one of the greatest arrangers like Bob James also 155 00:08:27,080 --> 00:08:30,600 Speaker 2: it helps. But we're all in the same mindset of 156 00:08:30,640 --> 00:08:32,200 Speaker 2: taking the music to the next level. 157 00:08:32,559 --> 00:08:34,040 Speaker 4: And I think that's what happened. 158 00:08:34,280 --> 00:08:38,319 Speaker 2: And really when the four of us got together, it 159 00:08:38,520 --> 00:08:40,360 Speaker 2: just there was some magic chemistry that. 160 00:08:41,679 --> 00:08:45,199 Speaker 4: Really lasted all these years. 161 00:08:45,240 --> 00:08:49,800 Speaker 3: And is there an equivalent sort of vibe for a 162 00:08:49,840 --> 00:08:53,240 Speaker 3: band such as that or other bands that you continue 163 00:08:53,320 --> 00:08:58,080 Speaker 3: to play with, where as a musician you're truly in, 164 00:08:58,880 --> 00:09:02,280 Speaker 3: you know, the zone like athletes talk about the zone, right. 165 00:09:02,760 --> 00:09:06,560 Speaker 2: I think when we got together, our joke was was 166 00:09:07,080 --> 00:09:09,920 Speaker 2: we were the modern jazz quartet of the nineties. You know, 167 00:09:10,000 --> 00:09:12,560 Speaker 2: that was kind of like our We looked to the 168 00:09:12,559 --> 00:09:17,120 Speaker 2: modern jazz quartet as a as another quartet that we 169 00:09:17,280 --> 00:09:21,760 Speaker 2: wanted to emulate in terms of their classic style and sound. 170 00:09:23,000 --> 00:09:27,840 Speaker 3: Not a bad one to go after, exactly. Man oh Man, 171 00:09:28,160 --> 00:09:32,400 Speaker 3: So what inspired you to step out ultimately as a 172 00:09:32,400 --> 00:09:35,480 Speaker 3: solo artist after you know, all that time as this 173 00:09:35,760 --> 00:09:37,440 Speaker 3: amazing you know, session player. 174 00:09:38,040 --> 00:09:40,120 Speaker 2: You know, I was the only one in the band 175 00:09:40,360 --> 00:09:43,520 Speaker 2: without a solo album, you know, and so for years 176 00:09:43,520 --> 00:09:46,520 Speaker 2: the guys were just saying, Nate, what are you waiting on? 177 00:09:46,600 --> 00:09:49,280 Speaker 4: You know, And obviously a busy session. 178 00:09:48,960 --> 00:09:50,680 Speaker 2: Career, you know, where I was just working every day 179 00:09:50,800 --> 00:09:54,800 Speaker 2: and twenty almost thirty dates a week, you know, back 180 00:09:54,800 --> 00:09:58,720 Speaker 2: in the heyday when the record business was just just 181 00:09:59,360 --> 00:10:05,080 Speaker 2: completely alive and well, you know and flourishing, and so 182 00:10:05,160 --> 00:10:09,480 Speaker 2: that kept me pretty busy. But around you know, twenty fourteen, 183 00:10:09,920 --> 00:10:13,480 Speaker 2: twenty thirteen, I felt like this is a good. 184 00:10:13,280 --> 00:10:16,240 Speaker 4: Time and I was signed. 185 00:10:16,600 --> 00:10:20,520 Speaker 2: I've been playing Yamaha instruments and they started a record label, 186 00:10:21,080 --> 00:10:24,440 Speaker 2: so they signed me and we went in and I 187 00:10:24,480 --> 00:10:26,199 Speaker 2: think produced some fun music. 188 00:10:27,640 --> 00:10:34,040 Speaker 3: And how do the great collaborations come together on solo work? 189 00:10:34,120 --> 00:10:40,840 Speaker 3: With Stevie Wonder and Sarah Burrells as examples, right. 