Jazz maestro Jeremy Monteiro's rousing gig for 65th birthday

Musicians in the community showed up as guests during the three-hour concert

- Chang Tou Liang

CONCERT JEREMY MONTEIRO AT 65: THE STATE OF MY ART Esplanade Concert Hall March 14

Since its inception in 1980, the Cultural Medallion has been awarded to only two pianists. The latest was avant-garde musician Margaret Leng Tan (2015), but the first was Singapore's King of Swing Jeremy Monteiro in 2002.

Marking his 65th birthday, this three-hour concert was the summation of 49 years of professional performance, 50 albums and over 700 original compositions. With the typical candour and self-deprecating humour of a stand-up comic, he spoke about every work on the programme.

The evening opened with a trio, Monteiro on piano, Jay Anderson (bass) and Hong Chanutr Techatananan (drums). This was how jazz groups began, playing in smoke-filled lounges and clubs of yesteryear, where performances were improvised in the most free-wheeling way possible.