Welcome to Thunder Row, where bassists from around the world connect, collide, confer, conference, compose, collude, and communicate! Don't be shy, jump on in!
| LEGEND'S CORNER: Bunny BrunelFollowing our BB theme (last month, Bryan Beller), this month we present bass virtuoso Bunny Brunel. When Chick Corea watched Bunny play one night with Brazilian pianist singer Tania Maria at The Ronnie Scott Club jazz club in London in 1978, Bunny was unaware of the ultimate significance Corea would play in his future success as a bassist. Few weeks after that visit to London, Chick called Bunny and asked him to pack up and join him on a world wide tour. Bunny quickly accepted and went on to record the classics Secret Agent and Tap Step with the legendary jazz fusionist. The roster of artists Bunny went on to record and perform with is practically a who's who of music industry giants. Notables include Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Tony Williams, Jack DeJohnette, Al Jarreau, Natalie Cole, Stanley Clarke, Larry Coryell, Al Dimeoloa, Mike Stern, Joe Farrell, and many others. Besides his work as a performer, Bunny is equally at home in the roles of composer, arranger, producer and designer. As a soundtrack composer Bunny collaborated with Clint Eastwood in creating the main theme (Claudia's theme) for the award winning film, The Unforgiven. He also worked on several TV shows, including the popular series Highlander. As a designer, Bunny created a line of electric bass guitars for CARVIN Co. and an electric upright bass. Bunny has released eight wonderful solo albums; "Touch," "Ivanhoe," "Momentum," "Dedication," "For You To Play," "L.A. Zoo," and his latest "Café au Lait," he also produced and perform with the group CAB, with whom he released "CAB" and the Grammy Nominated "CAB 2" and CAB4, with Tony MacAlpine, Brian Auger, Patrice Rushen and Dennis Chambers, as well as CAB live and the latest release, "Theatre DeMarionnettes",with Virgil Donati on drums and guest star Chick Corea. These projects highlight his beautiful compositions and melodic solos and show off breathtaking bass lines. Taking an active interest in helping bass players, Brunel regularly gives seminars on his unique approach to the instrument. He has written several books available through Mel Bay Publications, Hal Leonard Publications, and Backstreet Books Publications as well as several instructional videos. TR: Hi, Bunny, Thanks so much for taking the time to tell the folks on Thunder Row about yourself. Let’s go back to the beginning: when and why did you start playing bass? BUNNY: I started playing at age 15 in college where I was playing rhythm guitar. I was sent out to rent an upright bass for somebody else to play in the band but he never showed up so I ended playing the bass. TR: It’s amazing how many bassists ended up playing sort of by default like that. Is there a bassist or other musician you look to as a mentor? BUNNY: I’m self taught, but I had three month of arco-playing at the Nice Conservatory of Music with a teacher named André Marillier. My inspiration was Stanley Clarke and Eddie Gomez but I really loved Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock. I wanted to play solo like them. TR: You’ve had no shortage of highlights in your career, playing with folks like those. What is your most memorable gig? BUNNY: Subbing for Stanley at the rehearsal for a concert with the original Return To Forever with Joe Farrell, Flora Purim, Airto Moreira, and Chick of course. Chick gave me some charts but I didn’t need them at all, I knew all the music by heart! TR: What would be the ideal gig, as far as you're concerned? BUNNY: I actually had great gigs with my own bands. I like any gig where I can play the music I like. I like them all as long as the sound is good and I am playing with great musicians, which I do all the time. TR: What more could a musician want? Cast your mind back a bit and tell us about your first bass. BUNNY: The very first one I had for just a few weeks was a Japanese kind of Fender Precision. But I got a real one in 1965. I still have it. TR: That’s a collector’s item these days. What about your first paid gig? BUNNY: It was in a club at a Russian restaurant called "TABOR" in the old city of Nice rue Benoit Bunico. I made a dollar. TR: I know the place! I lived in Nice back in the early 70’s. A dollar was worth something in those days! Was the bass your first choice as an instrument? BUNNY: No, my first instrument was piano – like about fifty million other kids - and then guitar – like a hundred million other kids… TR: Well, we’re glad you finally came to your senses and took up the bass, even if more or less by accident. As mentioned, you’ve played with a pantheon of the world’s greats, which musician or musicians (they don’t have to be bassists) do you admire most? BUNNY: I’d have to say Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Patrick Moraz (It’s Patrick that brought Chick to listen to me in