Jeremy Monteiro (pianist, vocalist, composer, jazz educator) has won critical acclaim in many parts of the world. He has performed all over the World in addition to numerous occasions at home in Singapore, where he has been dubbed “Singapore’s King Of Swing” by the local press.
Jeremy Monteiro (Photo credit: Russell Wong)
He has served as artistic director of the Singapore International Jazz Festival in 2001 and the Kuala Lumpur International Jazz Festival in 2012.
In 1988, Swing Magazine of Switzerland called him “one of the best exponents of Jazz Piano”. That year, he performed with his all-star band, Monteiro, Young & Holt at the prestigious Montreux Jazz Festival in a concert that was hailed by Montreux Jazz Festival Founder Claude Nobs as one of the most unforgettable concerts of the first 22 years of the Montreux Jazz Festival.
Jeremy has been mentioned in more than 400 press articles in publications around the world, including Billboard Magazine and The Washington Post. He has almost 40 album recordings to his credit.
He has almost 40 albums to his credit. “Brazilian Dreams” released in June 2016 rose to the top of the iTunes Jazz Charts in Singapore and stayed in the Top 100 for over a month. His latest album to commemorate his 40th Anniversary is entitled “Montage”, a selection of his original compositions, a couple of original compositions by close musical associates and a few standard jazz tunes as well. It was released in early October 2016 and entered the itunes Top 100 Jazz Charts at number one on the day of the album release.
Jeremy has been involved with many efforts to raise funds for charities in Singapore like the Community Chest of Singapore, The Singapore Children’s Society, Reach Services and other organizations. Two notable efforts were an event entitled “Jazz To Say Thanks”, an event to thank the then President, the late Mr. S.R Nathan for his efforts in raising funds for the less fortunate in Singapore. That concert raised around $1.3 million for the Community Chest in Singapore. In 2010, Jeremy commemorated his 50th Birthday with a concert entitled “Swinging In Singapore”. The organizing committee for the event was chaired by former cabinet minister Dr. Lee Boon Yang, with the then President Mr. S.R. Nathan as guest of honour. The event raised more than $1.1 million for the Community Chest of Singapore.
1. What is your dream destination and why?
One place I love to visit and dream of returning to is New York city because it is the Mecca of Jazz. I could not imagne living there, but I wish I could visit once every 6 months for a week or ten days at a time. I have been a regular visitor in the past, but I have not been to New York in about 5 years.
2. Three things that you could never travel without?
My Mac, my iPad and a small midi keyboard in case I need to work on music in my hotel room, or sometimes even on the plane!
3. Which destination surpassed your expectations and surprised you the most?
Luang Prabang. I loved the rustic nature of the town and loved the remnant French feel with the lovey cafes and restaurants. And being right by the majestiv Mekong river was wonderful. I remember seeing one of the most beautiful sunsets I have every scene as the sun went down of the Mekong River.
4. What projects are you currently working on?
I am currently gestating and doing pre-production on a new album of jazz arrangements of Beatles tunes. I am also working on a bandstand learning program which will culminate in a concert at Victoria Theatre on 27th May featuring the Singapore-Asia Jazz Orchestra along with some eminent mentors from around the world.
5. Do you have any tips or advice for budding musicians?
Be focused on the task at hand and detach yourself from the outcome. Think about the goal at first but then focus on getting there and “keeping your eye on the ball’, a metaphor I would use for music, art and sports.