Eric Clapton is among the guest artists featured on a new collaborative album by his longtime touring bassist, Nathan East, and Nathan’s son, keyboardist Noah East. The album, appropriately titled Father Son, was released on Friday, April 18.
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The 13-track collection offers up a variety of jazz- and blues-flavored tunes, including covers of such well-known songs as The Beatles’ “Yesterday,” The Bee Gees’ “How Deep Is Your Love,” and the standards “My Favorite Things” and “Over the Rainbow.”
Clapton plays guitar on two tracks—the delicate instrumental ballad “Close to Me” and a cover of the 1950s Ray Charles tune “Hard Times.” The latter song features vocals by veteran jazz singer Billy Valentine.
Father Son also features a rendition of the 1967 Stevie Wonder tune “Until You Come Back to Me,” which was hit for Aretha Franklin hit in 1973. The new version is sung by legendary session vocalist Merry Clayton. Clayton is perhaps best-known for her unforgettable guest appearance on the Rolling Stones classic “Gimme Shelter.”
Nathan said about the new album, “As a father, you try to lead by example. Noah showed extraordinary talent from an early age and it’s been a joy to watch him grow into a sought-after artist in his own right. I couldn’t be more proud of the musician and person he has become, and this album is truly a dream come true.”
Noah added, “Music has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, and I’ve been incredibly fortunate to witness my dad’s career up close. … Recording this album together is an experience I will cherish forever.”
You can purchase Father Son now.
More About Nathan East
Nathan has toured with Clapton for more than four decades. He also is a founding member of the jazz supergroup Fourplay, and is an in-demand session bassist who’s lent his talents to more than 2,000 recordings in various genres.
Among the many famous artists with whom he’s recorded are Clapton, B.B. King, Wonder, Michael Jackson, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Quincy Jones, Beyoncé, Elton John, and Toto. He also co-wrote the smash 1984 Phil Collins-Philip Bailey duet “Easy Lover.”
Nathan East’s 2025 Performance Plans
Nathan current is on tour with Clapton in Japan. He will be performing throughout 2025 with Eric, who has about 20 upcoming concerts scheduled in Japan, the U.K., Italy, France, and the U.S. Clapton itinerary is plotted out through a September 20 show in Uncasville, Connecticut.
Meanwhile, East will perform with his son on April 29 at the 2025 San Diego Music Awards. Nathan also will be presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the ceremony.
In addition, Nathan and Noah will perform together on July 10 at the Festival of Arts in Laguna Beach, California.
Father Son Track List:
- “Intro”
- “Close to Me” (featuring Eric Clapton)
- “UTOPIANOAH”
- “My Favorite Things”
- “Yesterday”
- “Reminisce” (featuring Jack Lee)
- “Hard Times” (featuring Billy Valentine & Eric Clapton)
- “Over the Rainbow”
- “Killer Joe” (featuring Hubert Laws)
- “Until You Come Back to Me” (featuring Merry Clayton)
- “How Deep Is Your Love” (featuring Seiko Matsuda)
- “On the Sunny Side of the Street”
- “Postludium”
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