Herstory

Sounds of Liberation; Byard Lancaster and Khan Jamal Sunny Murray's Untouchable Factor Sam River's Big Band Philly Joe Jones Dameronia Change of the Century Orchestra Grover Washington, Jr.

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Sunny Murray, the father of Avant Garde drumming, in the 70's formed a group called the Untouchable Factor. This group lead by Sunny Murray on drums.. included Khan Jamal on Vibes, Monnette Sudler Guitar, & David Murray on Tenor saxophone.

1. Apple Cores (Foster) 7:44 2. Past Perfect Tense (Lake) 9:21 3. One Down And One Up (Coltrane) 4:35 4. New York Maze (S.Murray) 18:37 5. Applebuff (S.Murray) 9:10 Sunny Murray (dr), Frank Foster (ss-1.2.3.), Oliver Lake (as-2.), Jimmy Vass (as-1.3.), Youseff Yancy (tp,flh,...-1.3.4.5.), Don Pullen (p-1.2.3.), Monnette Sudler (g-1.2.3.4.), Cecil McBee (b-1.2.3.), Hamiett Bluiett (bs-4.), Arthur Blythe (as-4.), Fred Hopkins (b-4.), Abdul Zahir Batin (fl,whistles,perc-5.), Sonny Brown (dr-5.) Rec. 1.1.1978 in New York LP: Philly Jazz PJ 1004 LP: Baystate Records RVJ-6030 (Japan, 1979)

Studio Rivbea was the hot spot in New York city for new music in the seventies. Sam Rivers and his wife Bea gave many concerts there. A series of avant garde records called the "Wild Flower" series was recorded there. Monnette Sudler got her first record date with Steeplechase records after playing with the Sam Rivers big band for the Newport jazz festival in New York City. Also in the rhythm section was Warren Smith on drums and Dave Holland on bass. This was a most exciting band with intricate music for guitar. "I worked very hard to learn his music. His single, rhythmic lines needed to have chord for every note. I spent time working out my harmonies. It was worth every minute."

Philly Joe Jones big band Dameronia played the arrangements and music of Tadd Dameron. Eagleville hospital, in Eagleville Pa. requested that Monnette Sudler and Grover Washington, Jr. be special guests for their benefit concert. "This was my first time meeting and working with Grover Washington and Dameronia."

The first Change of the Century Concert was held at St. Mary's Church on the campus of University of Penn in Philadelphia. The nucleus of the band was Sunny Murray, Khan Jamal, Byard Lancaster, Monnette Sudler and Philly Joe Jones. Over the years the Change of the Century Orchestra has included other notables such as Odean Pope, Archie Shepp, Leon Thomas, Philly Joe Jones, Tyronne Brown, Reggie Workman, Grachen Monchor III, John Blake, Dave Burrell.... The Orchestra performed four concerts, the last was the Berlin Jazz Festival in Germany. The two concerts featured the music of Murray, Lancaster, Jamal, Sudler and Pope, however future concerts were dedicated to the late John Coltrane (by it's association with the Trane Stop Resource Institute) and Duke Ellington as well as music by Murray. Arranger and acting conductor for these concerts was Romulus Franceschini. The Orchestra did record a "live" broadcast for Whyy-Fm public radio but has never actually recorded for a record label. The second and fourth concerts were also documented on tape.

This concert was held behind the Art Museum in Philadelphia. The Monnette Sudler Band featuring Grover Washington, Jr. was sponsored by the Settlement Music School. The music was enjoyed by over a thousand people. It was an exciting evening of music. The Monnette Sudler Band included Uri Caine on piano, Tony Jones on bass, Darryl Washington on Drums, Lamont Smith on conga, Kenzel Honesty on alto sax and Monnette Sudler on guitar. The MS band played one show. The remainder of the concert featured Grover Washington and his music, along with the Monnette Sudler Band.