Monnette Sudler (June 5, 1952 – August 21, 2022) was an American jazz guitarist from Philadelphia.

Monnette Sudler
Birth nameMonnette Goldman
Born(1952-06-05)June 5, 1952
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedAugust 21, 2022(2022-08-21) (aged 70)
Germantown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
GenresJazz
OccupationMusician
InstrumentGuitar
Years active1970s–2022
LabelsSteepleChase

Early life and career

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Sudler was born Monnette Goldman in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her mother, Lea Goldman, married Truman W. Sudler in 1957. She grew up in the Nicetown-Tioga neighborhood of Philadelphia.[1]

Her first exposure to jazz was listening to her great-uncle play piano. When she was fifteen, she took lessons on guitar at the Wharton Center in Philadelphia. She could play drums and piano, and she also composed, arranged, sang, and wrote poetry. Early in her career she worked with vibraphonist Khan Jamal in the Sounds of Liberation. In the 1970s she studied at Berklee School of Music in Boston and in the 1980s at Temple University.[2] Time for a Change (1977) was her first album as band leader.[3]

During her career, she worked with Kenny Barron, Hamiet Bluiett, Arthur Blythe, Dameronia, Sonny Fortune, Dave Holland, Freddie Hubbard, Joseph Jarman, Hugh Masekela, Cecil McBee, David Murray, Sunny Murray, Trudy Pitts, Odean Pope, Don Pullen, Sam Rivers, Shirley Scott, Archie Shepp, Leon Thomas, Steve Turre, Cedar Walton, Grover Washington Jr., and Reggie Workman.[2]

Sudler died from blood cancer on August 21, 2022, at the age of 70.[4]

Discography

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As leader

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  • Time for a Change (Steeplechase, 1976)
  • Brighter Days for You (Steeplechase, 1977)
  • Live in Europe (Steeplechase, 1978)
  • Other Side of the Gemini (Hardly, 1990)
  • Just One Kiss (MSM, 1998)
  • Meeting of the Spirits (Philly Jazz, 2005)
  • Let the Rhythm Take You (MSM 2008)
  • Where Have All the Legends Gone? (Heavenly Sweetness, 2009)[5][2]

As sidewoman

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With Khan Jamal

With Sounds of Liberation

References

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  1. ^ Chinen, Nate (August 22, 2022). "Monnette Sudler, trailblazing guitarist and Philadelphia jazz luminary, has died at 70". wrti.org. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c Yanow, Scott (2013). The Great Jazz Guitarists. San Francisco: Backbeat. p. 191. ISBN 978-1-61713-023-6.
  3. ^ Hussey, Allison (August 23, 2022). "Jazz Guitarist Monnette Sudler Dies at 70". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  4. ^ DeLuca, Dan (August 23, 2022). "Monnette Sudler, Philly jazz guitar great, has died at 70". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  5. ^ "Monnette Sudler | Album Discography | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
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