Emily Remler - interviewed in 1986

[@billabirilla]

I discovered Emily Remler about 3 years ago and immediately fell in love with her playing, her personality. So sad she died so young. She is so inspiring to me as an artist and a person (at list for what I captured from the rare interviews). Loved this interview, so genuine, true and courageous.

[@SharMess]

At 2:17 Emily speaks about people/audience members looking for mistakes because she's a female. She is correct about this happening. My ex-husband was a pretty good guitar player and we sat in the FRONT row to see her show at the Pt Townsend Jazz Festival in Washington in 1990. He was actually there as the photographer and was particularly eager to see her. I remember him making several negative remarks about her playing, before her set even began, while she was warming up. He commented how "lite" her touch was, and even said almost jubilantly during one of her fast scale runs, "THAT was a mistake." Emily heard him say it and responded, "Who made a mistake?" It was embarrassing for sure. I certainly don't recall him saying anything like that during any of the men's performances. Yes, I know all about threatened men, as a female performer. I played guitar for years and was sometimes challenged by insecure guys saying, "I can play that better than you can." Once I took off my guitar and invited a guy to take my place. Apparently he was too drunk to know when to come in, leaving two large holes in the song (that he didn't bother to fill). He had two chances to take his ride and when the song was over, he said, "I didn't get to play." The band kindly asked him to give me back my guitar.

[@labelleveronica]

I hear you. A few months ago, I came across an Anika Nilles video on KZbin. And I'm going through the comments (I know, I know) -- and *of course* someone has pointed out that she's apparently "missed a note." I had to watch the vid a few times to find it, which means the commenter *really* must have been looking for a "mistake." I mean, that's like getting upset that a singer isn't actually singing when they're filming the video.

[@frankgreen8137]

....and that's probably why he's an ex husband🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@frankgreen8137]

I dont think she ever made mistakes.

[@michaelcraig9449]

That is sad. The good thing is, by the time I went to GIT 1988-89 there were quite a few female guitarists of all styles, acoustic folk to full on thrashin metal, and all other styles, jazz too. Some were real good some not, just like the male students, of course. They were respected like everyone else. I jammed with a lot of women players, been in bands with some too, bass, guitars, drums, keyboards., To me, we were just all players trying to learn a lot, and make the songs sound good.. .There had been many changes in music by then. Now there are tons of female guitarists all over the place, not even a big deal anymore. Music is for everyone...so why not? I saw Emily play at GIT when I was there, she was giving a little workshop class after the gig, discussing guitar stuff some.

[@allamelnikowa8357]

@@labelleveronicano, it is NOT that someone is really looking for somebody's mistake. It is YOU who is really DEAF and is not able to spot wrong step in playing at once. Stop your bulling.

[@jysmtl]

What a fascinating woman. I wish this interview went on for hours.

[@iceWaterProductions1]

Someone needs to track down the source of this interview for the whole thing.

[@dr.steffen4857]

Perhaps it did?

[@burtmann3921]

What a wonderful lady. Incredible artist.

[@MrGuitars8]

I wish you were still here , RIP Emily .

[@guitarman6742]

You are the Man.

[@tonmisty]

I love her playing and the fact that she's a woman means nothing. All that matters is her fantastic talent. It's very sad that she has gone so young but she has left us some incredible recordings and will never be forgotten.

[@nadasonic6]

I so wish she had lived. Imagine what a powerful elder stateswoman of Jazz she would have become! Such a loss.

[@MemphiStig]

i'd love to see this whole interview

[@slangpdx]

I saw her play a concert at a college in Idaho in 1981. Earlier the same day she gave a workshop where she said she realized she had talent when she was riding in cars with friends and was able to sing harmony to the horn parts on the radio. She went to Berklee. At the concert she said she brought her own group but was forced to use the band supplied by the school. Please check out her album Together with Larry Coryel, their version of Joy Spring by Clifford Brown is superb.

[@lunaticevolver]

she was and still is one of the greats!!! i am learning so much from her videos...R.I.P

[@angelgroover]

The same rules still apply to female musicians, sadly. Thanks for sharing this amazing interview. She is missed by so many.

[@MsLacy707]

Rest Easy this is the truth.