190 00:10:40,720 --> 00:10:45,480 Speaker 2: Well, that's the benefit of having all those years of 191 00:10:45,559 --> 00:10:49,600 Speaker 2: working with people. So I had recorded with Stevie, done 192 00:10:49,600 --> 00:10:53,040 Speaker 2: a lot of records with him, and the song Overjoyed 193 00:10:53,080 --> 00:10:56,880 Speaker 2: that I ended up recording. I was fooling around at 194 00:10:56,960 --> 00:10:59,040 Speaker 2: Carnegie Hall at a sound check. We were doing a 195 00:10:59,080 --> 00:11:03,480 Speaker 2: gig with Staying and one of those Rainforest benefits that 196 00:11:03,520 --> 00:11:06,319 Speaker 2: had a lot of artists on it. George Harrison, Bonnie Ray, 197 00:11:06,400 --> 00:11:09,000 Speaker 2: James Taylor, and Stevie Wonder was on there, and on 198 00:11:09,040 --> 00:11:11,520 Speaker 2: a break, I started fooling around with the chord changes 199 00:11:11,559 --> 00:11:15,560 Speaker 2: of Overjoyed, just kind of playing it as a bass melody. 200 00:11:15,640 --> 00:11:17,760 Speaker 2: And next thing I know, I hear harmonica come in. 201 00:11:19,360 --> 00:11:23,520 Speaker 2: Then like all of a sudden, Stevie's playing harmonica with 202 00:11:23,559 --> 00:11:26,360 Speaker 2: me on his song, the melody, you know. And then 203 00:11:26,400 --> 00:11:29,120 Speaker 2: next thing you know, you could hear a pin drop, 204 00:11:29,160 --> 00:11:31,280 Speaker 2: And here I am trying to figure out the chord changes. 205 00:11:31,440 --> 00:11:35,400 Speaker 2: He's playing along and staying and James Taylor, they're all 206 00:11:35,480 --> 00:11:41,080 Speaker 2: just listening Elton John and so after we finished, then 207 00:11:41,120 --> 00:11:43,320 Speaker 2: they all applauded, and Stevie came over and said, if 208 00:11:43,360 --> 00:11:44,120 Speaker 2: you ever record that. 209 00:11:44,120 --> 00:11:45,520 Speaker 4: Song, I want to. I want to play on it. 210 00:11:45,679 --> 00:11:48,520 Speaker 2: So I went to record it, called him, and he 211 00:11:48,559 --> 00:11:49,760 Speaker 2: came in and played on it. 212 00:11:49,760 --> 00:11:52,920 Speaker 4: It's amazing. No, Stevie, you can't. 213 00:11:53,040 --> 00:11:55,600 Speaker 3: No, that's okay. I've got somebody else in mind. But 214 00:11:55,679 --> 00:11:59,440 Speaker 3: thanks for asking. Yeah, right, my god, I don't believe 215 00:11:59,559 --> 00:12:03,280 Speaker 3: you have been around and are still around so many 216 00:12:03,559 --> 00:12:08,440 Speaker 3: forces of nature. And just to go back on Stevie 217 00:12:08,480 --> 00:12:13,920 Speaker 3: for a second, I mean, I'm continually wowed by him 218 00:12:14,080 --> 00:12:17,560 Speaker 3: every time I see him do something to this day, 219 00:12:18,679 --> 00:12:22,240 Speaker 3: you would have to agree with me on that one, you. 220 00:12:22,200 --> 00:12:23,960 Speaker 4: Know, just as a. 221 00:12:24,000 --> 00:12:27,000 Speaker 2: Matter of fact, when I think about when I think 222 00:12:27,040 --> 00:12:31,360 Speaker 2: about the amount of music that has come out of 223 00:12:31,440 --> 00:12:33,240 Speaker 2: him already and then the mouth that's. 224 00:12:33,120 --> 00:12:34,440 Speaker 4: Still in him. 225 00:12:34,840 --> 00:12:37,160 Speaker 2: Matter of fact, one of the last times I saw him, 226 00:12:38,400 --> 00:12:40,880 Speaker 2: he said, I got a few songs I want you 227 00:12:40,960 --> 00:12:43,760 Speaker 2: to play on my next album, you know. So it's 228 00:12:43,840 --> 00:12:47,679 Speaker 2: like I'm going wow. And he's been such a part 229 00:12:47,720 --> 00:12:53,120 Speaker 2: of the music culture, you know, for for decades. It's like, 230 00:12:54,080 --> 00:12:56,840 Speaker 2: I don't know where we'd be without Stevie, you know. 231 00:12:56,880 --> 00:12:58,559 Speaker 4: It's it's it's. 232 00:12:58,520 --> 00:13:01,880 Speaker 2: Really mind blowing when you think about how much music 233 00:13:01,880 --> 00:13:04,679 Speaker 2: he's contributed to the world and still continues to. 234 00:13:05,920 --> 00:13:08,800 Speaker 3: Oh and just seems to be having the time of 235 00:13:08,840 --> 00:13:11,040 Speaker 3: his life when he's creating as well. 236 00:13:11,120 --> 00:13:12,760 Speaker 4: Yeah, Like he. 237 00:13:12,760 --> 00:13:16,600 Speaker 2: Never stops and he always has either the rpeggy or 238 00:13:16,720 --> 00:13:18,640 Speaker 2: is buying the piano, and and he. 239 00:13:18,720 --> 00:13:20,319 Speaker 4: Just never stops creating. 240 00:13:20,440 --> 00:13:23,920 Speaker 2: And I think it's like the essence of of of 241 00:13:23,920 --> 00:13:28,080 Speaker 2: what God meant for people to do, especially in our business. 242 00:13:29,840 --> 00:13:32,840 Speaker 3: Well, so many of the people that you have intersected 243 00:13:32,880 --> 00:13:36,400 Speaker 3: with or are still intersecting with you know, have their 244 00:13:36,440 --> 00:13:42,200 Speaker 3: own tremendous stories to tell. Certainly you did work with 245 00:13:42,200 --> 00:13:48,040 Speaker 3: with Michael Jackson. That must have been an incredible privilege. Absolutely, yeah. 246 00:13:48,080 --> 00:13:52,360 Speaker 2: He he was just another one, almost not of this earth, 247 00:13:52,400 --> 00:13:55,120 Speaker 2: you know, And it would be amazing to pull up 248 00:13:55,480 --> 00:13:58,120 Speaker 2: West Lake Studios, where we spend a lot of time recording, 249 00:13:58,600 --> 00:14:00,240 Speaker 2: and to pull be in the parking lot and then 250 00:14:00,320 --> 00:14:03,800 Speaker 2: you know, black Mercedes with tark windows pulls up and 251 00:14:03,840 --> 00:14:06,920 Speaker 2: then outsteps a guy in the red leather looks like 252 00:14:06,960 --> 00:14:09,960 Speaker 2: he just finished a video, you know, and there's Michael 253 00:14:10,000 --> 00:14:12,680 Speaker 2: with the shades. And then you just go in the 254 00:14:12,679 --> 00:14:15,480 Speaker 2: studio and you're laughing, telling jokes, and it's it's just 255 00:14:15,520 --> 00:14:16,800 Speaker 2: like another day at the office. 256 00:14:16,800 --> 00:14:18,920 Speaker 4: It's it's pretty pretty remarkable. 257 00:14:20,000 --> 00:14:23,480 Speaker 3: And you're going to be out on tour again with 258 00:14:24,040 --> 00:14:29,720 Speaker 3: Eric Clapton. That must be an incredible experience. Just tell us, 259 00:14:29,840 --> 00:14:32,080 Speaker 3: you know, give us a behind the scenes look at 260 00:14:32,080 --> 00:14:32,760 Speaker 3: that as well. 261 00:14:33,280 --> 00:14:33,520 Speaker 4: Well. 262 00:14:33,560 --> 00:14:37,200 Speaker 2: Again, well, first of all, he's he's approaching his eightieth 263 00:14:37,240 --> 00:14:41,880 Speaker 2: birthday this month, so that in and of itself is amazing. 