It’s not often you get to witness a performance that feels both masterfully polished and deeply personal. “Father Son: An Evening with Nathan and Noah East and Friends” delivered exactly that when it recently rolled through Las Vegas.

Nathan East is undeniably one of the most iconic, versatile, and prolific bass players of our time. With a résumé that spans decades and genres, his musicianship has become part of the soundtrack of modern music.

Following naturally in his footsteps is his son, Noah East, an accomplished pianist and organist whose growth as a musician feels both organic and genuinely earned. Growing up in a musical household may have opened doors, but Noah has clearly put in the work to cultivate his own voice, one that’s mature, confident, and increasingly commanding.

Last year, the father-son duo released their aptly titled album, Father Son, a project that beautifully captures their musical chemistry.

In a recent conversation I had with Nathan (full interview going live in Bass Musician Magazine on April 1st), he spoke enthusiastically about taking the project on the road. When he mentioned a Las Vegas date, I immediately secured tickets.

The show took place at Myron’s at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, one of the city’s most inviting listening rooms. The venue’s art deco ambiance and pristine acoustics make it ideal for a performance of this intimacy and sophistication. With its comfortable table seating, guests can enjoy food and beverages while remaining fully immersed in the music, a perfect setting for an evening of jazz-infused artistry.

The lineup for the evening featured Nathan on upright and electric bass, Noah on piano and Hammond B-3 organ, Donald Barrett on drums, and Michael “Nomad” Ripoll on guitar. Together, they formed a tight, well-oiled unit that impressed from the first downbeat. There was an ease on stage, an unspoken communication, that only seasoned musicians can achieve.

The set list offered a thoughtful blend of jazz standards, selections from Father Son, and songs associated with some of the biggest names Nathan has collaborated with over the years, including Stevie Wonder, Eric Clapton, and Daft Punk. The audience was treated to a seamless 90-minute performance with no intermission, just continuous, captivating music.

As expected, Nathan’s bass work was exceptional. His note choices and phrasing elevated every arrangement, serving the music with taste and authority. Noah’s virtuosity was evident throughout the night on both piano and organ, though it was on the Hammond B-3 where he truly seemed to shine. His touch, dynamic control, and tonal choices revealed a musician well beyond his years.

“Nomad” Ripoll’s guitar work was equally compelling, with several moments to stretch out and deliver expressive, fiery solos. Meanwhile, Donald Barrett’s drumming was tight, precise, and deeply musical. He drove the band with subtle power and, during his solo feature, displayed jaw-dropping technique that drew wide smiles from his bandmates and enthusiastic applause from the audience.

In the end, “Father Son” is more than a concert; it’s a celebration of legacy, mentorship, and shared passion. It’s rare to see generational artistry unfold in real time with such authenticity. This is a must-see show, and I’ll certainly be in the audience again the next time they return to Las Vegas.

You can check to see if they will be in your area by going to nathaneast.com or facebook.com/NathanEast/.

NEA Jazz Master and bass virtuoso Ron Carter returns to Birdland Jazz Club, the Jazz Corner of the World, this October for his popular annual residency. This month-long residency will kick off on Wednesday, October 8 and run through November 1, and will comprise 32 performances over four weeks. 

Renowned for his unmatched talent, Ron Carter stands as one of jazz’s most inventive and prolific bassists. With a staggering discography boasting over 2,000 albums, Carter is certified as the most recorded bass player in the history of recorded music. Honored with the prestigious 1998 National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters Fellowship, Carter’s collaborative footprint spans an astonishing spectrum of musical genres, with performances and recordings alongside an eclectic array of artists. 

The first week, October 8-11, Carter joins forces with acclaimed guitarist and composer Bill Frisell. This isn’t their first musical meeting—the duo previously collaborated on the acclaimed 2006 trio album Bill Frisell, Ron Carter, Paul Motian, and their musical connection runs deep, with Frisell having composed pieces inspired by Carter, including the aptly named “Ron Carter” and “Throughout, Ron Carter.” Their shared commitment to musical exploration and interplay promises an evening of sublime jazz artistry. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to witness two masters of their craft create musical magic in one of New York’s most storied jazz venues.

The second week, October 15-18, spotlights Ron Carter’s New Jazz Trio. Following the untimely passing of the great Russell Malone last summer, Carter assembled a new ensemble, which plays for the second consecutive year at Birdland. Featuring Carter alongside Grammy-nominated pianist Donald Vega, the New Jazz Trio features NEA Jazz Master saxophonist Donald Harrison.

