Brand X was another one of those bands who were beloved of other musicians and the more discerning of critics but that despite everything never had the commercial success that it deserved.
They were a jazz fusion band active 1975–1980. Noted members included Phil Collins (drums), Percy Jones (bass), John Goodsall (guitar) and Robin Lumley (keyboards). Not long after jazz/rock fusion greats Brand X put out their 1980 album, Do They Hurt?, the band members went their separate ways (until their comeback in 1992, which only featured Goodsall and Jones).
Jones’s utterly idiosyncratic bass playing defined the sound of Brand X as much as Phil Collins’ drumming, and the band would not have been anywhere near as interesting without him. He also appeared on classic Brian Eno LPs as Another Green World and Before and After Science.
In the early 90s, Swiss born musician Marc Wagnon sought to create his own music project. He enlisted the help of bassist Percy Jones of Brand X fame and created a jazz fusion dubbed Tunnels. In 1994 they released their first album, also named Tunnels.
With Wagnon, himself a Berkeley College of Music graduate, playing vibraphone, and Percy Jones on fretless bass, Frank Katz, also of Brand X, was picked up to provide percussion duties. Throughout their career, Tunnels has worked with a variety of musicians to add diversity to their three-piece format. At one time guitarists Van Manakas, Julien Feltin, and John Goodsall have either guested on Tunnels' albums or played with them live. Percussionist Lance Carter guested on their self-titled album and took on full drumming duties on their album The Art Of Living Dangerously.
Violinist Mark Feldman both appeared on their live album and guested on their 2002 release Progressivity. Recently, long-time drummer Frank Katz has parted way with Tunnels and has been replaced by John O'Reilly who appears on their 2006 album Natural Selection. The trio creates a strikingly unique jazz fusion sound largely thanks to Marc Wagnon's rather unique instrument and choice of synth sounds.
Rhythmically the band resembles Brand X; not surprising, considering at one point 2/3 of the band was previous members of Brand X. They're also heavily influence by Mahivishnu Orchestra, and that influence often shines through in their playing.
