2020 - 2021 Season
Close Ups: Monnette Sudler
Philadelphia’s own “first lady of jazz,” the late guitar legend Monnette Sudler, kicks off Close Ups on October 13. In a career breaking barriers as one of the few women in the room, Monnette’s unique sound, punctuated with jazz, blues, and funk, tells a powerful and intricate story woven across decades and styles.
Stream Close Ups: Monette Sudler
about the artist
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about the artist •
Monnette Sudler
Monnette’s music reflects her diverse exposure and love of varied genres. Her initial CDs recorded for Steeplechase records stay within the instrumental jazz genre with straight ahead & funky grooves on guitar and an occasional sultry vocal styling. Later CDs on MSM-Records and Discograph reflect a more eclectic blend of traditional and contemporary jazz, soul and poetry. Monnette played bass as well as lead guitar, drums and various African string and/ percussion instruments. She was a prolific composer and songwriter/poet. Monnette has been commissioned to score and or arrange for various ensemble configurations.
Monnette Sudler passed away on August 21, 2022 after a brave battle with blood cancer. Journey Arts is honored to have documented Monnette’s incredible artistry. Learn more about her life, work, and history making career from this WHYY article.
About Close Ups
Meet four powerhouse Philadelphia artists this fall and winter in Close Ups, an hourlong performance and conversation series created and hosted by Intercultural Journeys. Running from October through January, Close Ups shines a light on four women with vivid stories and unique perspectives on artistry. Spanning artistic genres from Kathak to klezmer, each episode—a joyful combination of performance, interview, and discussion—offers the viewer an intimate look into the vibrant practice and creative world of these artists. As we celebrate the centennial of the movement for gender equality, join these women-leaders as they reflect on their life and experiences and dream forward their hopes for the next generation of young women.
And you can be part of the story too. As IJ presents the recorded performance and interview, chat with the artists and IJ staff online, and then after the performance, stay tuned for a LIVE question and answer session with the artist.