264 00:14:43,120 --> 00:14:45,920 Speaker 4: He still plays like he's. 265 00:14:45,520 --> 00:14:47,840 Speaker 2: Like he's twenty, you know, and we're on the way 266 00:14:47,920 --> 00:14:51,760 Speaker 2: to Tokyo to perform at the Tokyo Budu Khan eight 267 00:14:51,800 --> 00:14:57,760 Speaker 2: concerts there in April, and again it's a lot of fun, 268 00:14:57,880 --> 00:15:00,120 Speaker 2: a lot of a lot of just laughing and and 269 00:15:00,600 --> 00:15:04,000 Speaker 2: camaraderie goes on on and off the stage when we're together. 270 00:15:04,080 --> 00:15:07,200 Speaker 2: You know, we all love going out for a good meal, 271 00:15:09,240 --> 00:15:12,640 Speaker 2: a good joke, you know, and just and a good time. 272 00:15:13,760 --> 00:15:19,800 Speaker 3: So what is your approach creatively to creating baselines for 273 00:15:20,800 --> 00:15:25,920 Speaker 3: diverse genres? Do you have a specific process or philosophy 274 00:15:26,080 --> 00:15:27,240 Speaker 3: that you go by. 275 00:15:28,320 --> 00:15:31,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, first of all, there's there's been so 276 00:15:31,920 --> 00:15:35,800 Speaker 2: many incredible baselines, you know, that we have to draw 277 00:15:35,880 --> 00:15:38,440 Speaker 2: from in the past, and so that that always made 278 00:15:38,520 --> 00:15:41,840 Speaker 2: me think that a baseline has to be something memorable, 279 00:15:42,680 --> 00:15:46,600 Speaker 2: and regardless of how simple or complex it is, it 280 00:15:46,640 --> 00:15:50,080 Speaker 2: should just be something memorable and some notes that go 281 00:15:50,160 --> 00:15:52,920 Speaker 2: to the heart, you know. So whenever I'm playing to 282 00:15:52,960 --> 00:15:56,520 Speaker 2: this day, I'm constantly thinking about what what are the 283 00:15:56,600 --> 00:15:58,920 Speaker 2: rare notes, what what's a really good note to choose 284 00:15:58,920 --> 00:16:03,160 Speaker 2: to play in this bar? And what's in this bar 285 00:16:03,240 --> 00:16:06,400 Speaker 2: of music, you know, and then what registers are going 286 00:16:06,480 --> 00:16:06,640 Speaker 2: to be? 287 00:16:06,680 --> 00:16:09,320 Speaker 4: Should I start high? Should I play down low? 288 00:16:09,760 --> 00:16:11,720 Speaker 2: And there's all these things that are going through my 289 00:16:11,800 --> 00:16:15,120 Speaker 2: head constantly, you know, to this day when I'm trying 290 00:16:15,160 --> 00:16:16,240 Speaker 2: to come up with a baseline. 291 00:16:17,560 --> 00:16:21,200 Speaker 3: So it's a fair amount of at least experimentation at 292 00:16:21,480 --> 00:16:22,640 Speaker 3: a certain point. 293 00:16:22,840 --> 00:16:27,320 Speaker 2: Right, always analyzing, always trying to figure out what the 294 00:16:27,320 --> 00:16:31,760 Speaker 2: song needs. We were just in a bottom playing some 295 00:16:31,800 --> 00:16:34,560 Speaker 2: shows there, and we had a stage full of like 296 00:16:34,760 --> 00:16:38,760 Speaker 2: thirteen people, you know, artists and singing and horns and 297 00:16:38,960 --> 00:16:43,440 Speaker 2: rhythm and so in that particular moment, you know, there 298 00:16:43,520 --> 00:16:45,680 Speaker 2: were enough people on stage and I just felt like 299 00:16:46,200 --> 00:16:49,200 Speaker 2: just a lot of long, low notes, you know, and 300 00:16:49,680 --> 00:16:53,240 Speaker 2: very simple approach and just kind of do a bottom 301 00:16:53,240 --> 00:16:57,680 Speaker 2: for everybody to kind of be the foundation for all 302 00:16:57,680 --> 00:17:01,600 Speaker 2: the artists. And that you know, again, I'm always trying 303 00:17:01,600 --> 00:17:03,600 Speaker 2: to figure out what's the best thing it Does it 304 00:17:03,680 --> 00:17:08,320 Speaker 2: need more? Does it need less dynamics? And just try 305 00:17:08,359 --> 00:17:10,199 Speaker 2: to find find the good notes. 