The third week, October 22-25, will feature Carter’s Foursight Quartet, featuring an outstanding lineup of contemporary jazz luminaries including Jimmy Greene on saxophone, Renee Rosnes on piano, and Payton Crossley on drums. Based in Connecticut, Jimmy Greene stands as one of his generation’s most admired saxophonists, with an extensive catalog of recordings and a rich history as a sideman for luminaries such as Horace Silver and Freddie Hubbard. Similarly, Vancouver-born pianist Renee Rosnes has forged an illustrious career marked by her collaborations with jazz legends like Joe Henderson and Wayne Shorter. Her tenure with the Carnegie Hall Jazz Orchestra, the SFJAZZ Collective and her groundbreaking group Artemis have solidified her place in the jazz pantheon. Drummer Payton Crossley, who entered the jazz scene as a young prodigy, trained under drum great Alan Dawson, before joining the revered pianist Ahmad Jamal. This great quartet has drawn universal praise.

Carter’s Great Big Band takes the stage during the closing week of the residency, October 29-November 1. The large ensemble, which The New Yorker said “swings mightily”,  is always a major highlight of the Birdland residency. Like previous years, the program will likely pull from Carter’s previously released big band albums including Ron Carter’s Big Band (Sunnyside, 2011), Ron Carter and the WDR Big Band’s My Personal Songbook (In+Out Records, 2014), and the GRAMMY nominated Remembering Bob Freedman (2021) by Ron Carter & The Jazzaar Festival Big Band.

Every Thursday performance at 7pm will be streamed exclusively at veeps.com/birdland.

There is no better place to be than Birdland Jazz Club this October. Join this living legend for four incredible weeks of music that are not to be missed. 

Ron Carter is at Birdland Jazz Club October 8-11, 15-18, 22-25, and 29-Nov 1. On Wednesday through Thursday, sets begin at 7:00 and 9:30 PM, and on Friday and Saturday, at 8:30 and 10:30. Tickets start at $40, and there is a $20 minimum. 

For more information, visit online at birdlandjazz.com/calendar/.

Photo: Ron Carter by Alan Nahigian, Provided by Lydia Liebman Promotions

The 2025 DC Jazz Festival (DCJF) is shaping up to be a bassist’s dream, with a powerhouse lineup that reads like a who’s who of legendary four-string masters. Leading the charge is none other than Marcus Miller, the iconic bassist, composer, and producer whose groundbreaking work has shaped the sound of contemporary jazz and R&B for decades.

Miller, a two-time GRAMMY winner, brings his extraordinary band to DC JazzFest at The Wharf on Saturday, August 30, promising to deliver the kind of electrifying performance that has made him one of the most sought-after bassists in the world. His resume speaks volumes—from producing Miles Davis’ acclaimed “Tutu” album to co-writing hits like “Power of Love/Love Power” and “Jump To It,” Miller has left an indelible mark on music history. His collaborations span an incredible range, from jazz legends like Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock to pop icons like Beyoncé, David Bowie, and Aretha Franklin.

“Marcus Miller is a singular force in modern music and a brilliant addition to our 2025 lineup,” said DCJF CEO Sunny Sumter. “We are thrilled to present his extraordinary artistry to DC audiences.”

But Miller won’t be the only bass virtuoso commanding attention at the festival. The event is unprecedented in its celebration of the instrument, featuring multiple generations of bass masters who have each contributed their own distinctive voice to jazz history.

Ron Carter, the Guinness Book of World Records designee as the most recorded bassist in music history, takes the Arena Stage on Sunday, August 31. As the 2024/2025 DC Jazz Festival Artist-in-Residence and NEA Jazz Master, Carter’s presence adds immense gravitas to the lineup. While his incomparable profile was cemented as a member of Miles Davis’ legendary mid-60s “second great quintet” alongside Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, and Tony Williams, Carter’s contributions extend far beyond that iconic group. His work as a bandleader has been equally impressive, from his celebrated trio with the late guitarist Russell Malone to his innovative “Piccolo Quartet,” where he showcased his unique piccolo bass, and his ongoing big band projects.

The festival also spotlights rising talent with DC native Corcoran Holt, another 2024/2025 DC Jazz Festival Artist-in-Residence, who shares the Arena Stage with Carter on August 31. A graduate of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts and current faculty member at Arizona State University, Holt represents the next generation of bass excellence. His impressive credits include tours and recordings with jazz pioneers and NEA Jazz Masters Jimmy Cobb, Benny Golson, Jimmy Heath, and Kenny Garrett. Remarkably, Holt’s musical journey began at age four with West African percussion instruments before he found his calling on the bass.

