Monnette Sudler, long considered Philadelphia’s “First Lady of Guitar,” passed away on Sunday at age 70 after a long health battle. The native Philadelphia jazz guitarist, vocalist, composer, and educator built a body of work spanning avant-garde to straight ahead jazz, R&B, funk and soul to blues and poetry — a career that made her a pillar of the local music scene for more than four decades.

Monnette Sudler’s Roots in Philadelphia Jazz

While still in her teens, Monnette Sudler helped found the jazz collective Sounds of Liberation alongside such legendary artists as vibraphonist Khan Jamal and saxophonist Byard Lancaster; the ensemble blended spiritual jazz, funk, and socially conscious ideas aligned with the Black Arts Movement. Decades later, she was instrumental in reforming the band for a series of acclaimed performances. In the 1970s, she attended Berklee College of Music, and in the 1980s, Temple University.

Nels Nelson, a jazz columnist for the Philadelphia Daily News, predicted her success in 1977, writing: “Monnette Sudler is not only a superior musician, but a mature and self-assured young woman with an uncommon lock on the future.”

Throughout her music, Sudler reflected a passion for and exposure to many genres. Steeple Chase Records, a prestigious label, released her first CD as a leader, built on straight ahead, funky grooves on guitar and occasional sultry vocals. She later merged traditional jazz with contemporary soul and poetry on releases for MSM-Records and Discograph — a catalog that includes 2021’s Stay Strong, a stirring pandemic-era mix of political drama and upbeat grooves.

Over her 40-plus year career, Monnette Sudler traveled and performed across Europe, Japan, South Africa, Jamaica, and the United States, sharing stages with jazz greats including Grover Washington, Trudy Pitts, Hugh Masekela, Shirley Scott, and Reggie Workman. Beyond guitar, she played bass, drums, and various African string and percussion instruments. A prolific composer, songwriter, and poet, she had the ability to score and arrange for ensembles of all kinds.

A Legend Who Overcame, and Kept Teaching

While her name may not have been instantly recognizable outside jazz circles, Monnette Sudler was hailed as a legend in the guitar world — featured in publications including Scott Yanow’s The Great Jazz Guitarists: The Ultimate Guide and Royal Stoke’s Growing Up with Jazz.

A transplant gave Sudler a second chance in 2014, after she was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis that eroded her body’s immune system. The city rallied around her as she struggled — an active fundraising campaign helped make possible the double lung transplant that saved her life.

Music and the arts remained her focus as an educator, and she encouraged her students to embrace a positive attitude. As founder and artistic director of the Philadelphia Guitar Summit, Sudler hosted an annual concert and workshops for audiences of all ages.

Monnette Sudler was a beloved and respected figure in the Philadelphia music community, and her contributions to the city’s cultural life are significant. The work of this talented musician and educator will continue to shape the sound of Philadelphia jazz for generations.

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Bobbi I. Booker

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