306 00:17:11,359 --> 00:17:14,280 Speaker 3: Find those good notes. You're finding those good notes every time. 307 00:17:14,480 --> 00:17:16,160 Speaker 4: I gotta tell you, Well. 308 00:17:16,080 --> 00:17:19,919 Speaker 3: I know you mentioned earlier that before you, you know, 309 00:17:20,000 --> 00:17:25,880 Speaker 3: took up the bass, you had played the cello. If 310 00:17:25,880 --> 00:17:28,800 Speaker 3: you weren't playing bass, though, what do you think you'd 311 00:17:28,800 --> 00:17:30,560 Speaker 3: be playing other than the cello? 312 00:17:31,280 --> 00:17:31,960 Speaker 4: Yeah, that's good. 313 00:17:32,000 --> 00:17:34,960 Speaker 2: I mean, when I first started, I thought, you iced 314 00:17:35,000 --> 00:17:38,720 Speaker 2: to hear those Vince GERALDI Charlie Brown specials, And I thought, 315 00:17:38,800 --> 00:17:40,840 Speaker 2: you know, I want to do that, you know, And 316 00:17:40,880 --> 00:17:43,200 Speaker 2: so I would love to play piano. 317 00:17:43,320 --> 00:17:43,480 Speaker 4: Now. 318 00:17:43,560 --> 00:17:47,440 Speaker 2: My son Noah, he covers the piano very well, and 319 00:17:48,359 --> 00:17:51,800 Speaker 2: we've we've just finished a dulo album that will be 320 00:17:51,880 --> 00:17:57,640 Speaker 2: released here soon. But you know, the piano. And if 321 00:17:57,640 --> 00:17:59,960 Speaker 2: I wasn't in music at all, I think i'd be 322 00:18:00,000 --> 00:18:03,120 Speaker 2: the flying airplanes. I'm a private pilot and I really 323 00:18:03,200 --> 00:18:05,760 Speaker 2: enjoy that as well. And it's another one of those 324 00:18:05,800 --> 00:18:07,840 Speaker 2: things that you know you could do for a living, 325 00:18:08,480 --> 00:18:11,560 Speaker 2: and then it doesn't feel quite like it like it's working. 326 00:18:12,880 --> 00:18:13,640 Speaker 4: As a pilot. 327 00:18:13,840 --> 00:18:19,040 Speaker 3: Is there a certain sense of spirituality when you're really, 328 00:18:19,280 --> 00:18:22,800 Speaker 3: you know, up there in that space and time. 329 00:18:23,160 --> 00:18:25,639 Speaker 2: I used to always say it's getting a little closer 330 00:18:25,680 --> 00:18:28,360 Speaker 2: to God when I get up here above the clouds, 331 00:18:28,359 --> 00:18:31,040 Speaker 2: and and yeah, there's. 332 00:18:30,680 --> 00:18:32,520 Speaker 4: Something for me. 333 00:18:32,600 --> 00:18:36,159 Speaker 2: The spirit of it is is your every time you 334 00:18:36,200 --> 00:18:40,080 Speaker 2: take off and land safely, you've you've basically. 335 00:18:41,200 --> 00:18:43,639 Speaker 4: Added years to you to your life. You know. 336 00:18:43,680 --> 00:18:46,399 Speaker 2: It's it's it's one of those things where you have 337 00:18:46,480 --> 00:18:49,640 Speaker 2: to pay attention and and there's there's not too much 338 00:18:49,920 --> 00:18:52,280 Speaker 2: else that can be on your mind while you're piloting 339 00:18:52,359 --> 00:18:56,040 Speaker 2: an airplane, and so those are the those are the 340 00:18:56,080 --> 00:18:58,800 Speaker 2: things I always feel and say a prayer of gratitude 341 00:18:58,800 --> 00:18:59,959 Speaker 2: every time I land safely. 