Hot House
🎵 Genre: Jazz | 🎤 Recording: Studio
Bebop Fire and Virtuosity
Emily Remler’s studio recording of Tadd Dameron’s bebop staple, “Hot House,” is the third track on her critically acclaimed 1988 album, East to Wes. The recording, featuring an all-star quartet including pianist Hank Jones and drummer Marvin “Smitty” Smith, is a blazing, high-energy take on a standard Remler considered one of her favorite bebop compositions. The performance is a precise and assertive piece of hard bop that captures the quartet at their most focused.
The defining element of this performance is Remler’s hard-of-tone, clean, and incredibly fast single-note improvisation. While the album is a tribute, Remler’s interpretation of “Hot House” showcases how her personal style transcended mere imitation. It presents a more assertive and technically demanding approach than the work of guitarists who focused solely on fusion or smooth jazz.
Remler’s solo is a masterwork of bebop vocabulary, demonstrating her ability to navigate complex chord changes with remarkable fluency and swinging precision. This virtuosic line back to tradition contrasts sharply with her more relaxed bossa nova work, such as “Look To The Sky.” Her focused, swinging execution on this piece aligns her directly with hard bop giants like Joe Pass, who was also renowned for his clean, complex single-note lines.
This commitment to direct, virtuosic jazz is also evident in her own compositions, such as “Blues for Herb,” which is structured around complex chord melodies. The recording is a testament to Remler’s ability to drive a high-caliber band and cement her own legacy as an uncompromising, technically brilliant jazz improviser.
Recording Details
| Song Title | Hot House |
|---|---|
| Guitarist | Emily Remler |
| Band | Emily Remler Quartet |
| Lineup | Emily Remler (Electric Guitar), Hank Jones (Piano), Buster Williams (Double Bass), Marvin "Smitty" Smith (Drums) |
| Event | Studio Recording |
| Album/Release | East to Wes |
| Recording Studio | Penny Lane Studios |
| Record Label | Concord Jazz |
| Location | New York City, New York |
| Date | May 1, 1988 |
💬 What defines this bebop powerhouse?
“Hot House” is a complex standard demanding fluency and fire. Which aspect of Remler’s playing makes the biggest impact on this performance: her blazing, clean single-note speed, or her ability to maintain a deep, powerful swing while navigating the dense bebop changes? Drop your thoughts below and join the conversation.