Montevideo

🎵 Genre: Jazz | 🎤 Recording: Live

A Dialogue of Fluid Swing and Harmonic Elegance

The live performance of “Montevideo” features Emily Remler in a masterful duet with pianist Monty Alexander, capturing a sophisticated moment from a 1984 television broadcast. This track is a beautiful showcase of their compatible styles: Remler’s crisp, articulate guitar lines dance over Alexander’s blues-infused piano. The relaxed, swinging groove immediately exemplifies the elegance of straight-ahead post-bop jazz.

The defining element of this performance is the effortless, melodic interplay between the two artists, which highlights Remler’s impeccable tone and flawless technique. Her improvisation is fluid and unhurried, demonstrating her core strength: the ability to construct a logical, singing solo using complex bebop vocabulary. This thoughtful, melodic intelligence is a quality shared by master duettists like Barney Kessel.

Remler applies this masterful approach, showcased in earlier albums like Firefly and Take Two, to original compositions like “Pocket Wes.” She creates compelling narratives on the fly without relying on excessive speed or effects, letting her archtop guitar’s natural warmth carry the melody. The complexity is handled with the same control found in her softer, original compositions like “The Dreamer.”

The performance is a brilliant testament to her command of the instrument and her ability to engage in a true, musical conversation with one of jazz’s great piano stylists. This intimate setting allows listeners to focus on the clarity of Remler’s lines, making this a key live recording for studying her refined post-bop sensibility.

Recording Details

💬 What defines this intimate conversation?

“Montevideo” is all about sophisticated musical dialogue. Which performer’s style dominates this duet: Remler’s fluid, articulate improvisation or Alexander’s percussive, blues-infused rhythmic support? Drop your thoughts below and join the conversation.