[@MannyH80]

You cannot truly become a great musician with a closed heart and mind. When those are closed, the ears close and at that point playing music becomes a self centered off putting exercise for those involved. When those men judged Emily they tried to protect their egos, but damaged their entire being because they denied themselves the gift and love of a beautiful young woman sharing her heart and soul through her music to the entire world. And that music and energy Emily wanted to share with them, was actually the very thing that would heal the frightened parts of themselves they so desperately wanted to protect. Music is not about being better than anyone. It is about sharing beauty and emotion with those who share the stage and play with us those who share the room and only listen.

[@jimmymurphy7789]

BEAUTIFULLY Put ! TYVM

[@ziblot1235]

Richard Wagner? Probably the greatest for his genre of all time assuredly had definite feelings that would be considred...closed?

[@ayoungethan]

beautifully articulated!

[@michelpizzetti2302]

It's absolutely marvelous what you've written!

[@paolocoletti1574]

@@ziblot1235 it may be that you haven't properly understood what you read.

[@bobbysbackingtracks]

What a sensitive soul. Loved her vibe and contribution to jazz. Yes, she had her own voice. Missed!

[@rickjolley4715]

I saw Emily Remler along with a work colleague and Hank Mackie in a small club in New Orleans in 1982 or 83. Mackie, who I was told, had been one of her teachers for a while was recording her on a large tape system. I had never heard of her before and had never met Mackie before either. She came out with a small band about 15 feet away and began to play and I freaking couldn't believe what I was hearing. I was totally spellbound. One of my most treasured memories in music. I saw her several years later at Jazz Fest playing with Larry Coryell. She was an original and is terribly missed.

[@monktrane325]

Gone too soon what a beautiful soul

[@amherstguitar]

Her accent is so great. What an open, honest person. Such a shame!

[@JosefRosam]

@ the fuck man..go away

[@ThinkGarza]

@ Seriously, take that simple thinking elsewhere

[@pgroove163]

@ except on the bandstand...where it counts

[@RocknJazzer]

Besides the jersey accent, I hear a slight european accent in there too...anyone know what that is...she must have immigrant parent(s)?

[@TheRocknrollmaniac]

yeah her accent is very sweet, someone mentioned European - might as well be the case.

[@perrybakalos7340]

although quite short, this is a great interview actually... a glimpse into a mindset of the artist

[@johnhguitar]

I was living in Perth, West Australia, when she died in Sydney from an overdose. The pressure of the music business was getting to her so she relaxed a bit to much. You've got to be tough as nails to get through all that bullshit. Her love of music got her to the top but her vulnerability caused her demise. I wonder what the facts were? At first I thought she was a good jazz musician but as I've grown older I have way more respect for just how great she was. You can't compare her with people.

[@michaeldean9338]

Thanks so much for this. Amazing musician. (RIP, Emily)

[@LadyLuvsYou]

Gosh I love her! We are still pushing and expressing my love

[@chrisclermont456]

I've always loved Emily Remler!! Rest in Peace!! ❤

[@COCO97233]

I still feel sad when I see her face again... I will always miss you, Emmy ! I have a poster of you playing on stage in my room. Iheard about your death in 1990, as I was driving my car. I had to stop,just to cry along the highway.

[@gbluesrocker]

what a great talent she was,she looks high in this interview!

[@andreastodsen969]

Angree

[@chrismcdermott7766]

great interview. Such a cool person. We played back in our Berklee days and most guys were intimidated because she was just that much better .

[@GeorgiaBoy1961]

Emily Remler was a shooting star who blazed a trail across the night sky and then disappeared much too soon. She made it as a top-flight jazz musician not because she was a woman, but upon merit - because she could play brilliantly and hang with the best jazz musicians in the world, guys like Hank Jones. How tragic that she was just starting to establish a style of her own, separate and distinctive influences, at the time of her death. A friend of mine, a pro musician in Chicago at the time, had known her at Berklee in Boston and afterwards. We spoke about Remler after her death, and he said that although the official cause of death listed was a heart attack, she had actually died due to a heroin overdose. She had been despondent over the end of her love affair with fellow jazz musician Larry Coryell, who was married at the time and refused to leave his wife. Some speculated that she had been a suicide. These details of her final days do not detract from her greatness in the least; if nothing else, they do serve as a warning and cautionary tale: Folks, don't fall into the trap to which too many jazz performers have succumbed - smack isn't the solution to your problems. In fact, quite the opposite - if you are not careful, heroin can end your life years before your time.

