SUN

Originally from Wollongong, bassist Henry Correy, drummer Gary Norwell, brass and woodwind player Keith Shadwick, vocalist Ian Smith and guitarist, Allan Vander Linden, formed a blues band, King Biscuit, which played universities and the nightclub circuit in Sydney from 1968 to 1971. King Biscuit predominantly performed cover versions of Muddy Waters, BB King, Howlin Wolf, Sunnyland Slim and Buddy Guy. They also provided covers of psychedelic rock and soul songs of the late 1960s. King Biscuit changed their name to Sun with the departure of Vander Linden. Ian Smith left the band and was replaced by Renée Geyer (ex-Dry Red). They added George Alamanza on keyboards and Steve Phillipson on guitar (ex-Velvet Underground). Phillipson was soon replaced by Chris Sonnenberg on guitar. They evolved into a jazz rock band that played the wine bars and other major venues during the early 1970s.

Sun's live repertoire was a mixture of jazz, psychedelic rock and blues, inspired by John Coltrane, Archie Shepp and the Art Ensemble of Chicago. All these styles were played with varying degrees of success but with much enthusiasm and peer interest. They were one of the first jazz-rock groups in Australia, challenging musical moulds of the day and garnering critical acclaim from the arts world. As a result, they appeared on ABC TV's arts show, GTK.

Early in 1972 the group signed with RCA Records' Australian subsidiary RCA Victor and started on their debut album, 'Sun 1972', which is their only commercial recording. It has all original material by the band members (and one past member). It was released in August 1972 by the Australian subsidiary of and produced by jazz entrepreneur, Horst Liepolt. Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, opined that it is a, "collectable, progressive jazz-rock album." Sun Drummer Gary Norwell has said "It could be arguably said that the Sun album was not representative of the excitement generated by the bands live gigs as the recording was rushed (8 hours) and the band members were very young and inexperienced" and Norwell said ''I was suffering an attack of Bronchitis and did not give my best on the day." Norwell also said "with hindsight it is a fairly good effort given the antipathy or complete incomprehension faced by the band by the more conservative rock community at the time. I recommend those that are at all interested have a look at the GTK recordings available from the ABC archive in Sydney, before the archive is dismantled and disposed of as is planned by the current ABC Management." Liepolt later moved to New York and founded the Sweet Basil nightclub.

After the album was recorded Starlee Ford took Geyer's place in the band (Geyer joined Mother Earth) and under the influence of Shadwick and Norwell they explored the outer limits of free improvisation, retaining a strong blues connection as well. Ford's vocal range and openness to various styles of music proved was a crowd pleaser. Singer-songwriter, Richard Clapton, had a six-week stint as lead vocalist in early 1973. George Almanza left the band and keyboardist, guitarist, and songwriter Tony Slavich, joined the band. Norwell and Shadwick left the band shortly after citing a difference in musical direction. Sun continued for a couple of years with Correy, Ford, Slavich, and drummer Ian McLennan. This lineup played a more progrock style and toured Australia extensively, but Sun finally folded as an entity after a couple more years. Pianist George Almanza died some years ago. Keith Shadwick died in 2008. Renee Geyer died in 2023.

Members

Renée Geyer (vocals), Keith Shadwick (saxophone, flute, clarinet, vocals), Ian Smith (vocals),
Chris Sonnenberg (guitar), George Almanza (piano), Henry Correy (bass), Garry Nowell (drums), Richard Clapton (vocals), Starlee Ford (vocals), Tony Slavich (keyboards), Ian McLennan (drums)

References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_1972