Elegy for Emilia: A Verse Biography of Emily Remler (1957-1990)

The short but remarkable career of American jazz guitarist, Emily Remler (1957-1990), ended with her death, amid still-disputed circumstances, in Sydney in 1990 while on tour. Emily played with virtually all the major jazz guitarists of the era and recorded six albums under her own name during the 1980s. Throughout this career, which was pioneering in terms of female jazz instrumentalists, Remler was widely interviewed in the musical press. It is mainly from these interviews, and other biographical material, that poet and jazz aficionado, Geoff Page, has written Elegy for Emily, a compressed and vivid account of her life and work, employing verse that both echoes and complements the rhythms and sonorities of her music.

Geoff page has published twenty-three collections of poetry as well as two novels, five verse novels and several other works including anthologies, translations and a biography of the jazz musician, Bernie McGann. His awards include the Grace Leven Prize, the Christopher Brennan Award, and the 2001 Patrick White Literary Award. His book, 1953, was shortlisted in the 2014 Prime Minister's Literary Awards. He was also the editor of The Best Australian Poems 2014 and 2015 (Black Inc). Geoff has also presented monthly poetry readings and jazz concerts at successive venues around Canberra since 1994 and 2003 respectively.

geoffpagepoet.com.au