Watch Thundercat perform on VuHaus, see him live at Johnny Brenda’s in October
You may have heard the name Thundercat, however if you’re unfamiliar with the work of Stephen Bruner, he’s an accomplished and talented bassist, producer and singer-songwriter. He’s worked with Flying Lotus, played bass with Erykah Badu, Wiz Khalifa, and Snoop Dogg, was a member of the Los Angeles thrash band Suicidal Tendencies, and has released several solo albums. He’s made incredible contributions to two of the best albums of 2015 – To Pimp a Butterfly by Kendrick Lamar, and The Epic by Kamasi Washington.
Thundercat is able to accommodate various musical styles, however he’s primarily influence by jazz fusion and funk. He grew up in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles, and comes from a incredibly talented musical family. His father, Ronald Bruner, Sr., played drums with The Temptations, Diana Ross, and Gladys Knight. His brother, Ronald Bruner, Jr., is a Grammy award winning bassist who has worked with Stanley Clarke, Wayne Shorter, and others. Another brother, Jameel, is in the alternative R&B band The Internet.
Thundercat recently released a The Beyond / Where the Giants Roam, a six song collection featuring a guest appearance by the legendary Herbie Hancock. This is one cat you shouldn’t miss live; he plays Johnny Brenda’s on Thursday, October 1st. Go here for tickets and more information about the show. Below, watch Thundercat perform “Heartbreaks + Setbacks” from KCRW via VuHaus.