Beyond the bass spotlight, the 21st edition of DC JazzFest promises what Artistic Director Willard Jenkins calls “a stunning array of artistic expressions from a broad range of jazz and jazz-informed styles, representing the true 21st century state-of-the-artform.” The lineup includes NEA Jazz Masters Eddie Palmieri, Branford Marsalis, Gary Bartz, and Marshall Allen leading Sun Ra Arkestra, alongside acclaimed vocalists Lalah Hathaway and Cécile McLorin Salvant, plus John Scofield, Emmet Cohen, Matthew Whitaker, Keyon Harrold, The Baylor Project, The String Queens, and many more artists yet to be announced.

The festival will also celebrate the exceptional talent of the DMV’s jazz community, featuring local artists including Christie Dashiell, Paul Carr, Herb Scott, Akua Allrich, Todd Marcus, Charles Covington, Leigh Pilzer, Joshua Bayer, and the JazzDC Orchestra directed by Allyn Johnson.

For bass players and jazz enthusiasts alike, this year’s DC JazzFest represents a rare opportunity to witness multiple generations of bass mastery in one spectacular weekend. With legends like Miller and Carter sharing stages with rising stars like Holt, the festival promises to be both a celebration of the instrument’s rich history and a glimpse into its bright future.

2025 DC JazzFest at The Wharf, takes place August 27 – August 31, 2025 over Labor Day Weekend. Tickets are available now at dcjazzfest.org.

For a complete lineup and more information, visit the festival’s official website.

Full line-up BassFest ’25 announced! With Victor Wooten, Dave Holland, Vincen García, Xavier Foley & Mohini Dey.

Living legend Victor Wooten and his The Wooten Brothers, funky bass guitarist Vincen García and American classical double bass phenomenon Xavier Foley will all perform at the fifth edition of BassFest (formerly Dutch Double Bass Festival). The world’s only festival entirely dedicated to the bass will take place on 8 & 9 November this year at Theater Zuidplein in Rotterdam. Today, full ticket sales for the festival go live. More than 18 acts – from pop bands to classical ensembles – will take the stage with the double bass and bass guitar in the spotlight.

Exclusively in the Netherlands!
BassFest presents several acts exclusively in the Netherlands and organizes a number of unique collaborations. The festival brings the legendary American bassist Victor Wooten to the Netherlands. Wooten has won five Grammy Awards, was the first person to be named Bassist of the Year three times by Bass Player magazine, and was listed by Rolling Stone in 2011 as one of the ten greatest bassists of all time.

Performing in the Netherlands for the first time is Xavier Foley, another American artist known for his virtuoso technique and for redefining the role of the double bass as a solo instrument, both as a performer and composer. He has won prestigious awards such as First Prize at the Sphinx Competition (2014), the Young Concert Artists International Auditions (2016), and received the Avery Fisher Career Grant (2018).

Moroccan artist Mehdi Nassouli is one of the leading voices of contemporary Gnawa music. A master of the guembri (a three-stringed bass lute central to the Gnawa tradition), he blends traditional African, Arabic, and Gnawa influences with elements of jazz, reggae, and rock. He has collaborated with artists such as Fatoumata Diawara, Herbie Hancock, and Alpha Blondy, and for BassFest he teams up with Amsterdam-based crossover ensemble Marmoucha Collective.

Classical, jazz, global and pop on one stage
Because the bass is essential in every genre, BassFest programs across musical boundaries. In addition to the artists mentioned above, you’ll also hear and see:
• Dave Holland Trio – The legendary bassist (known from Miles Davis) returns to BassFest with his impressive trio, featuring saxophonist Jaleel Shaw and drummer Nasheet Waits: a dream team of groove, experience, and improvisation.
• Vincen García – A funky bass phenomenon from Spain (known for his work with Cory Wong), García is celebrated for his explosive energy on stage and his genre-bending style combining soul, funk, and electronic influences.
• Mohini Dey – The young Indian bass sensation became a global name thanks to her virtuosity, fluid jazz-fusion style, and collaborations with greats like Steve Vai and Zakir Hussain.
• Sasha Witteveen – A versatile Dutch double bassist with a fresh take on the classical repertoire, exploring the instrument’s boundaries through innovative solo work and projects.
• James Oesi Trio – This unique trio with Mark Haanstra (bass guitar) and Mike Fentross (theorbo) takes audiences on a surprising musical journey through baroque, jazz, and South African sounds – with the double bass as the solo voice.
• Tijs Klaassen Quintet – An exciting young jazz ensemble led by bassist and composer Tijs Klaassen, performing original compositions full of unexpected turns, depth, and layered grooves.
• BassFest also offers a platform to emerging talent. Students from Codarts Rotterdam and the Conservatorium van Amsterdam will perform in various ensembles showcasing their finest bass players.

