Emily Remembered

Deirdre Cartwright guitar
Kathy Dyson guitar

Guitar duo invoking the spirit of the great American jazz guitarist Emily Remler.


Invoking the spirit of the great American jazz guitarist Emily Remler who died in 1990 at the age of 32. These two distinctive voices on the guitar perform jazz and latin standards as well as some Remler originals.

Their soulful playing on this tune (Softly as in a Morning Sunrise) was a particular highlight, showcasing Deirdre’s lyrical lines as she skillfully dug into the harmony, choosing only the most meaningful intervals to define Kathy’s solid accompaniment.

– Simon Crook ‘All things Emily website’


“Kathy and I met in 1984 and realised that we were the only two professional women jazz guitarists in the UK. Twenty five years later, when we decided to form the duo, to celebrate our love of the guitar and our admiration for American jazz guitarist Emily Remler, guess what? We were still the only two – we must have been great role models!

Most of the tunes on this album are associated with Emily Remler in some way or have been written by us for the duo Emily Remembered.”


Deirdre and Kathy met in 1984 and realised that they were the only two professional women jazz guitarists in the UK; Twenty five years later, when they formed the guitar duo, they were still the only two.

Since getting together to celebrate their love of the guitar and their admiration for American jazz guitarist Emily Remler (she died in 1990 at the age of 32) this duo has been going from strength
to strength. They have toured across the UK and performed in Italy.

Their two distinctive voices on the guitar perform jazz and latin standards associated with Remler, plus some Remler originals and a couple of their own compositions specially arranged for this project.

Deirdre rose to fame on BBCTV’s Rockschool and has since developed into an imaginative, melodic player;
Kathy similarly is a highly-respected instrumentalist, teacher and composer on the North West scene.


We are a jazz guitar duo that celebrates the life and work of guitarist Emily Remler. We perform swinging jazz standards, bossa nova, Remler originals and some of our own compositions.

We also have a programme that includes vocalist Sarah P, which features poetry based repertoire, songs from eg Leonard Cohen, Patti Smith and some originals.

Our first album was released in February 2011 with a double launch at Band on the Wall Manchester and Ronnie Scotts Club, London.

The event at Mills’ Café was remarkable; the sheer expertise and beauty of the guitar music by Deirdre Cartwright and Kathy Dyson. Included in their two sets of guitar duets – a performance of a Neruda poem, with vocals by Sarah P, a similar treatment of a Lorca poem – La guitarra – and, most deliciously, a performance full of passion and – dare I say it – of duende of Leonard Cohen’s ‘Take this Waltz, a version of a poem from Lorca’s ‘Poet in New York’. Brought the house down.”

– Lorca in England festival, June 2011

Workshops

We are very experienced jazz and music educators. Deirdre is the guitar syllabus coordinator and composer for the popular Rock School graded exams and Kathy received Jazz Educator of the Year from the Parliamentary Jazz Awards in 2010. We can offer a range of different types of workshops for ensembles, improvisation, songwriting and pop, rock and jazz guitar playing for all ages and abilities.

Kathy Dyson and Deirdre Cartwright are both superb players albeit with contrasting styles that, nevertheless, complement each other perfectly. “All The Things You Are” reminded me of MJQ. The interplay between the guitars could have been created by Milt Jackson & John Lewis – that’s how good it was.”

– Lance Liddle, Newcastle gig review

Gigs

We are low maintenance, high quality, friendly, adaptable and completely self-contained.
For smaller venues we simply require a plug socket into a safe source of electricity. We have extensive experience of working with voluntary promoters at festivals and small venues.