Subject: [Harp-L] Ryan Suzuka with Crystal Bowersox

[EGS1217@xxxxxxx]

Very much agree with you Richard. Glad to know his name.
 
Here's the video showing Ryan Suzuka playing harmonica with Crystal that  
night:
 
_http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=NDZAj9uWpP8#at=12_ 
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=NDZAj9uWpP8#at=12) 
 
or:
 
http://tinyurl.com/669tljx


It made sense for Crystal to have a full-time harp player since  previously 
she's played harp-in-a-rack while playing guitar and singing her own  
songs. I believe those managing her post-Idol career are pushing her to  focus 
more on the singing and guitar. Crystal's a wonderful  singer/songwriter. Her 
'Farmer's Daughter' - a paean to her childhood  abuse especially, is 
something I listen to regularly (this  particular version,written before Idol). 
It's been reissued for her first major  Album, but this original is the one 
which'll rip the heart out of any other  abuse survivor. Warning to those 
sensitive to such issues: one 'bad' word:
 
_http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eICsQLPgI2k&feature=related_ 
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eICsQLPgI2k&feature=related) 
 
 
I was also happy to see saxophonist Mindi Abair (who regularly tours with  
my favourite guitarist Peter White) onstage backing other performers. Idol  
seems to be featuring some really cool musicians. Unfortunately  the latest 
contestant voted off is the only jazz singer/multi-instrumentalist of  this 
or any year: Casey Abrams. Someone who can bring  Nat Cole's 'Nature Boy' to 
today's mostly tween audiences while  playing stand-up Bass is pretty 
special. I'm amazed he got this  far. One of the contestants had a harmonica 
player onstage during a  recent idol performance as well, I just can't remember 
which one.
 
Elizabeth 
 
Message: 2
Date: Mon, 2 May 2011 12:58:44 -0400 (GMT-04:00)
From:  Richard Hunter <turtlehill@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] Ryan Suzuka  with Crystal Bowersox
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Message-ID:
<26335525.1304355525115.JavaMail.root@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

I've been advised that  the harmonica player with Crystal Bowersox on last 
week's American Idol was Ryan  Suzuka.  

I'm still a little surprised that there's so little  apparent interest in 
the fact that a roots-music star in the making a) has a  harp player in the 
band and b) highlighted that player on her major network  debut.  40 million 
or so people saw that performance, and Suzuka did the  right stuff to move 
the song along.  It was a pretty good day for  harmonica.

Regards, Richard Hunter