Bunny Brunel – Page 5 – First Take PR

Category: Bunny Brunel

Bunny Brunel is a French-born American bass player and is one of the four founding members of the bass fusion movement (along with Stanley Clarke, Jaco Pastorius, and Jeff Berlin). Brunel has performed and recorded with Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Al Jarreau, Natalie Cole, Tony Williams, Michel Polnareff, Jack DeJohnette, Milt Jackson, Dizzy Gilespie, Stevie Wonder, and others. Bunny Brunel has put out countless solo albums and is the leader of the Grammy-nominated CAB (a band with the original members Tony MacAlpine, Dennis Chambers, and Brian Auger, as well as various other members, including Virgil Donati, Patrice Rushen, and more. His latest CD Bass Ball by Bunny Brunel & Friends, co-produced by Stanley Clarke, features bass players including Billy Sheehan, Victor Wooten, Hadrien Feraud, Armand Sabal-Leco and others here and abroad. Also known for his many bass instruction books, his designing basses for Gibson, for Carvin, and ESP. He is also one of the few bass players alive who conceived, designed, and constructed his own electric upright bass: the Bunny Brunel Electric Upright Bass (BBEUB).

Reviewed by Sean McKenzie | The Indie Hotspot | April 18, 2015

As I watched the amazing lineup of jazz royalty remembering the true legend, Joe Sample, I had never been so moved by such a fitting musical tribute. I remember it was only a little over a year ago that Wayne Henderson had been given his regal sendoff. And now, amongst other Sample fans, I experienced a healing concert for yet another Jazz Crusader. Who was on the lineup? Musical director and pianist Bobby Lyle, who also assembled an incredible group of musicians, including saxophonist Wilton Felder; saxophonist Everette Harp; trumpeter Rick Braun; trombonist Jeff Bradshaw; guitarist Randy Jacobs; drummer Jay Williams; percussionist Doc Gibbs; bassist Nick Sample (Joe’s son); and vocalist Lizz Hogue.

(Interesting information: Wilton Felder, Joe Sample, and Wayne Henderson co-founded the Texas based Jazz Crusaders; Joe’s son, Nick Sample toured with his dad right up until illness forced him to retire; and trumpeter Rick Braun was also performing at the Berks Jazz Festival with his band Jazz Attack.)

Each song performed was beautifully and tastefully executed. It met my highest expectations—something I always appreciated when watching Joe Sample perform. “Viva de Funk,” “Spellbound,” “Joe’s Creole Shack (a Lyle original),” “In All My Wildest Dreams,” and “Seven Years of Good Luck” took me way back. Vocalist Lizz Hogue captured the audience with her heartfelt versions of “One Day I’ll Fly Away,” and especially “Street Life!” Aside from the impeccable musicianship showcased that evening, it was a continuous flow of flawless performances, reminding me just how much Joe Sample’s legacy has influenced this genre of music. Hogue also performed “I’m So Glad I’m Standing Here Today,” which was originally sung by the late Joe Cocker in collaboration with the Crusaders and Joe Sample.

Aside from the impeccable musicianship showcased that evening, it was a continuous flow of flawless performances, reminding me just how much Joe Sample’s legacy has influenced this genre of music. Another big highlight was the breathtaking medley of piano solos, which included “Melodies of Love,” “It Happens Everyday,“ and “Ashes to Ashes.” Bobby Lyle held the audience captive with such an endearing remembrance of Joe Sample’s talent as a pianist. It was a very creative display of Lyle’s virtuosity on the piano. But I also felt the profound respect as he tickled each note of that ivory! While watching Lyle, I could see the friendship he had with Joe Sample. I got a sense of the loss Lyle felt for his departed friend. Needless to say I was deeply moved by Lyle’s tribute.

One very appreciative couple who had attended all but one of the 25 Berks festivals stated afterwards that, “This was definitely one of the best shows we’ve ever seen here at Berks. We are both Joe Sample fans, and tonight’s program definitely lived up to his legacy.”—a view apparently shared by many as they stood and applauded the ten performers taking their bows onstage at the show’s end.

The Berks Jazz Festival is known for its excellence in musical performance throughout the years; and “Remembering Joe Sample” on April 18, 2015, in Reading, PA, has lived up to the festival’s high standards. May the memory of Joe Sample’s music live on.

Original Source: http://www.theindiehotspot.com/2015/05/04/heartfelt-performances-and-remembering-joe-sample-at-the-berks-jazz-fest/

espguitars.com | Mar 6, 2015

ESP is happy to announce that world-renowned bassist Bunny Brunel, whose talents have been employed by a wide range of artists covering many genres of music, is now part of the ESP Guitars family. As you may already know, we also recently announced the introduction of two new Bunny Brunel Signature Series basses: the BB-1004/QM and the BB-1005FL/QM.

“I’m a fusion player, but I play every style,” says Bunny Brunel. “Pop, rock and roll, and much more. My signature basses from ESP match any kind of music.”

“We are thrilled to have Bunny onboard at ESP,” says Jeff Moore, ESP senior vice president. “He represents the type of bass player who we love, with the ability to astound other musicians with his technical playing chops, and is respected by all. He came to us in search of a bass that would be up to the task of his many live performances and recording dates, and we were happy to deliver.”

Primarily known as a jazz fusion bassist, Bunny Brunel’s resume looks like a “who’s who” of the jazz world, having played with Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Tony Williams, Jack DeJohnette, Natalie Cole, Stevie Wonder, Stanley Clarke, Dizzy Gillespie, Tania Maria, Patrick Moraz, Ziggy Marley, Al Di Meola, and many more. His melodic approach to bass playing covers everything from smooth fretless growls to tight funk popping. He is a member of the fusion group CAB and also lends his talents to film and TV scoring.

Bunny’s two Signature Series basses are the LTD BB-1004/QM and LTD BB-1005FL/QM. The BB-1004 is a 4-string bass in See Thru Black Sunburst finish, while the BB-1005/FL is a fretless 5-string model in Burnt Orange. Both basses incorporate neck-thru-body construction, quilted maple top, ebony fingerboard, and a special Aguilar pickup set with an OBP-3 active preamp. Bunny was very active in regard to the basses’ designs, with a goal to create an instrument with excellent playing feel and balance, as well as tonal variety that made it appropriate for multiple music genres. He has also just released his latest solo album, Invent Your Future, which features jazz fusion notables Patrick Moraz, Virgil Donati, Patrice Rushen, and many more, and includes songs composed by Brunel as well as Chick Corea, Jaco Pastorius, and others. Continue reading “Bunny Brunel Joins The ESP Family”