"Eastbound" is an original Matt Zebley composition from his 1998 concert recording Live at Moondog, featuring the full three-horn front line of the alto saxophonist's sextet. The 24-bar AAB form in C minor at 160 beats per minute provides a moderately paced swing vehicle for three contrasting solo voices. Zebley leads off with two choruses of alto saxophone improvisation, his playing combining bop-influenced melodic language with a personal approach to rhythm and phrasing. Trombonist Alan Ferber contributes two choruses that highlight his warm, burnished tone and melodic sensibility, while trumpeter Ron Stout closes the solo order with two choruses of his own, bringing the performance to a climactic finish. The tune's minor tonality and medium tempo give it a focused, purposeful character that differs from the brighter swing of other tracks on the album. The live setting captures the band's responsive interplay and the natural energy of a working group performing before an audience. "Eastbound" is representative of Zebley's compositional style on this album, with carefully constructed forms that provide enough harmonic interest to challenge the soloists while remaining accessible to listeners encountering the music for the first time.
