A hard-swinging guitarist with impressive chops and a likable sound influenced by
Wes Montgomery and early
George Benson,
Monnette Sudler is someone who has remained obscure despite her talent. The Philadelphian hasn't recorded nearly often enough over the years, although in the 1970s, she provided some strong albums for the Danish Steeplechase label.
Sudler was 24 when she teamed up with pianist
Oliver Collins, bassist
Gerald Benson and drummer
Newman Baker for Time for a Change. Standards are excluded on this energetic album, and
Sudler sticks with original post-bop compositions that range from the driving "Easy Walker" and the cerebral "Malik Yaumi Din (Owner of the Last Day)" to the reflective "Let Us Love."
Sudler tries her hand at singing on the soul-flavored ballad "A Love Song," and her uncertain vocal makes it clear that she's a much better guitarist than singer. Even though Time for a Change wasn't a big seller, SteepleChase felt it was important enough to reissue on CD in 1995. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