342 00:19:01,320 --> 00:19:05,680 Speaker 3: Is there any particular discipline as a pilot that you've 343 00:19:05,720 --> 00:19:10,800 Speaker 3: taken and applied to your musical disciplines? 344 00:19:11,520 --> 00:19:14,560 Speaker 2: Well, the fact that you know anything that you would 345 00:19:15,240 --> 00:19:19,120 Speaker 2: want to get better at, the repetition of it and 346 00:19:19,240 --> 00:19:22,680 Speaker 2: the practice of it is I think one of those 347 00:19:22,720 --> 00:19:26,360 Speaker 2: things that becomes essential, whether it's flying a plane. 348 00:19:26,160 --> 00:19:31,240 Speaker 4: Playing the bass or violin or anything. 349 00:19:31,800 --> 00:19:36,399 Speaker 2: So I think, you know, basketball players they shoot a 350 00:19:36,520 --> 00:19:39,399 Speaker 2: thousand free throws a day or something like that, you know, 351 00:19:39,840 --> 00:19:42,720 Speaker 2: a million a year, And so I think you just. 352 00:19:42,680 --> 00:19:43,560 Speaker 4: Get better. 353 00:19:45,080 --> 00:19:48,359 Speaker 2: At anything you do, and so I try to I 354 00:19:48,400 --> 00:19:50,320 Speaker 2: try to keep that in mind. I mean, I wish 355 00:19:50,400 --> 00:19:52,840 Speaker 2: I had more hours in the day to practice, because 356 00:19:53,480 --> 00:19:55,159 Speaker 2: I'd be a lot better player. 357 00:19:56,560 --> 00:20:02,159 Speaker 3: And on the spirituality note, we produced this other podcast. 358 00:20:02,240 --> 00:20:07,760 Speaker 3: It's called Music Save Me. It's about the therapeutic or 359 00:20:07,920 --> 00:20:14,359 Speaker 3: healing powers of music. Do you personally believe that that 360 00:20:14,520 --> 00:20:17,040 Speaker 3: music has healing powers? 361 00:20:17,640 --> 00:20:23,200 Speaker 2: Absolutely? One hundred percent. I think you know, I've always 362 00:20:23,560 --> 00:20:25,720 Speaker 2: looked at music as the language of God. You know, 363 00:20:26,040 --> 00:20:29,320 Speaker 2: when I'm playing sometimes if you really go deep into 364 00:20:30,000 --> 00:20:32,879 Speaker 2: a trance or the flow or whatever you want to 365 00:20:32,920 --> 00:20:38,800 Speaker 2: call it, it really comes from somewhere else. And the 366 00:20:39,359 --> 00:20:42,880 Speaker 2: recently we were doing some gigs together and people actually 367 00:20:42,880 --> 00:20:45,360 Speaker 2: came to me after the gigs that I was suffering 368 00:20:45,400 --> 00:20:48,040 Speaker 2: with a little bit of depression and this helped me 369 00:20:48,080 --> 00:20:53,840 Speaker 2: out tonight, you know. And I think there's been studies 370 00:20:54,119 --> 00:20:57,320 Speaker 2: and I think it's proven that music is definitely has 371 00:20:57,359 --> 00:21:01,080 Speaker 2: a way to have healing powers that but you can't 372 00:21:01,080 --> 00:21:05,639 Speaker 2: really put your finger on because it's you can't touch it, 373 00:21:05,840 --> 00:21:08,960 Speaker 2: smell it, but it goes, it touches you, you know, 374 00:21:09,000 --> 00:21:13,560 Speaker 2: it goes inside of of of your system, and it's 375 00:21:13,600 --> 00:21:17,560 Speaker 2: really something very powerful, very special that I don't take 376 00:21:17,840 --> 00:21:21,320 Speaker 2: for granted, and I'm always appreciative that I get to 377 00:21:21,960 --> 00:21:23,600 Speaker 2: I get to be part of that language. 