The Iceman
2153 posts
Sep 28, 2014
12:23 PM
|
This is the last recording I received from her active years, just before she turned her back on music around 2009.
The Sunny Girl Band included guitarist/singer/songwriter Dan DeKuyper and this was part of Dan's solo project.
She was real pleased with the results of this session, as they used her first and only take.
I feel this is a good example of that level of artistry that appeals to me more than any other and the path I try to lead my students down.
It's about how she supports all elements of the song while adding an original sounding solo. Instead of velocity and/or more, she allows less to tell the story. Not only are notes played in obvious musical lines, but many are left to hang in the air while being subtly shaped over time, pulling in the listener.
Anyways, I love this type of stuff.
(I'm willing to bet a few of you will really analyze her playing and find a cool idea or two to add to your own personal arsenal).
ps...thanks to the help I got here on tech stuff.
It only took me an hour to get this link up.
----------
The Iceman
Last Edited by The Iceman on Sep 28, 2014 2:14 PM
|
Michael Rubin
974 posts
Sep 28, 2014
1:45 PM
|
I had a probelm started the link but figured it out, so I edited this. Sounds great.
Last Edited by Michael Rubin on Sep 28, 2014 1:47 PM
|
The Iceman
2158 posts
Sep 29, 2014
6:33 AM
|
Brief history of Sunny Girl, showing evolution.
Of course, the sound file above would be considered her latest (and last before she quit) example.
Here is a 7 year old interview performance in which she is working on the basics we covered, including Irish tunes.
Two years later with King Robert Noll as a duo...since she is a vocalist, we worked on the concept of accompaniment of a singer as well as soloing. She understood all this stuff from an early age and seems to take to it naturally. Her solo ideas are also based on a vocal approach to harmonica lines (slipping in 1 OB).
Total stage relaxation and joy of performing show through.
A true talent soon to be once again awakened from her suspended animation.
----------
The Iceman
Last Edited by The Iceman on Sep 29, 2014 6:38 AM
|
blingty
44 posts
Sep 29, 2014
8:59 AM
|
Hey Iceman,
Great playing and singing there, very tasteful and also good from a technical point of view. What happened that she quit? Can you give a quick recap of the story?
----------
blintgy like soundcloud, ug
|
Rgsccr
286 posts
Sep 29, 2014
9:50 AM
|
Man, she is so good! Iceman, tell her I will buy her blues albums if she makes a comeback! Just love the way she leaves space and doesn't overplay. Wow! Same for her singing. So sweet.
Last Edited by Rgsccr on Sep 29, 2014 9:51 AM
|
The Iceman
2160 posts
Sep 29, 2014
10:03 AM
|
blingty...
Her father became an overbearing stage dad and was forcing her into a "blues persona" rather than a musician that can also play blues.
She rebelled against him, moved in with her mom and shut down her web site. Only videos available are the four or five already found on youtube.
She turned her back on music and focused on a college degree in graphic design. Graduated last year and is now working for Quicken Loans in Detroit.
Sunny Girl tells me she is feeling the tug back into music but will only do it on her own terms.
When I worked with her, she got into jazz and Hispanic music (as she has Mexican heritage), so it is exciting to imagine what she will do next.
----------
The Iceman
|
mr_so&so
871 posts
Sep 29, 2014
11:37 AM
|
The video of nine-year-old Sunny Girl with Robert Noll is great. She has it all and I hope she does make a comeback.
Edited to correct spelling of her name.
----------
Last Edited by mr_so&so on Sep 29, 2014 1:01 PM
|
JInx
906 posts
Sep 29, 2014
12:24 PM
|
she's great. no pretensions, pure.
----------
|
blingty
45 posts
Sep 29, 2014
12:36 PM
|
Iceman, that's a real shame about her being put off by those factors. I've seen pushy parent(s) before.
Still, it's good that she's making choices about it and she seems to be doing something creative.
Let's hope she does come back to music if that's what she wants.
On another note, that must have been a real pain in the ass for you too, having coached her (as far as I remember?) - I won't ask more if ya don't want to say.
----------
blintgy like soundcloud, ug
|
The Iceman
2161 posts
Sep 29, 2014
12:56 PM
|
blingty...
I was grooming her for world class performance. Of course I was frustrated when her dad took over when I left Detroit.
----------
The Iceman
|
blingty
46 posts
Sep 29, 2014
1:48 PM
|
I get you, totally understandable. Here's to hoping she's happy whatever she does.
She sure could play and sing!
----------
blintgy like soundcloud, ug
|
Philosofy
610 posts
Sep 29, 2014
6:56 PM
|
I've jammed with her little sister recently. (Her little sister plays keyboards.) She mentioned her big sister was a harp player, but gave it up. I didn't know then what a big deal that was. I should see her again in a couple weeks when I'm in Detroit on the jam night. I'll see if she's any closer to making a comeback. But her dad takes the little sister to the jam night, so it might be out of the question for me to meet her.
|
The Iceman
2164 posts
Sep 30, 2014
4:56 AM
|
Philosophy...
What night and at which jam do you see Rockin' Robyn? She is a musical force in her own right.
I am in constant contact with Sunny Girl. Right now she is rethinking her musical direction, so a comeback is not immediately apparent. She will also not use that stage name any longer as she wishes to distance herself from the image her father forced on her.
----------
The Iceman
Last Edited by The Iceman on Sep 30, 2014 4:57 AM
|
Philosofy
611 posts
Sep 30, 2014
6:15 AM
|
Iceman,
Its on Thursdays with the Joe Ligreci Band w/Curtis Sumter Jam at The Crystal Bar, 8051 N. Middlebelt, Westland. Robyn seems like a pretty good kid, mature for her age, and she loves music.
|
The Iceman
2165 posts
Sep 30, 2014
6:43 AM
|
Does Kathy Davis ever show? She used to be vocalist w/Curtis Sumter...you can always tell Curtis that The Iceman sez "hello".
You have no idea the talent born into Robyn and her sister. My one regret is moving out of Detroit before I could "get my hooks" into Robyn and work with her, too.
When Sunny Girl would come for lessons, her dad would always carry little Robyn around during the sessions.
For fun, ask Robyn to sing George Thorogood's "B-b-bad to the B-b-b-bone".
----------
The Iceman
|
Philosofy
612 posts
Sep 30, 2014
8:03 AM
|
Robyn certainly has the talent, but they don't showcase it too much. Killer voice, and she loves Fleetwood Mac. I gave her a homework assignment to listen to Eva Cassidy, whom she's never heard of. I'm anxious to hear what she thinks of Eva.
I can do the sax solo for Bad to the Bone on harp, so lets see if I can get her to sing it.
|
Mr Audioman (post)
1 post
Jan 19, 2016
10:55 AM
|
Check this link for more Sunny video's. Apologies on the video...it's from VHS. All the masters were ruined in a flood. This track is from her "Mother Earth...." she released. That entire CD was cut in that live setting and I mastered it and gave her the bluebook to press. If you look to the right on the YouTube player, there are several videos she did...including a night gig at Clio Amphitheater in 2001. That's about the last time we saw her.
In that time between 1999 and 2001, she came to record several times with us at the TV Studio. Some were backing tracks, some were full performance. She was a really cool kid back then....hard to believe she's grown up and 20 something. How time passes....
https://youtu.be/yTw0gTjRxGY
Last Edited by Mr Audioman (post) on Jan 19, 2016 11:07 AM
|