[@alvarobarrosso4169]

Very well said!

[@lesliegregg7980]

i knew her...i was her sponsor in mid 80s...i couldnt help her ..i wasnt a good sponsor...i still feel bad that i was powerless....she played at a big party i gave ..god bless her...today they played her on wzum here in pittsburgh 24 hr jazz station...i was so glad.

[@BlackPrimeMinister]

I'm sorry to hear that. Don't blame yourself. I've only just discovered her in the last few days! Rest assured, her music will continue to echo through time.

[@neilburns6049]

I'm sure you made a difference to her life - sober guitarist and big fan of Emily here , theres nothing we can do for some people , but we offered them the love of the fellowship, which is more than most people will be able to do, I'm sure you've successfully helped many others.

[@bilbobaggins4403]

Was it just Heroin?

[@theprogrammerrolandmc3039]

She died in Australia her guitar case had a better story to tell

[@ananyaraj8951]

I especially like Emily Remler because she was a great jazz guitarist even after being a lady she was wonderful and I love to listen her songs very much.

[@guitarpicka1]

What a talent she was...and how good she would be by now...if only she had not chosen that destructive path...R.I.P. Emily...Thanks for being here... for that short time... that you were here...!!!!!

[@philsarkol6443]

And she plays great...I'm just discovering her. There must be more female instrumentalist in any genre. Mary Osborne as her compadre in jazz... but in blues there are some and in country. Emilly Remler is a virtuoso , and with a lot of feel and power in expression. She was up there with the best of the day!! Maybe we can all give her credit, where credit is due.

[@manutopia61]

Such a genius you were, Emily Remler.

[@Bethune_Groundstaff]

Your spirit is not forgotten.

[@iceWaterProductions1]

I’m so sad I never got to meet Emily she seems like such amazing person. I would have loved to produce a live concert and documentary on her.

[@chazinko]

She was married to jazz pianist, Monty Alexander. He used to play her tune, "Catwalk". So much talent!

[@mwjazzman]

it's good to hear this interview, i don't care for the accent but such is life. her music is still being played.

[@tattoofred]

Thanks for this video

[@Guitarman1943]

I discovered Emily Remler many years ago. she was great and is great. I became a fan of her immediately and I have all recordings videos I can find. But not that with Roosmary Clooney and her last recording. Her videos made us better players and is as far as I can see the best there is in jazz teaching. It was a great shock when I was reading about her death at so an young age. Guitarman1943

[@franksinbeans]

Very inspiring

[@all1238]

Emily was in relationship with me and we were very happy together but we spilt because she couldnt give up drugs. Im too old now but still i miss her and i always watch her videos and just miss her alot. I am very sad she is gone😥but the memories with you always remains with me💔

[@mg55-n1l]

who are you?

[@childofculture3600]

Man, how old are you?

[@thenamesfrancisco]

i love emily remler

[@jackreyes9795]

ive listen to lots of jazz artist but i come back to her videos always , something the way she plays that sounded great , peaceful and true , her aproached to guitar playing is genuis , she mastered her own style ... i collect all her videos i can find........RIP .....

[@golds04]

Nuremberg? I never quite understood Kessler’s playing- or that reply to Emily. I saw him play with Ellis in nyc in the 80’s. Never smiled. He seemed like an unhappy guy. Rip ER. your cousin introduced me to your music, and I am grateful to you both v

[@donnlarossa9173]

When I met Emily in Van Nuys she talked about how bad she was playing. That showed me she was on her way to greatness one day. Shame we never got to see her dream and maybe ours.

[@claudemcfadden4093]

Thanks

[@DVincentW]

I knew Emily when I was a kid she worked with my step father pianist and my mom sang jazz..

[@sweetjane5033]

what a great musician!!!!!!!!!!!❤

[@SkonrokkenTV]

Well she was a legend, also to many future female guitarists. This is going back many years, but remember her even from the eighties. RIP Emily!

[@jazz1bro]

She was very honest. Many if not most don't have their own voices! I heard her live once with Herb Ellis.