378 00:21:24,960 --> 00:21:29,520 Speaker 3: And describe the feeling when you know in a performance 379 00:21:29,560 --> 00:21:33,040 Speaker 3: setting that the music you and the rest of the 380 00:21:33,119 --> 00:21:38,000 Speaker 3: musicians that you're with is deeply connecting with an audience. 381 00:21:38,080 --> 00:21:39,600 Speaker 3: What is that feeling like? 382 00:21:40,760 --> 00:21:43,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, there's there's nothing really like it that 383 00:21:43,440 --> 00:21:47,440 Speaker 2: you're you're you're seeing the power of the vibration that's 384 00:21:47,440 --> 00:21:50,600 Speaker 2: going out actually coming back to you, you know, so 385 00:21:51,280 --> 00:21:53,360 Speaker 2: everybody's everybody's heads. 386 00:21:53,240 --> 00:21:55,159 Speaker 4: And you know, I look out and people. 387 00:21:54,880 --> 00:21:58,239 Speaker 2: Are moving and you see smiles and these are the 388 00:21:58,280 --> 00:22:01,480 Speaker 2: things that just I often equate it to a congregation 389 00:22:01,600 --> 00:22:05,080 Speaker 2: as well, you know, and they come to hear something 390 00:22:05,160 --> 00:22:08,600 Speaker 2: inspirational and then go out and spread the word about it. 391 00:22:08,880 --> 00:22:13,840 Speaker 2: And so it's really great when when you see that 392 00:22:13,920 --> 00:22:16,639 Speaker 2: they're enjoying it as much as you're enjoying playing it. 393 00:22:16,680 --> 00:22:20,320 Speaker 2: And there's no feeling. 394 00:22:20,080 --> 00:22:23,800 Speaker 3: Quite like that someone who you spend a bit of 395 00:22:23,840 --> 00:22:26,399 Speaker 3: time with on the road is no longer to be 396 00:22:26,600 --> 00:22:30,560 Speaker 3: able to be on the road in Phil Collins, can 397 00:22:30,600 --> 00:22:34,680 Speaker 3: you talk about your experiences of playing with Phil. 398 00:22:35,200 --> 00:22:39,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, well Phil as a bass player, you know, because 399 00:22:39,400 --> 00:22:41,680 Speaker 2: the drummer in the band is sort of like we're 400 00:22:41,760 --> 00:22:44,800 Speaker 2: married to you know, we have to bond and lock 401 00:22:45,400 --> 00:22:48,600 Speaker 2: to make the music, you know, grow from the bottom up. 402 00:22:49,160 --> 00:22:51,280 Speaker 2: And the first time I ever played with Phil, and 403 00:22:51,359 --> 00:22:55,800 Speaker 2: it was about forty years ago, a little over forty 404 00:22:55,840 --> 00:22:58,360 Speaker 2: years ago, when we were in London recording the Chinese 405 00:22:58,440 --> 00:23:02,680 Speaker 2: Wall album with Philip Bailey, and I just loved his 406 00:23:02,880 --> 00:23:05,680 Speaker 2: groove and where he put the beat from the minute 407 00:23:05,680 --> 00:23:10,480 Speaker 2: we started playing together and it was just a lovely thing. 408 00:23:10,560 --> 00:23:14,320 Speaker 2: You know, he's he's got his own style, he's left handed, 409 00:23:15,000 --> 00:23:18,800 Speaker 2: and I just I just really enjoyed every every time 410 00:23:18,840 --> 00:23:20,199 Speaker 2: we had a chance to play together. 411 00:23:20,280 --> 00:23:24,800 Speaker 4: And so you know, we on the lot of laughs. 412 00:23:25,000 --> 00:23:28,639 Speaker 2: Another situation where just one of the finest human beings 413 00:23:28,680 --> 00:23:29,080 Speaker 2: you ever. 414 00:23:29,000 --> 00:23:31,560 Speaker 4: Want to meet, and a lot of laughs. 415 00:23:31,560 --> 00:23:33,480 Speaker 2: He used to come pick me and fill up up 416 00:23:33,480 --> 00:23:38,280 Speaker 2: from the hotel out in the country, out in Guildford. 