Singapore's King of Swing

I was privileged to catch Jeremy Monteiro at the Esplanade in a concert celebrating his thirty years as a jazz entertainer. Jeremy Monteiro performed with "jazz luminaries" Jay Anderson (bass), Bob Shepard (saxophone and clarinet), Jimmy Cobb (drums) and Roberta Gambarini (vocals). The programme itself featured arrangements and compositions from Jeremy and his guests.

All in all it was a great evening of jazz. It was especially a pleasure and honour to see Jimmy Cobb, a true jazz legend, in action. Cobb has recorded with many of the greats of Jazz, most famously as part of the Miles Davis quintet that recorded Kind of Blue. He belied his age with some strenuous and energetic drumming. Gambarini only came on stage for the second half of the concert and proved a very technically skilled singer, particular in terms of her scat singing (which often formed the majority of her vocals during any given song). I wasn't certain enamored with her overall tone though, but there is no denying she is very talented and skilled.

I last saw Jeremy when he performed with the legendary late Toots Thielmans in 2005 and Singapore is truly privileged to have such a reknown proponent of jazz in our midst especially when he is able to lure such talent to our shores to perform with him. It's been 30 years since he started out, but I am sure I am not alone in the conviction that Jeremy is still Singapore's King of Swing and that there is much more to come from him in the years ahead.