One of the great perks of writing for the Syncopated Times is that people are forever sending you records and imploring you to review them. It’s a great way to find out about bands, composers, crooners, and instrumentalists you would likely never have come across otherwise. Ever heard of Jeremy Monteiro, for instance? No, me neither—but apparently he’s important enough to have been crowned Singapore’s “King of Swing.”
It’s not a title bestowed lightly: this renowned pianist, educator and recording artist has been in the biz for 46 years, releasing an average of one album per year. And it’s clearly not a case of quantity over quality as Monteiro’s previous outing—the 2022 release Jazz Blues Brothers, with Alberto Marsico—got to number 12 on the JazzWeek chart. Sounds like it’s about time we all got onboard this hype train.
Jeremy Monteiro Sings is the Southeast Asian swing legend’s forty-seventh record—but the first on which he sings from beginning to end. Vocalists with whom he has previously collaborated include Jon Hendricks, Bobby McFerrin, Nancy Kelly, Cassandra Wilson, and Carmen Bradford, which might explain his reluctance to have a go. Still, it’s about time, I say, because his rich vocal tone is a superb complement to his very capable playing.
Monteiro’s mellow baritone nestles between Ben Poh’s bass and his own twinkling piano, as sweet an