Fifth edition of BassFest: a globally unique festival
BassFest is the festival that shows why the bass is such a beautiful and essential instrument. It’s the only festival in the world programmed entirely around the bass – from jazz and classical to global, funk, hip hop, and pop. Featuring bands, orchestras, and soloists; with double bass, bass guitar, and viola da gamba. In addition to over 15 live performances in one weekend, the festival also includes “ateliers in residence” – instrument builder showcases, a bass cinema, and an art exhibition.

Artistic director is solo bassist James Oesi: “Most people don’t realize how incredibly versatile the bass is: essential in an orchestra, powerful as a soloist in chamber music, indispensable in jazz bands, and the foundation of any good hip hop track. I want to show the world how beautiful the bass can be – touching the hearts of music lovers from all walks of life.”

In its first four editions, the festival featured artists such as Gary Karr, Kinga G³yk, Dominic Seldis, Dirty Loops, Richard Bona, Renaud Garcia-Fons, Adam Ben Ezra, Fuensanta, John Patitucci, Dave Holland & John Scofield, and the bass sections of the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, Concertgebouworkest, Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as Derrick Hodge and Rick Stotijn.

BassFest is organized by the Stichting Dutch Double Bass Festival and made possible with the support of Gemeente Rotterdam, SENA Performers, Stichting Dioraphte, Stichting Bevordering van Volkskracht, Fonds1999, Erasmus Stichting, Stichting Elise Mathilde, Van Bijleveltstichting, Stichting Verzameling van Wijngaarden-Boot, Hendrik Mullerfonds, Stichting Orlanda Goban, The De Lancey Foundation, Gilles Hondius Foundation, and 1A First Alternative.

For more information, visit online at www.bassfest.nl/

GRAMMY Award winning bassist DAVID ELLEFSON has announced his BASS WARRIOR TOUR across Europe for spring 2025. The tour will feature Ellefson and his solo band performing select cuts from his well-known catalog of Mega hits, solo material and other hard rock & metal favorites which inspired him during his 40-year music career.

To coincide with the announcement, Ellefson teamed up with AMERICAN IDOLcontestant JAMES DURBIN to release a powerhouse version of the JUDAS PRIESTclassic Metal Gods. The song also features Ellefson’s solo band of musicians including his long-time friend & musical director Andy Martongelli.   

The song is now available across all digital platforms and can be heard here: METAL GODS https://bit.ly/Metal-Gods

Ellefson states, “As we’re announcing the next round of Bass Warrior tour dates for 2025 it seemed fitting to push out a new track which so clearly identifies heavy metal music, that of our favorite Judas Priest! And, to do it with our friend James Durbin on vocals. He has such a fantastic voice and he even performed with the mighty Priest on American Idol so this story pretty much wrote itself.”

Durbin continues, “When David Ellefson & Andrea Martongelli DM you and want you to cover Judas Priest with them, the answer is ‘YES’!  Aside from the late great Ronnie James Dio, the mighty Priest are the top of the heavy metal mountain for me and covering their music is a request I’ll never turn down, especially considering who that request come from.”

James Durbin was a contestant on the 10th season of American Idol and performed alongside Judas Priest during the show’s finale that year.  The track is produced by Ellefson and his solo band guitarist Andy Martongelli and mixed by Alessio Garavello at Rogue Recording Studios in Wembley, UK.

Musician’s featured on the Metal Gods track are:

James Durbin-Lead Vocals

David Ellefson-Bass Guitar

Andy Martongelli-Lead & Rhythm Guitars

Walter Cianciusi-Lead Guitars

Paolo Caridi-Drums

Produced by David Ellefson & Andy Martongelli

Mixing and backing vocals by Alessio Garavello for Rogue Recording Studios, Wembley, UK

For more information on all of these events please visit:
www.davidellefson.com
www.basswarriortour.com