Cleveland-based saxophonist and composer Nathan-Paul introduces a bold new sound on his latest single “Watermelon Pie Crust,” the first release from his upcoming project Free Trap Live Vol.1, due in summer 2025. The track opens with a spoken intro that sets a warm, communal tone, quickly followed by a laid-back groove where trap rhythms meet jazz textures.
Live instrumentation and raw performance are central here, but the track’s clarity and balance give it the polish of a studio session. Guitars and keys work in tandem to create a textured foundation, while Nathan-Paul’s saxophone takes the lead—building intensity and adding soulful expression. The fusion of jazz improvisation and contemporary beat-driven structure creates a unique listening experience that invites both movement and focus.
“Watermelon Pie Crust” is part of Nathan-Paul’s “Sound Medicine” philosophy—a concept rooted in the idea of music as healing, combining energy, intention, and soul. Drawing on influences from jazz legends like Coltrane and Sonny Rollins, alongside modern trap and funk, Nathan-Paul’s genre-defying style is both grounded in tradition and pushing into new territory.