While attending the 2026 NAMM Conference, AMS’s very own Ryan got to sit down with the one and only Nathan East! They got to dive into his outstanding career, what it’s like to work with other musicians, and of course bass gear.
Anyone can get a call, but Nathan East has received over 2,000 calls to come back. Now that’s some serious talent! But besides his skills on the phone, he’s one of the best bass players in the business, working with so many big names that his bucket list has almost run out. With all the praise and the talent to back it up, you’d almost expect an ego to follow. But trust us, he isn’t one to gloat. Nathan East seems to feel like the luckiest guy on earth, playing fun gigs, getting to jam out with really talented musicians that he gets to be friends with, and then get paid for it all. What more can a musician ask for?
The Art of the Callback
While Nathan East is a legendary bass player featured on countless tracks with thousands of hours of experience. He doesn’t show up to the gig relying only on his ability to play. The first rule is to bring the spirit, vibe, and the love to create a good energy.
It’s important to be on time, maybe even early, to your gig. You also have to make sure you have everything you need prior to the event. AMS has VERY fast shipping but, we can’t deliver to you 5 minutes before the performance. Make sure you don’t forget your instrument cable and bring a backup! This might seem obvious but you have to try to come up with good parts for the record. You aren’t just a player, you’re a contributor.
The first time Nathan East went to a session they handed him a check. “I scanned the room to make sure nobody was looking. I loved the studio sound. I had the most fun I ever had. They helped recreate my sound and I got paid for it.” When Nathan shares this story, you can still see the light in his eyes. It’s a story that shows how a seed is planted and how it makes you want to do this for the rest of your life.
Half a Century into Recording
Nathan East has talent but he isn’t a mind reader. When Ryan asked about what it’s like recording with other people he says “I still ask people what they want to hear. You can count on my instincts, but it might not be exactly what you want for your song.”
It seems like Nathan's goal is to always serve the song and have a good time. Ryan brought up ego to Nathan East, and he almost immediately shares the famous mantra of Quincy Jones: “Check your ego at the door.” He also states that he’d “rather have a lesser player than a diva.” It makes no sense for any ego to jump out in a room full of successful musicians.
Nathan East does his best not to let his nerves get the best of him. With all the legends he has played with, I think this has to be the golden ticket when it comes to mindset in the studio. He says, “You have to examine the big picture and say ‘this is what needs to be done.’ When you are recording a Michael Jackson album, you have to know that a billion people are going to hear this. Just put the love in and get over the fact of how severe the gig is.”
Nathan East just turned 70 years old in December, and apparently some people are asking him when he might retire. “People ask about retirement, and I don’t think I have anything to retire from! I can’t think of a reason to stop. I love the people, travel, and it's something I will do ‘til I can’t anymore.”
How Nathan East Corrects a Bandmate Heading West
Every band has that moment when someone is just out of sync. Though rare, it still happens in the same room as Nathan East. Sometimes the drummer can’t find the one!
When East becomes the Musical Director and the drummer is struggling, he recommends “to look at the main artist and watch their body language. Look at their feet and try to lock into the tapping of their foot.” Getting back on track, especially as the drummer, is key. You can’t lose yourself because you’re just like the conductor of a train. And if you’re lost, nobody knows where we’re going.
A great way to make music is when you almost don’t have to think about it. It takes it to a different level. From just reading the music and playing the paper to something that gets realized as a higher level then just the notes on a page. “ When I walk into a studio and see Jeff Porcaro, we laugh ‘cause we know we don’t have to work today.” Game loves to recognize game.
I’ll Take A Break When I’m Dead
Nathan East said his year is already booked up! Between his Father and Son album tour and the Clapton dates, he’s swamped! He says “A break is good, but I am energized by the call to work.”
Nathan East was actually supposed to perform at NAMM, and he was very upset that he couldn’t. “I received a call to play last night, but I unfortunately just got off the David Foster cruise the day before rehearsal. I thought, ‘wait I couldn’t have had all that music prepared,’ and I had to reluctantly turn it down.”
There have been a few notable gigs that got away from East, and a majority of the time he could have made the gig but not the rehearsal.
Nathan East Laney Digbeth
The Laney Digbeth is a gamechanger for Nathan East. It’s every bass player's best friend. It’s super compact, so you can jam and experiment with all the settings in your bedroom and take it with you on stage. That's the kind of technology Laney offers, giving players modern features to make their life easier — without sacrificing great tone, of course.
East says, “An amplifier that you can put both your basses in upright and electric and just send out to the houses, why did they always make bass amplifiers that only have one input? I thought about this for 40 years, especially when I was growing up trying to plug into the same twin reverb amp.” This bass amp is going to enhance your sound. So if you want to sound like Nathan East, check out the new Nathan East Laney Digbeth right here at American Musical Supply.