[@soundbite6]

Imagine being lucky enough to hear Emily Remler play live and only listening out for mistakes.

[@ayoungethan]

yeah, what a waste of time and miserable experience that creates for both artist and audience!

[@Modes9]

I encountered a lot of sexism in the jazz department of my school, but the women who played classical guitar were the best. I don't care what organs are involved or what the outward appearance is...if the notes are good, and it feels good, it is good!

[@greyjay9202]

What is to say? Such a great person, and a wonderful guitarist. Her death left a big hole in the jazz world.

[@cricrijobim]

Wow hearing she idolized Egberto Gismonte is incredible

[@AboveMiddleC1977]

John Coltrane & Emily Remler a Love Supreme!

[@MrSpadasa]

Emily says in the interview that Egberto Gismonti was her idol. Does anyone know if she ever recorded anything by him?

[@progrockjock]

Nothing to prove to me. Women will always be twice as good as men. I can listen to her play all day. Amazing!

[@martybergel8258]

How sad that I never got to see her play.

[@shookstylez]

absolute pioneer.

[@Kindacutehuh]

beauty and intellect equals emily

[@joannaquehenberger]

"... or do you think you are oversensitive?" A question like this triggers so much anger in me. Ofcourse she is not oversensitive. She couldn´t have been any tougher. Structural sexism that´s called, it´s not a woman´s over-sensitivity.

[@calendulabbra]

Yes Joanna, that pissed me off so much too! What an asshole. Just disgusting. And Emily is so elegant and authentic.

[@Stringer13ell]

Do you think you're oversensitive?

[@GreggBennett-j3p]

Totally understand. But, I had the unimaginable great fortune to have studied with Emily in NYC, back in 86 or 87 (same time as this interview) and I can tell you, Emily was definitely sensitive about comments. I learned that the hard way the first time I walked through her apt door in Manhattan. Down around Chelsea, I think. Anyway, at the time I’d never heard of her. I just answered an ad in the Village Voice that simply said something to the effect of ‘Jazz guitarist Emily Remler now accepting students’. I’d just seen Mike Stern play at 55 Bar and I wanted to learn jazz. So, within the first 3 minutes of me standing there I had the bad judgement to ask her if she played out anywhere. Well, she fucking unloaded on me and called me a little fuckin prick (or something similar) and told me to get the fuck out. I nearly pissed my pants she scared me so much. She was like ‘who the fuck do you think you’re talking to’. Truth is, I had no idea who I was talking to. Long story short, after begging for forgiveness, I went on to take weekly lessons with Emily for about 6 so months before she sadly moved to LA. She had a very hard exterior that you could tell was formed by people disrespecting her. But once we got started with lessons, I saw the real, heart of gold, caring, dedicated, and off-the-scale talented music educator she was. And OMG was it cool to watch her play from 2 feet away!! Also, The hand written lesson notes Emily used to put in my music notebook at the end of each lesson were breathtakingly comprehensive and thoughtful. And she’d always add a few kind words of encouragement at the bottom. She really cared about her students. She put me together with another of her students so I’d have someone to play with. She didn’t have to do that. She did it because she cared. But back to the ‘sensitivity’ thing. Yes, I think was was sensitive, but she had every right to be. She was as tough as nails because she had to be. That would affect anyone. She taught me more about music in those few months back in ‘86 than I ever learned with any other teacher for any length of time. But she was also just a really cool person to spend an hour with once a week. I was affected deeply by those few months of lessons with her. RIP, Emily.

[@frankgreen8137]

In this interview, she seems so sophisticated and sexy...like a diva. She was a diva even if she didnt know it.

[@deadgoose1]

R.I.P.

[@zepereboide]

Wow she mentions brazilian Egberto Gismonti as one of her idols. Very interesting, I'd never guess that

[@RenzoTocador]

me neither. I'm from Brazil.

[@jaredking232]

This is a great interview. Do you happen to know the name of he station this was aired on in Switzerland? Where did you find this?

