Jazz fans lost a good one back in 1990 when Wes Montgomery-inspired guitarist Emily Remler died prematurely from a heart attack. This pair of disc from two different concerts (1984 and 1988) show a lady that is filled with talent and swing
The first concert has Remler with Cocho Arbe/p, Carson Smith/b and Tom Montgomery/dr for a 1984 gig at The Four Queens. She shows a great feel for the blues on “Moanin’” and “West Coast Blues” and hits the bell with a ringer on a take of “Tenor Madness”. A couple of bossas in “How Insenstive” and “Samba De Orfeu” display her deft lyricism and taste.
At the same place in 1988, she’s in a trio setting, still with Smith but having John Pisci/dr filling the beat. She digs in hard on the modal “So What/Impressions” and is gloriously dark and stark on “Yesterdays”, with her fingers never running out of ideas on “All Blues” and “Manha De Carnaval”. Someone needs to transcribe this collection. WHEW!