417 00:23:37,800 --> 00:23:39,160 Speaker 4: And we ride into London. 418 00:23:39,160 --> 00:23:41,760 Speaker 2: It was about an hour ride and so every day 419 00:23:41,920 --> 00:23:44,040 Speaker 2: just getting to spend that kind of time with him 420 00:23:44,480 --> 00:23:51,000 Speaker 2: and then playing together, writing together, just nothing but good. 421 00:23:50,960 --> 00:23:53,000 Speaker 4: Positive vibes from the whole situation. 422 00:23:54,200 --> 00:23:57,240 Speaker 3: Well, Nathan, in closing, you played with you know a 423 00:23:57,640 --> 00:24:00,600 Speaker 3: who's who, and you continue to play with the Who's who? 424 00:24:00,760 --> 00:24:05,000 Speaker 3: Is anybody you might want to give us a little 425 00:24:05,040 --> 00:24:08,480 Speaker 3: glimpse of that is on your dream list to play with. 426 00:24:08,720 --> 00:24:12,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know Prince was on that list, So I 427 00:24:12,560 --> 00:24:16,119 Speaker 2: won't be able to pull that one. But I'm the 428 00:24:16,119 --> 00:24:19,399 Speaker 2: biggest Pat Metheni fan, you know, and we've threatened to 429 00:24:19,440 --> 00:24:24,800 Speaker 2: do something a few times, and of course he's he's busy. 430 00:24:25,240 --> 00:24:28,480 Speaker 2: I'm busy, but we've when we see each other sometimes 431 00:24:28,520 --> 00:24:32,200 Speaker 2: we you know, we just okay, it's gonna happen one. 432 00:24:32,080 --> 00:24:33,960 Speaker 4: Of these days, and I'm holding out for that. 433 00:24:34,960 --> 00:24:37,280 Speaker 3: Well, we had him on this podcast, and that was 434 00:24:37,280 --> 00:24:38,480 Speaker 3: hard to nail him. 435 00:24:38,359 --> 00:24:39,679 Speaker 4: Just like it's hard to nail you. 436 00:24:39,840 --> 00:24:43,600 Speaker 3: He's always working, You're always working. But fingers crossed on 437 00:24:43,680 --> 00:24:47,920 Speaker 3: that one, because that would be a pretty amazing collaboration, 438 00:24:48,160 --> 00:24:49,040 Speaker 3: right it would be. 439 00:24:49,240 --> 00:24:52,880 Speaker 2: But yeah, yeah, absolutely no, It's everything in its time. 440 00:24:52,920 --> 00:24:57,159 Speaker 2: But but I absolutely love his music and and and 441 00:24:57,160 --> 00:24:59,199 Speaker 2: and also his humanity. 442 00:24:58,760 --> 00:25:02,080 Speaker 4: And I think it be great. Nathan. 443 00:25:02,520 --> 00:25:07,119 Speaker 3: Thank you for the time for the music, the beautiful music, 444 00:25:07,440 --> 00:25:12,000 Speaker 3: and what it does for us is words can't describe. 445 00:25:12,040 --> 00:25:15,400 Speaker 3: It's so critical, and I'm so grateful that you took 446 00:25:15,440 --> 00:25:17,119 Speaker 3: the time to be on Taking a Walk. 447 00:25:18,040 --> 00:25:20,600 Speaker 4: Thanks much, appreciate it and enjoyed my walk. 448 00:25:22,920 --> 00:25:25,359 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening to this episode of the Taking a 449 00:25:25,400 --> 00:25:29,320 Speaker 1: Walk podcast. Share this and other episodes with your friends 450 00:25:29,400 --> 00:25:32,879 Speaker 1: and follow us so you never miss an episode. Taking 451 00:25:32,920 --> 00:25:36,800 Speaker 1: a Walk is available on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, 452 00:25:37,000 --> 00:25:40,119 Speaker 1: and wherever you get your podcasts.