[@poderosaracing4928]

Very charming woman

[@noelmesta3313]

💙💙💙💙

[@BmakinFilm]

Emily really inspired and wowed us when she first hit the scene - we were in high school jazz band and really dug that a woman was playing such heavy guitar - she gave a boost to our bass player who was a young woman. I am now, 40 years later, making my second feature length jazz documentary on the obstacles women face in a male dominated industry We Are Here: Women In Jazz. The issues Emily shares here are steal being dealt with... Featuring the Manhattan Transfer, Veronica Swift, Tanya Darby and many more here is a trailer for my next film: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d3iahJWLg7F7htU

[@jeschinstad]

It makes me sad to be reminded that even when I was a child (I was six when this interview was taken), women were suppressed, or felt suppressed like that. If your mind feels unequal, then it is. But Jazz without women would be like whisky with water -- or coffee without it.

[@ziblot1235]

Boohooo

[@jeschinstad]

@@ziblot1235: You intimidate me. I feel so very imasculated by your clever argument. You must be such a successful person, being able to articulate your ideas like that. I'm really happy for you.

[@agger08]

Emily: You have to be twice as good as a man. Interviewer: You think that’s true or are you being overly sensitive? FFS.

[@grholanda]

EGBERTO GISMONTI influencer !!! LONG LIVE BR MUSIC

[@DaveDurango]

she was cool af

[@rudahindrikson3614]

She said Egberto Gismonti.

[@elnes77]

Exatamente! ;-)

[@frankgreen8137]

Emily, I am sorry that it was such a struggle...this world needs to come together in your memory and stop sexism, racism, brutality and stereotyping- the fact that a girl can be superior to a man in any artform. Women's lives matter. Black Lives matter. White lives matter.....Jazz musicians matter. Everyone matters! You mattered well Emily and if you didnt get your due then, I'm sure you have it now.

[@Fitzliputzli23]

Interesting: At 2:52 the German subtitles suppress the term "nurnberg trials"

[@teelurizzo8542]

No coincidence. She made reference to Barney Kessel's comment, given that both Barney and Emily wareJewish, it might have been perhaps a reference to some possible anti semitism? It probably made the more awkward, but my guess is she didn't mean it as an insult to German audiences in particular, she could have mentioned that anywhere.

[@masmas6463]

who cares ??? man / woman ? as long as they play at the highest quality is all that matters - I am a proud owner of some of her Concord Jazz recordings - the fact she recorded for that label should speak volumes as when the label started out it was for guitar jazz only .....

[@Cablespelaonica]

I dated a girl who was a Valium/Xanax head. Emily has that same look in her eye. So sad.

[@giuliana2610]

+CABLESPELAOnica she looks like she's on heroin...

[@crucify40]

Yes I think she's on the junk here.

[@Hollcall]

Trust me.......She is "stoned" during this interview.

[@frankgreen8137]

Xanax never made me play any better....

[@teelurizzo8542]

Unfortunately Emily had a heroin problem and I head she died of a heart attack broth on by her drug use. But here on this interview she might've been indeed on some type or tranquilizer like valium or xanax, perhaps to curb possible withdrawal symptoms, many users would do that when away from home; since she was on tour in Europe and liked didn't want to have to cop smack while on the road.

[@milaortiz]

Hey! what happened to the web site! it has been down for a while. Does it ever going to be alive again?? please???

[@newzappa]

I hope so! Unfortunately the lovely lady who created AllThingsEmily has effectively vanished. A random spam ‘bot’ embedded a link in the home page because the security updates etc., were not done. Then because of that the site was flagged and probably suspended by the host server.

[@milaortiz]

@@newzappa Oh dear! :(

[@Jam42OMan]

Yeah Wes Montgomery!! Octave melodies kickass!!

[@guitarman6742]

Anita O'Day...with a guitar.

[@topoftheleaderboard]

he really asked “do you think you’re over sensitive”. COME ON this bozo wouldn’t know what it felt like being a woman in jazz

[@FatsacksAllday]

RIP

[@sjlefebvre]

Is there more of this interview or is this it?

[@newzappa]

This is all of the interview that was broadcast. The Emily interviewed in 1983 (audio only) video here on KZbin is one of the most insightful.