London) Larry Coryell. Those guys are just amazing musicians. TR: They’ve been known to throw together some decent licks. Let’s narrow that down to the question I’m sure you knew was coming; who do you think is the greatest bassist ever? BUNNY: Stanley Clarke, he not only is a virtuoso but he really knows how to play the bass as a bass player should within a band. TR: His name comes up fifty percent of the time when we ask that question. Stanley is known for his distinctive style which he applies to a range of musical genres; if you could only play one kind of music, what would it be and why? BUNNY: Jazz Fusion. It’s fun. TR: What is the best professional advice anyone ever gave you? BUNNY: Chick Corea told me to play melodies in my solos. TR: McCartney was a master of that. His way of playing is what first drew me to the bass. Let me follow up by asking what’s the best personal advice anyone ever gave you? BUNNY: Herbie Hancock quoted Miles Davis taking about one time when Herbie made a mistake and Miles played something very beautiful on top of it. When Herbie asked him how he did that Miles answered "This is reality man, you have to deal with it!" What ever happens on stage, we should always take it as if it was perfect and try to do our best with it without ever judging the other musicians. TR: Great advice! Musicians have notoriously delicate egos, so that kind of attitude must make you a great guy to play with! If you couldn't be a musician, what would you be? BUNNY: I actually have a diploma from college to run a big hotel! Thankfully, I’ve never had to "resort" to use of those skills. TR: Which bassist do you think is the best vocalist? BUNNY: I really don’t know. There must be some great singers out there. Only Sting comes to mind off the top of my head. TR: Let’s get a little less esoteric. Visitors to Thunder Row generally like to talk about gear. Describe the perfect combination of equipment for the stage and rehearsal. BUNNY: I designed my own line of basses with CARVIN and I also helped with their amps that I use as well. I’m also selling an electric upright bass that I designed for my company BRUNEL MUSIC. That’s the equipment I use on every occasion. In the studio I just plug my basses direct. TR: Do you have a preference in strings? BUNNY: I’ve been using the LABELLA "Hard Rocking Steel" strings for 32 years. They’re the best. They also last the longest, and they have the best low, medium, and high response. TR: You’ve clearly gotten around a bit over the years. What's the most exotic or interesting place you've ever played? BUNNY: I always loved to play in New York at the Bottom Line that is now unfortunately closed. I played there many times with Chick Corea band, Tony Williams band, and CAB. A lots of good memories. TR: In that musical marriage of the bottom end, If you could play with any drummer in the world (past or present), who would it be? BUNNY: I was fortunate to actually have played with most of the greatest drummers in the world. I enjoyed all of them. Every one of them had something different to tell. TR: Looking back, what do you know now that you wish you'd known when you were first starting out in music? BUNNY: I don’t know it yet. TR: Do you have a favorite charity, why, and what do you do for them? BUNNY: I did make a special concert at the Baked Potato for the Tsunami relief that I sent to UNICEF for the kids. Lots of great players came to play. My favorite one is MUSICARE that helps musicians that usually do not have any health insurance. TR: If you could relive one day of your life, what day would it be and why? BUNNY: I always live in the present. That is the best time for me. TR: What do you hope to achieve in your life? BUNNY: I already did it. TR: You’re the first who’s said that, that I recall. Must be a very satisfying feeling. What kind of music do you listen to when you're alone? BUNNY: Any kind from the radio. If I don’t like what they play I turn it off. TR: Who do you think is the greatest person in history? BUNNY: There is so many great people contributing to the whole that it would be unjust to only name one. TR: Whom do regard as the greatest musician of all time? BUNNY: I don’t think there is just one. All musicians contribute to the music. But John Coltrane is one of the biggest contributors of the last generation in Jazz. Hendrix maybe for Rock. TR: What advice would you give someone who is just picking up bass for the first time? BUNNY: Find a good teacher. And get my book "The Complete Bass Essentials" TR: Well, the sand’s run through the hour glass. Thanks again for your time. BUNNY: My pleasure, and my best to everyone on Thunder Row. To find out more about all things Bunny, visit his website: www.bunnybrunel.com. Bunny endorses the following products/companies. Visit them to find out why. www.carvin.com, www.labella.com, www.zzyzxsnapjack.com, www.artproaudio.com, www.mackie.com, www.senheiserusa.com, www.motu.com, www.tannoy.com, www.digitech.com,
| |
vBulletin Message