East Brothers Pull Coup on Billboard Jazz Chart

Former San Diegans Nathan and Marcel East accomplished an unusual feat this week when projects that each worked on separately landed in the No. 1 and 2 positions on Billboard magazine’s Contemporary Jazz chart. The self-titled debut of bassist Nathan’s band, Fourplay (which also features Bob James, Harvey Mason and Lee Ritenour), sat in the top spot. Close behind was keyboardist David Benoit’s latest album, “Shadows,” which Marcel produced and co-wrote.

The East brothers have worked together on and off since both attended Crawford High School in the late ‘70s, but they remain best known for their work with other artists.

Nathan, who struck gold in 1984 when he co-wrote the hit “Easy Lover” with Phil Collins and Philip Bailey, has worked with many of the biggest names in music, including Michael Jackson, Kenny Loggins and Eric Clapton. (He and Clapton just completed a tour of Japan as part of George Harrison’s band.)

Most of synthesist-drum programmer Marcel’s collaborative efforts have been behind the scenes. In addition to his work on the last two Benoit releases, he and Nathan co-wrote a tune on the Fourplay album. Lately, Marcel has been working with New York singer Beth Naji (he wrote about one-third of her forthcoming album), and in 1992 he will be involved in producing several artists on the GRP and MCA labels.

The siblings’ current proximity on the charts actually is a foreshadowing of a merger that will become official later this year with the release of their own album. Calling themselves Two Faces of East, the brothers now are at the half-way point of a recording project to which a number of industry heavies are contributing.

“The music is R&B; with a rock edge, with an emphasis on live playing, as opposed to the programmed, drum machine stuff,” the soft-spoken Marcel said in a recent phone interview. “We both sing and play on the album, and we’ll probably be involved in the production, as well. We did two tracks in Japan and three in London, where we were lucky to run into Phil Collins. He ended up playing on a couple of tracks.”

According to Marcel, the two will probably complete the record in their 24-track home studio in Studio City. Besides Collins, guest musicians include Clapton, Steve Ferrone, Greg Philinganes and “a few other friends.” One of the cuts is a cover of Blind Faith’s “Can’t Find My Way Home,” which Nathan has performed in concert with Clapton’s band for some time.

“Our schedules are pretty crazy, so it takes some effort to get together,” Marcel explained. “We’ll probably work together again in late January. Already, we have interest from several labels, but we want to maintain control of the project and then present someone with a complete package, rather than deal with a company’s desire to push us in a certain direction.”

Nathan’s participation in Two Faces of East might be interrupted if Harrison decides to perform some dates in the States. Marcel, too, has imminent commitments. This weekend, he will be working with Fattburger on the local band’s next album, and he has been having similar discussions with Hollis Gentry about working on his next studio effort.

Last Friday, the new owners at Sound FX breathed a sigh of relief and raised a toast of something other than soda when they obtained their long-awaited liquor license.

Earlier this year, the club’s previous owners voluntarily surrendered their license after discussions with the Alcoholic Beverage Control. In September, the new owners posted a notice that alcohol beverage sales would resume in mid-October, but that resumption was delayed until last week.

Although name acts continued to draw well during the interim, Sound FX’s profit margin took a beating without the padding that bar sales provide. On Sunday, according to a source, the bands Scatterbrain and Ugly Kid Joe helped celebrate the club’s good news by buying drinks for “just about everyone” who attended their show.

GRACE NOTES: (Tickets for the following concerts will be sold at all TicketMaster outlets unless otherwise specified.) Marty Stuart’s Jan. 3 gig at Sound FX has been canceled. Though the nu-country singer’s engagement has been on the schedule for weeks, negotiations between his agent and the club’s management broke off before the booking could be finalized. The same agent also represents Doug Stone, whose Feb. 9 appearance at the venue is still on.

Meanwhile, Sound FX has booked the Led Zeppelin tribute band, Led Zepagain, for Jan. 24. The band is handled by the same agent who brought you the Doors copycats, Wild Child. . . . Ned’s Atomic Dustbin will play Iguanas on Jan. 18 (on sale Thursday).

CRITIC’S CHOICE / RESPITE FOR BOWL-WEARY

Robin Henkel might be the closest San Diego can offer in the way of a Taj Mahal or a John Hammond Jr., in that he’s as much a student/archivist as a performer.

For several years, the guitarist-vocalist has shared his passion for the spectrum of African-American music with local audiences, in a variety of formats--solo, duo, full-blown band--matched only by the diversity of his repertoire.

While the eclectic musician is just as comfortable performing Duke Ellington or Cole Porter as Robert Johnson or Bo Diddley, one might expect an emphasis on Delta-style blues when Henkel teams with mouth-harpist Paco Shipp tonight at Elario’s.

If you’re bowl-gamed out and could use a respite from loud, nerve-rattling sports announcers, Henkel and Shipp go on at 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. There is no cover charge. Elario’s sits atop the Summer House Inn, 7955 La Jolla Shores Drive. For information, call 459-0541.