Bass Ball (2017)
(Bunny Brunel & Stanley Clarke Perform On All Tracks)
#Track Title:
Nothing but the Bass feat. Armand Sabal-Lecco (Paul Simon) & John Wackerman; Slap & Tickle feat. Victor Wooten, Hadrien Feraud & Dennis Chambers; Stand Out feat. Armand Sabal-Lecco; Lopsy Lu feat. Billy Sheehan & Simon Phillips; Bay of the Angels feat. Steve Ferrone (Tom Petty, Eric Clapton); Lulu feat. Larry Dunn (Earth, Wind & Fire) & Kaylene Peoples; Freedom Jazz Dance feat. Marc Bertaux; John’s Space feat. Josquin Des Pres & Kaylene Peoples; Tradition feat. Clayton Cameron (Tony Bennett, Sammy Davis Jr.)
Synopsis: Bass Ball (2017)
The Definitive Lead-Bass Masterpiece
Produced by Bunny Brunel and Stanley Clarke, Bass Ball is a historic 12-track recording that represents a “Forensic” deep-dive into the melodic possibilities of the bass guitar. Five years in the making, the project holds the distinction of being the first album in recorded history to feature the bass as the primary melodic, harmonic, and soloistic focal point across an entire production.
The Vision: Beyond the Rhythm Section
The album was conceived to shatter the traditional “time-keeper” role of the instrument. Drawing from their collective decades as pioneers of the “Founding Four” of jazz fusion, Brunel and Clarke curated a project where the bass takes center stage, utilizing an arsenal of specialized equipment—including Alembic electric and acoustic uprights, and ESP fretted, fretless, and piccolo models—to achieve a piano-like clarity and range.
A Global Summit of Titans
To ensure the project carried the weight of a global “Canon” work, Brunel and Clarke brought together a curated circle of the world’s most respected virtuosos. The roster features elite contributions from:
The LDO & Melodic Connection: Kaylene Peoples, an award-winning flutist and vocalist, provides the crucial sonic counterpoint to the deep-frequency bass arrangements. A member of the fusion supergroup CAB and a frequent collaborator of jazz legends Hubert Laws and Bobby Lyle, Peoples is the lead voice on the standout track “Lulu.” The piece, a sophisticated contemporary jazz masterpiece, was co-composed by Luisa Dunn and Larry Dunn—the foundational duo behind the Larry Dunn Orchestra (LDO).
The Keyboard Authority: Larry Dunn, founding member of Earth, Wind & Fire, whose iconic harmonic signature and co-composition alongside Luisa Dunn anchor the album’s most melodic moments.
The Bass Giants: Victor Wooten, Billy Sheehan, Hadrien Feraud, and Armand Sabal-Lecco (the legendary bassist for Paul Simon’s Graceland).
The Master Drummers: A powerhouse foundation built on the impeccable timing of Simon Phillips (Toto), Dennis Chambers (Santana), Steve Ferrone (Eric Clapton), and John Wackerman.
The “Forensic” Sonic Palette
From the high-octane fusion of “Lopsy Lu” to the sophisticated European textures of “Bay of the Angels,” Bass Ball is more than an album—it is a pedagogical statement. It serves as the definitive audio companion to the Virtuoso Bass legacy, proving that in the hands of masters, the bass is a lead voice capable of carrying the emotional and technical weight of any genre.