Bass player Nathan East treats Hong Kong to a power-packed performance

Bass guitarist Nathan East, 60, has appeared in Hong Kong before as a member of Fourplay and in his touring sideman’s role with Eric Clapton’s band.

Other artists with whom he has performed in person, on record, or both over the years include Stevie Wonder, Joe Sample, Herbie Hancock and Toto, and he has been a professional bassist since his late teens, but it was only last year (2014) that he released his first album as a leader.

Not surprisingly this show, organised by Support Live Music, drew heavily on that album, which made No 1 on an assortment of jazz charts, including Billboard’s.

East was not able to field star guests Clapton, Wonder and Michael McDonald and others who contributed to that album, but nevertheless fronted a formidable band.

For many audience members this show was particularly notable for the substitution of former Fourplay member Larry Carlton for guitarist Michael Thompson, who was originally billed but unable to make the tour because of illness.

In terms of star power Carlton was the biggest name on the stage, but slipped comfortably into his old sideman’s role, and contributed some of the night’s most memorable solos.

The seven-piece line-up was unconventional in that most of the instruments were doubled. Korean guitarist Jack Lee played alongside Carlton; Norihito Sumitomo – who also played sax and the Electronic Wind Instrument (EWI) – played keyboards as did Kaleb James; and East’s younger brother James played five-string bass.