Born on September 18, 1957, in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, Emily Ann Remler became one of the most exciting and technically proficient jazz guitarists of her generation.
Her fluid style, which seamlessly blended the elegance of bebop with a modern harmonic sensibility, established her as a premier voice in late 20th-century jazz before her career was tragically cut short.
Remler discovered the guitar as a teenager and quickly gravitated toward jazz, enrolling in Berklee College of Music in the mid-1970s. After graduating, she settled in New Orleans, where she immersed herself in the local music scene.
Playing in blues and jazz clubs with bands like Four Play and Little Queenie and the Percolators helped her develop her live chops—blending traditional jazz with blues and funk influences—and gave her a grounding in groove and ensemble playing that shaped her later style.
She eventually relocated to New York City, where mentorship from jazz legends helped refine her confident, fluid voice. Though often compared to jazz guitar giants like Wes Montgomery and Joe Pass, Remler carved out a distinct identity marked by a relaxed swing and modern harmonic sensibility.
Early Influences
Remler’s musical foundation was rooted deeply in bebop and post-bop traditions, with Wes Montgomery as her guiding light. She absorbed his harmonic elegance and phrasing, as well as the rhythmic clarity of Joe Pass.
Her time at Berklee exposed her to jazz theory and composition, but her New Orleans period gave her the essential rhythmic pulse, fusing post-bop with local funk influences. This blend of blues tradition and modern sonic curiosity laid the foundation for her mature style.
Career Milestones
Breakthrough Recordings
Remler released seven albums under her own name between 1981 and 1988. Her debut, Firefly (1981), introduced her lyrical phrasing and harmonic depth. Follow-ups like Take Two (1982) and Transitions (1983) were noted for their integration of Latin rhythms and modal compositions, showcasing her growth as a composer.
Collaborative Highlights
Her 1985 duet album Together with Larry Coryell was a career-defining moment, proving her ability to hold her own alongside a technical giant. The interplay between their styles remains a masterclass in jazz guitar dialogue.
Educator & Performer
She was a dedicated performer and educator, touring extensively and conducting workshops globally, actively challenging the stereotype of a male-dominated jazz landscape. Her final album, This Is Me (1988), synthesized her modern voice, blending Latin influences with straight-ahead jazz.
Despite her passing in 1990 at the age of 32, her prolific output remains a testament to a complete, mature artist who was tragically hitting her creative stride.
Playing Style & Technique
Remler’s style was characterized by melodic clarity, rhythmic precision, and harmonic sophistication. Unlike many of her fusion-era peers, she favored a clean, warm archtop tone—achieved through subtle reverb and precise finger placement—eschewing heavy effects in favor of natural resonance.
She was known for exceptional comping, and her single-note lines flowed effortlessly. Her solos often integrated walking bass lines and complex chord voicings, treating the guitar as both a rhythmic and harmonic instrument. Her improvisation was logical, tasteful, and always in service of the composition, earning her respect across the jazz community.
Signature Gear & Tone
Remler played Gibson archtop guitars, most notably the ES-330 and ES-335, paired with small combo amps like the Polytone Mini-Brute that preserved her warm, articulate tone.
She avoided distortion and heavy modulation, relying instead on touch, phrasing, and dynamic control to color her sound. Her tone was intimate and expressive—rooted in tradition but unmistakably her own.
Legacy
Emily Remler’s enduring legacy is twofold: she proved that musical brilliance transcends gender, and she left behind a body of work that is considered a masterclass in modern jazz guitar. She is celebrated not just as an inspiring figure for female musicians, but as an artist who achieved genuine mastery of the jazz language.
Her compositions and improvisational style are now studied by students of jazz harmony worldwide. She demonstrated that adherence to the aesthetic elegance of classic jazz could be seamlessly paired with contemporary complexity, ensuring her place in the jazz pantheon.
Final Reflection
Remler’s music is often described as possessing a quiet confidence and joy—a feeling that is evident in her clear, unhurried melodic choices. She viewed her pursuit of jazz simply as the pursuit of excellent music, a philosophy she eloquently stated:
“I may look like a nice Jewish girl from New Jersey, but inside, I’m a 50-year-old, mellowed-out Black man with a white beard.” — Emily Remler
Essential Listening
To appreciate Emily Remler’s fluid technique and compositional depth, these tracks are key entry points into her unique approach to jazz guitar.
Live Performances
Listen to Emily Remler’s swinging original composition “Blues for Herb,” a tribute to guitarist Herb Ellis that showcases her technical skill and fluid, blues-infused improvisation.
Listen to Emily Remler’s swinging original composition “Blues for Herb,” a tribute to guitarist Herb...
Emily Remler partners with Monty Alexander on "Montevideo," showcasing her fluid, clean-toned jazz guitar style and her masterful skill at melodic improvisation during their 1984...
Emily Remler partners with Monty Alexander on "Montevideo," showcasing her fluid, clean-toned jazz guitar style...
Studio Recordings
Emily Remler's "Hot House," from her East to Wes album, is a blistering take on the Tadd Dameron bebop standard, featuring her signature hard-of-tone, virtuosic...
Emily Remler's "Hot House," from her East to Wes album, is a blistering take on...
Emily Remler's studio recording of Jobim’s “Look To The Sky” from the Firefly album showcases her mastery of bossa nova, featuring her warm, clean-toned guitar...
Emily Remler's studio recording of Jobim’s “Look To The Sky” from the Firefly album showcases...