Author Archive
To The Memory Of Emily
Another year may pass, but our love and admiration never will.
Here’s to Emily. Your music matters.
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We offer a few selections from, This Is Me, her last album, released posthumously in 1990.
Included are: Song For Maggie, Second Childhood and Simplicidaje.
Emily Remembered CD Available
Two ways to purchase your copy of Emily Remembered, from Jazz CD’s or from Amazon UK.
Also some nice reviews are starting to filter out, included one from our own Simon Crook. Read the most current online reviews at Bebop Spoken Here and two linked here from London sources. Lots of ways to support this release, visit Deirdre’s website to stay current on their latest performances and touring.
Opener Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise based on Emily’s arrangement immediately evokes a dreamlike floating quality with an exceptional time-feel that shows just how far it’s possible to lay back and still groove. Both guitarists utilize a classic, warm, clear but distinct jazz tone – Deirdre’s early 60′s Epiphone Casino elicits a slightly brighter sound with a touch more reverb added than Kathy, who sounds like she’s mostly playing her Taylor T5 hybrid electric/acoustic.
All The Things You Are is explored with a fresh variety of approaches and a mellow interlude where both guitars sustain intricate single note runs simultaneously while keeping the aura of the harmony intact. The differing styles of the duo are most apparent when soloing – Dyson’s lines are often very horn-like in their phrasing and development, whereas Cartwright has the more guitaristic approach that is both lyrical and inventive.
To The Seagull a Pablo Neruda poem set to music by Kathy swiftly moves from a meditative to lively pace guided by guest vocalist Sarah P’s precise warm tones. Hello World a Cartwright original written especially for the duo features a searching melody that unfolds in a delightfully unpredictable way over a bossa feel – a real gem that catches the ear immediately.
Afro Blue/Sonnet For Emily is an emotionally charged take on Remler’s arrangement of the tune with added spoken verse from Sarah P. The real highlight is the way Kathy recreates and extends Emily’s brief original solo – it really is played with a lot of soul and emotional pull.
8 On 12 a follow-the-leader type completely improvised exchange is a light-hearted diversion before the intensity of How Insensitive – a tune deeply loved by Remler and played here by the duo with a wistful elegance. Broadband, a 16 bar and 12 bar blues grooves well with some striking interplay and seamless transitions from comping to soloing from both guitarists. Whirligig penned by Dyson, a jazz lullaby, features a playful and pleasantly dizzying call and response section and gently rounds off the album.
The compelling storytelling nature of Cartwright and Dyson’s guitar playing with their high emphasis on melody and expressive qualities are the elements that truly bind them so closely to the musical spirit of Emily. This is a thoroughly engaging and inspiring album that is a fitting tribute to Remler and also showcases the sheer strength and diversity of Cartwright and Dyson as players, composers and arrangers. – Simon
Mary Osborne
Great article about the first prominent woman jazz guitarist, Mary Osborne, from the popular Night Lights Jazz series by David B. Johnson at WFIU public radio.
Hear the entire episode by clicking on the Play Episode button on the page, Mary Osborne: Queen of the Jazz Guitar.
You can also pick up some of the music heard on the show from the album Blues In Mary’s Flat, available at Amazon.
Sunday Jazz Interview With Deirdre Cartwright
Deirdre takes a moment to talk about the concept and emergence of latest album, “Emily Remembered”, on JazzFm with Helen Mayhew from London.
It’s girls and guitars on The Yamaha Sunday Jazz Jam this Sunday. Helen Mayhew‘s guest will be guitarist Deirdre Cartwright, who’s teamed up with fellow guitarist Kathy Dyson for an album in tribute to the late American guitarist Emily Remler. There’s also news of a feast of jazz piano at Ronnie Scott’s next week, and new releases from the John Horler Quartet, Stan Tracey and The Portico Quartet.
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Emily Remembered Album Launch
We are overjoyed to announce the forthcoming album, Emily Remembered, from two of my favorite players in jazz, Deirdre Cartwright and Kathy Dyson, who have been working tirelessly on this project over the last year as well as touring extensively for the memory of Em. Just added, a February 3rd date at Band On The Wall, and also the album will have two live launch concerts at the prestigious London jazz club, Ronnie Scott’s on the 16th and 17th of February, 2011.
We will be posting further news of how to purchase as soon as it comes available for U.S. and international sales. Please support these live performances by two very dedicated educators and incredible jazz guitarists, who will be joining forces to invoke the spirit of Emily with intimate guitar duo performances of swing, bossa and bop arrangements written by Remler, as well as a few of their own compositions and jazz standards.
Still unfamiliar with Cartwright’s and Dyson’s names? Visit Jazz Guitar Life for a two part series of interviews conducted by AllThingsEmily with these wonderful ladies from 2010 and get to know them better. More details coming when available.
