Customer Reviews

Emily Remler: Bebop and Swing Guitar

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

First of all, both Emily Remler Hot Licks DVDs are worth buying for their moving end messages and introductory performances alone.
After watching these DVDs you realize what a tragedy her death in 1990 at age 32 was and will probably want to seek out her CD's; some of which are unfortunately out of print.
Both DVDs appear to have been recorded around the same time and I suggest buying both since they cover quite diferent material.
In 'Bebop and Swing' you get a very clear explanation of swing feel, with having metronome and tapping foot on beats 2 and 4 only.
Guide tones are also given a clear explanation, with an assignment of playing guide tone on each beat 1 of Jazz Blues and 'going to Mars and back' in between.
There are a lot of good suggestions throughout DVD and I found myself scribbling notes in the included booklet.
Part of end message in Bebop & Swing DVD is 'Dance while playing, have fun, express emotions, not about competition, music is to be joyous, free, you only have one life...' Hopefully you can hear message, learn something and be entertained by this DVD.

I have attended Berklee, and have been playing guitar for about 4 decades!

Over the past 2 decades I have continued, as best I am able, to expand my playing and to take lessons.

Remler is the best type of teacher, in my experience. One that knows how to simplify a complex subject so that the student can understand without having years of theory, instruction and performance as a foundation.

While primarily a rock, blues, and fingerpicker, I am revisiting my jazz interest. I found the instruction on this DVD to be enjoyable, down to earth, and most importantly, digestable. First and most importantly, this is a single DVD and is aimed at a lower or intermediate player, I believe. There is the assumption of the ability to play chords, notation, and a bit of theory. If you have none of these it is still a useful tool adn still very usable.

There are several exercises and at least three songs which a player can learn from this video-not only in notation but also simply watching them being played and in half speed mode-and take away the feeling of accomplishment, without a full semester of tutoring. One reveiwer asserts that this is not instructional in be-bop, but I disagree. ( I also didnt see anything other than enthusiasm, heart, and candor in Ms. Remler's eyes in both of her instructional videos.) It begins to lay foundation for be-bop with the presentation of a simple Bb blues, together with discussion of what leading tones are and using leading tones and how they assist in defining chord changes, and teaching how to develop eighth note solos. An excellent, non-heady, familiar choice, ie a blues, from which to start.



This is worth full price. It actually can provide a month's worth of practice easily, more if you really work it and perfect it.

Also as noted the emphasis on metronome and rhythm are simple concepts that most players just dont use, or use as much as they should. This will make it clear why it is critical, and will improve your timing (even if you think you have, or do have, great timing).

The best part, however, is the down to business approach, with heart, humility, and respect for music as well as the student. Its a very enjoyable experience, and it will improve your playing and will serve those wishing to begin to study jazz to get a tiny taste without being crushed by too much theory, too many exercises in technique, or some of the other foibles of structured musical instruction that can dis-hearten a beginner.

Miss Remler was a great loss, not only as a musician, but as a performer, teacher, and person.

This is a great instructional DVD by Miss Remler, but contrary to the title, there is NO instruction in bebop guitar at all, so do not get this DVD if you are looking for bebop instruction. Miss Remler was a great guitarist and teacher who died of a heroin addiction, and you can see the heroin addiction in Miss Remler's eyes during parts of this DVD, so personally I found it a bit chilling to watch at times. Nevertheless, this is a great instructional DVD for anyone wanting to learn Wes Montgomery style jazz guitar.

I wasn't really exposed to Emily's playing style until after her passing. So, for me, all I knew about her came from the static images of photos contained in CD packages, and from her playing style. I have long regretted never being able to have seen her play live, if only to have a chance to encounter the person who inhabited that technique.

This disc goes a long way to providing a bridge to that person. It's an instructional disc, targeted at a guitar player whose level of accomplishment is much more advanced than mine, but what stands out is the person, herself.

Like many other instructional videos, this one starts with the artist deep in the groove, playing a virtuosic introductory piece, and as she concludes it, she finally looks up at the camera and introduces herself. If you're an aspiring player looking at this disc for instruction, it's impossible not to take her seriously after watching her play that number.

Having watched this disc, I finally feel like I know a little about her personality, all charged up with Brooklyn attitude and the intensity of a player whose playing and timing had become second-nature to her. She talks about having graduated from the Berklee College of Music at the age of eighteen, so she undoubtedly inhabited a very competitive environment, and since there weren't a lot of women playing this type of jazz guitar in those days, it's likely that she had to push herself to be that much better than her male colleagues, just to get noticed.

She has no problem dropping the names of other guitar masters who had told her how good her sense of musical time was: guys like Larry Coryell, Herb Ellis and Pat Martino. In fact, while watching this 1986-produced video, I kept thinking about how much she resembled a female Pat Martino-type, and I mean that in the most complimentary way possible. Like Martino, her guitar had become an extension of her very self, and it shows handsomely in this lesson.

She must have been quite a pistol, and if you were ever one of her students on the the guitar, you probably have a few stories to tell about her intensity and commitment to her craft. If you ever had the occasion to have been "taken to school" by Remler's guitar instruction, I envy you.

I'll definitely be checking out her other instructional video on Advanced Jazz and Latin Improvisation, and I hope to learn a few things from her, albeit some 20 years after she died.

Good to meet you, Emily!

Excellent instructional Dvd. Shows you important rhythm emphasis, that other instructors dont. A keeper, and something I will use as a reference
tool over the years.

fine player, but seems to be making this up as she goes along.
did not get much out of this.
If you have time problems , she does have some good ideas on developing good time.