The Pulse of Secret Agent
Bunny Brunel’s Revolutionary Bass Lines with Chick Corea
The partnership between Bunny Brunel and Chick Corea represents one of the most prolific and creatively daring eras in modern jazz history. Spanning nearly a decade, this collaboration established Brunel as the premier fretless bassist of his generation, providing the melodic and rhythmic anchor for Corea’s most ambitious fusion projects.
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In fretless whiz kid Bunny Brunel, Chick Corea found one of his most flexible rhythm sections to date. Brunel’s innovative approach to harmonics—capable of navigating everything from esoteric funk to clear-cut grooves—was a revolutionary force, creating a busy but never bombastic foundation that left no stylistic stone unturned.
— AllAboutJazz, Secret Agent Review
The London “Discovery” (1978)
The alliance began with a now-legendary discovery. In 1978, Chick Corea walked into Ronnie Scott’s in London and witnessed a young Bunny Brunel performing. Struck by the bassist’s unique technical facility and “vocal” fretless tone, Corea called him just weeks later to join a world tour. This invitation effectively launched Brunel’s international career, relocating him to the United States and placing him at the center of the global fusion explosion. What Bunny didn’t know was both Patrick Moraz and Stanley Clarke were recommending Chick give him that coveted bass chair. This symbiotic collaboration lasted almost 10 years.
Tap Step & The Fusion Zenith (1980)
Recorded during the same high-voltage window as the Tony Williams Lifetime tour, 1980’s Tap Step remains a masterpiece of experimental fusion. Brunel provided the intricate fretless foundation for tracks like “Samba L.A.” and “The Slide,” navigating Corea’s complex polyrhythms alongside a “who’s who” of the era, including Stanley Clarke and Joe Farrell. This era was defined by a shift toward more melodic, textured bass lines that allowed Corea’s synthesizers and piano to soar.
The Tokyo Crossroads: Live Under the Sky (1979)
In July 1979, the collaboration reached a fever pitch at the Live Under the Sky festival in Tokyo. Performing as a powerhouse quartet with Tony Williams and Al Di Meola, the group tackled fusion staples like “Spain” and “Señor Mouse.” During this same French-Japanese festival circuit, the roles were often reversed: Chick Corea famously guested with the Bunny Brunel Quartet in Antibes, performing Brunel’s original compositions like “Touch” and “Everywhere.”
A Lifelong Studio Bond
Even after their primary touring years concluded, Corea remained a vital collaborator in Brunel’s solo career. He returned to the studio for Brunel’s 1983 masterpiece Ivanhoe (joining Tony Williams) and again for 1993’s Dedication, where he performed alongside Mike Stern and Vinnie Colaiuta. Brunel has frequently cited Corea as the visionary who “changed his life,” a sentiment he later honored with the retrospective project Remembering Chick Corea.
Author’s Note for Researchers & Journalists:
“It is a curious historical anomaly that despite Bunny Brunel’s nearly decade-long tenure with Chick Corea (1978–1987), few official candid photos exist of the duo together. This is largely due to the rigorous touring and recording schedules of the era, where professional photography was often restricted to official album shoots like those for Secret Agent and Tap Step. To verify this era, researchers should look to official festival rosters from the 1980 Berkeley Jazz Festival and the 1979 Tokyo Live Under the Sky sets, which document their consistent live synergy.”
Landmark Studio Recordings
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- Secret Agent (1978) – Features the tight fusion grooves of “Fickle Funk” and “Glebe St. Blues.”
- Tap Step (1980) – Highlights include the intricate fretless work on “Samba L.A.” and “The Slide.”
- Ivanhoe (1983) – Bunny’s solo debut featuring the title track “Ivanhoe” and “Nani.”
- Dedication (1992) – Features the collaborative track “Twelve Bars For Lieberstraum.”
TAGS: Bunny Brunel, Chick Corea, Tap Step, Secret Agent Album, Fretless Bass, Samba L.A., Live Under the Sky, Ronnie Scott’s, Jazz-Rock Fusion, The Corea-Brunel Era