Stephen 'Thundercat' Bruner

curly bassist · #1 09-02-2011, 04:28 PM

Hi, I don't know how many of you listen to labels such as hot flush/ swamp81 and brain feeder. But if you do you've probably heard of thundercat.

His new album 'The golden age of apocalypse' is truly amazing. I never realised how clever his playing is! And the vocals he adds to some of his tracks are unbelievable!

His bass playing reminds me so much of Jaco!

Thundercat - Is It Love? - YouTube

But yeah, if you havent already - listen to him!

reitedasc · #2 09-04-2011, 09:34 AM

I've checked out some of the tracks and I can't wait to buy that album! I really loved his work with Shafiq Husayn and Flying Lotus.

Brad Johnson · #3 09-05-2011, 10:12 AM

My son just turned me on to this today. Very cool.

Reuben · #4 09-24-2011, 05:50 PM

I was in a record store today (yeah!) and they were playing this. I was fascinated, and embarrassed I hadn't heard of Bruner till now. And discovering him has introduced me to a whole new crew of musicians as well. Today is a good day! Anyone know anything about that cool red P-bass he plays? Seen here, with the goods getting dealt out at 1:56: MIguel Atwood-Ferguson Ensemble feat Flying Lotus "Drips/Take Notice" - YouTube

xk3smith · #5 10-07-2011, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reuben

I was in a record store today (yeah!) and they were playing this. I was fascinated, and embarrassed I hadn't heard of Bruner till now. And discovering him has introduced me to a whole new crew of musicians as well. Today is a good day! Anyone know anything about that cool red P-bass he plays? Seen here, with the goods getting dealt out at 1:56: MIguel Atwood-Ferguson Ensemble feat Flying Lotus "Drips/Take Notice" - YouTube

I felt the same as you. So ashamed I've never heard of this guy!!! Got to get his album.

markjazzbassist · #6 10-08-2011, 12:51 AM

great bassist, i saw him playing with erkyah badu, he played a burns bison bass. great sound.

Randy Newton · #7 10-08-2011, 11:08 AM

he's such a beast, i discovered him on Erykah Badu's New Amerykah Part One in 2008

Erykah Badu (The Cell) New Amerykah Part 1 - 4th World War - YouTube

Erykah Badu - That Hump - YouTube

Roy Vogt · #8 10-24-2011, 10:43 AM

Love this guy! I had no idea who he was until he was on the cover of Bass Player and I downloaded his album. Great ideas and playing-it sort of reminds me of the heyday of George Duke and Stanley Clarke.
If I'm not mistaken his big brother is Ronald Bruner, Jr. (Stanley Clarke) and his dad is Ronald Bruner, Sr. The Bruners are to LA Fusion/Funk what the Marsalis family is to Jazz.

Dr. Cheese · #9 10-24-2011, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Randy Newton

he's such a beast, i discovered him on Erykah Badu's New Amerykah Part One in 2008

Erykah Badu (The Cell) New Amerykah Part 1 - 4th World War - YouTube

Erykah Badu - That Hump - YouTube

I Know him from his Badu work. I will have to check out his solo stuff too!

Randy Newton · #10 10-24-2011, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

I Know him from his Badu work. I will have to check out his solo stuff too!

he also played on Keziah Jones' Nigerian Wood and Shafiq Hussain's En' A-Free Ka

Ewo · #11 10-24-2011, 11:19 AM

He's the cover story in Bass Player, this month.

Randy Newton · #12 10-24-2011, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ewo

He's the cover story in Bass Player, this month.

it's about time

Diplowmatt · #13 10-24-2011, 11:28 AM

Man that was weird. I like it.

Roy Vogt · #14 10-24-2011, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ewo

He's the cover story in Bass Player, this month.

I'm so glad, too. He was totally off my radar and then I was intrigued enough to check him out on Youtube and download his album. Great player!
I'm wondering if he spent a few years as a young player listening to his older brother rehearsing with "Uncle" Stanley. Ronald Bruner, Jr. is one of the best drummers I've ever heard! Sooner or later I'll hire him for one of my CD projects.....

bottomzone · #15 10-24-2011, 06:29 PM

That's a cool track! I will definetly check this out. I agree about Ronald Bruner, Jr.-he is just sick! The first time I saw him was at the Reno Jazz Festival about 7 years ago with Kenny Garrett. I had no idea who he was-but he stole the show and had the audience standing and screaming for most of the evening!!! Kenny is a fantastic saxophonist, but that night belonged to Ronald!!! He is easily one of the best drummers that I have ever seen!!!

Ron Jr.'s First Contest - YouTube (Are you kidding me???)

Kenny Garrett w/ Ron Bruner - Happy People - YouTube

Stanley Clarke & Ronald Bruner Jr., Drum & Bass "Bad Asses" - YouTube

A Groove is a Terrible Thing to Waste!

jerry · #16 10-25-2011, 02:57 PM

I just picked up his album and the Miguel Atwood-Ferguson Ensemble album, thanks for the heads up!

Dr. Cheese · #17 10-26-2011, 12:11 PM

I just finished listening to a bunch of Thundercat tracks, and I really enjoyed them. I must say that Thundercat makes me feel really old. He is clearly from a new generation, and he is looking at things from a really fresh perspective.

superbassman2000 · #18 10-26-2011, 12:22 PM

I just heard him from reddit--oddly enough one of the electronic music subreddits--gotta say--he's really got something there...

Roy Vogt · #19 10-26-2011, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

I just finished listening to a bunch of Thundercat tracks, and I really enjoyed them. I must say that Thundercat makes me feel really old. He is clearly from a new generation, and he is looking at things from a really fresh perspective.

I know what you mean. I've been playing him to a lot of my Belmont students, and saying "Check this out." He made me go back and check out Hadrian Feraud's CD as well, which I had merely sampled here and there.
It's really cool to see someone taking those ideas from 30 years back and from George Duke and Stanley Clarke and filtering them through a new generation. Inspirational!

Dr. Cheese · #20 10-26-2011, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roy Vogt

I know what you mean. I've been playing him to a lot of my Belmont students, and saying "Check this out." He made me go back and check out Hadrian Feraud's CD as well, which I had merely sampled here and there.
It's really cool to see someone taking those ideas from 30 years back and from George Duke and Stanley Clarke and filtering them through a new generation. Inspirational!

I'm happy feeling old! Heck, it seems like it was just yesterday that everyone thought that synthesizers would simply wipe bass guitar out, now we are actually seeing the boudaries being expanded again!