[@sjlefebvre]

I'm just captivated by her. I was truly heartsick when I heard of her death and yet most of the musicians I new at that time had no idea who she was or how truly amazing she was. Thanks,

[@bongofury333]

She's so fuckin good

[@jodyperalta8795]

I just learned of her in 2020.so sad

[@Bethune_Groundstaff]

🎉1:00 she was a monk and sometimes I wish that for me. 😊

[@kitano0]

She has an interesting way of speaking, she sounds foreign, almost in an Ingrid Bergman sort of cadence. I know she was from Jersey.

[@joshtowers6102]

What one would call somewhat of a "Jewish accent" it happens around jersey and new york. Maybe parents that spoke yiddish or hebrew in the house

[@stepitupandgo67]

She was so hot

[@JGULLIF]

Young, beautiful, talented ... so unfortunate.

[@tiluriso]

Not only was she a great player, but she was a sexy hot woman/Nice Jewish Girl too.

[@guitarman6742]

Well you could say...Smokin'.

[@mer1red]

This interview clearly illustrates what Emily must have gone through because she happened to be a woman and maybe also because of her origin. Almost everybody who starts talking about her, even today, or interviewed her has to mention "Well she imitated and sounded like Wes and Pat Martino, but blabla. ". There is even a (stupid) guy who made his thesis about this. *Every* good beginning jazz musician imitates. Wes played during his first performances mainly Charlie Christian's solo's, note for note. And what about the thousands who imitate(d) Charlie Parker? All plagiarism? In the beginning Emily defended herself with very clear arguments, such as: "When you're on stage, you cannot always wait for the inspiration falling from heaven. It's good to have a bag of beautiful memorised phrases or licks drawn form the masters." That's what they call: learning the language. Later on, due to the constant pressure "To find her own voice" and having to prove herself again and again, the brainwashing effect started working and she admitted: "Well maybe people weren't listing because I sounded too much like ...". I've been working with her musical heritage for many years now. She's one of my main inspirations. All I can say is: "Thank you Emily. You were great."

[@m3kuro9sk39]

I can see in this video how fast the women praise has been change. Today if you are a women even if you are not that good at guitar you will get so much attention but before is hard

[@MarkTarmannPianoCheck_it_out]

@Fitzliputzli23 Good catch. T'hat nearly always happens here. in an episode of "3 stone from the sun" a character tells his WW 2 story about how he "strangled a nazi with his bare hands". that was subtitled: "he single-handedly won the battle of Normandy". bizarre, added entertainment for me.

[@BenjaminGoose]

@abalvarez Agreed!

[@SPAPBrocker]

Alberto who? 1:25

[@rudahindrikson3614]

Egberto Gismonti.

[@stevieVantanna]

how exactly did she die?

[@GeorgiaBoy1961]

@ steveVantana: Unfortunately, Ms. Remler had a heroin habit, and it ended up killing her years before her time. She was brilliant, but that's one tiger you just shouldn't try to ride.

[@nuke97]

@whiteej21 Checked the jazz clubs...NO GO!

[@robiandolo]

@jeschinstad But great female jazz artists are usually vocalists. I have never heard of her until just now. She was, I guess, a terrific guitarist. I don't care that she was a girl but was surprised1 pleasantly i might add.

[@cym247]

I like yoğurt style Emily...

[@SuperflyFunkyBunny]

What a cool person. Everything she said is right on. I'd share an electric cigarette,coke and a smile with her any day.

[@bearblaster420]

He was just asking about her accent, which I can't help ut notice either. He didn't say, "Wow that accent makes her a shit guitar player!" No doubt she was great. But Emily seems to be talking with a mouthful of warm marbles

[@violinoscar]

I have often wondered why more women are not playing jazz, or just guitar in general. I don't think Emily Remler is entirely correct in her sexism observations. Sure , it may be true of some places but the numbers are just not there; I am semi retired from playing and teaching now but when I was at my busiest I would have perhaps 6 male students to every female. Women do not seem to be drawn to the guitar in the way the instrument attracts men. I don't know why, They tend to prefer instruments like the violin or perhaps the piano. I love Emily Remler's playing and I let my ears decide what I like and not my eyes.

[@cm0220ster]

Sure there's a doule standard but I believe if you have the talent and chops all that stereotyping goes out the window.

[@ayoungethan]

a lot of people wish that were true!

[@cast390]

@JazzGeetar213 Dude shes dead, she was and not is anymore