Bob Sunda

    Bob Sunda was an incredible jazz musician and teacher. He was an upright bass player, piano player, and band leader whose music took him all the way to Tokyo. Born in Ohio, he played in Asia, New Orleans, Alaska, and eventually Memphis. He was a highly charismatic individual who made a positive impact on society. He especially made a positive impact on his students' lives when he began a teaching career in Memphis at Rhodes College.

    Bob was born in (..) to a family of (..)?. He began playing the bass at (..?) years old, and by (..) age he had accomplished (..?). He attended the Interlochen Academy of Arts at (..) age, and then moved to (..).

    At his peak of musical performance, he was living in Asia playing at 5-star hotels for (..) years. During this time, he played frequently with his band ChromaZone. Prior to this, he lived in Alaska. After Asia, he met his wife Dianne in New Orleans and married her then. He told stories about how much money he made playing and how fun it was to spend it on Dianne.

    In New Orleans, he became the band leader for the American Queen riverboat. He served in this capacity until Hurricane Katrina flooded New Orleans. When the hurricane struck, he was aboard the American Queen in Missouri (..?) and Dianne was in New Orleans. Dianne evacuated New Orleans. Bob, Dianne, and his musical colleague Breeze Cayolle decided to relocate to Memphis, where Bob obtained a job at Rhodes College as a professor.

    As a professor, Bob mentored hundreds of students with a positive attitude. Student Camden Napier recalls his teaching style. "It wasn't just about instrumental proficiency," Napier says. "He wanted you to understand everything that was happening in the band. He wanted you to know your role as a bass player." Napier also says "He had a better musical ear than anyone I know. We would listen to records in his office and he would explain how even dissonant pieces, like John Coltrane, were thoughfully crafted with theory."

    Bob's teaching approach was also informed by musical history. "He introduced me to Gershwin. At first, I thought it was boring, the 'white bread' of jazz. But, it showed me where the genre started. Then we listened to big band swing, and eventually the 'age of cool' jazz, like John Coltrane and Miles Davis." Napier explains that "This showed me how musical boundaries were expanded. Jazz didn't just start as Snarky Puppy" (a popular jazz band who plays complex and challenging music). Napier learned from this lesson the fundamentals of jazz, and the progression of boundary-expansions within the genre.

    Bob also catapaulted students into careers as jazz musicians. "He coached our jazz combo (small band) says Napier." Though it was technically a class, we ended up being a real band and gigging frequently. Bob got us gigs at wedding events and bridal showers, etc. We were playing a lot of music." Napier says that, as far as you wanted to go in becoming a professional musician, Bob would take you there.

    His personality was excellent. His girlfriend Jo Bracey- who he began dating after Dianne passed away- recalls that "Whenever we went to the grocery store, we couldn't just shop. He had to talk to everybody in every aisle." He would joke with the cashiers too.

    He was always laughing and telling stories. Student Schaeffer Mallory once referred to him as "Big Boppin' Bass Bob". Bob had a story about how he once collapsed a lung smoking out of a pipe that was 10-feet long. He talked a lot about ladies. He told Napier that he would bail Napier out of jail if Napier needed him to. He sometimes recapped conspiracy theories, and he may or may not have believed in lizard-people. One of his students was infested by seed-ticks upon taking a walk in Bob's woods. He is quoted as saying "Black and white, they just want to divide us. That's how they're keeping us apart."

    Towards the end, Bob lived in Hernando Mississippi- an hour away from his job at Rhodes College. He lived out in the woods with his dogs and enjoyed the rural life. Unfortunately he died of lung cancer after Dianne. "He was teaching Wednesday and dropped down Friday", says Jo Bracey.

    In summary, Bob Sunda was an excellent musician and friend to people. He had a great laugh and was always helpful. He had an excellent understanding of music was a killer player. He helped students obtain instruments and gigs. He was influential in leading bands and shaping the future generation of musicians.

Gear

Upright Bass

Piano