Music

Now Hear This: Jeremy Monteiro

The jazz maestro on his music picks and career highs.

Published: 11 Mar 2021

Time taken : >15mins

Cover image by Russel Wong, courtesy of Jeremy Monteiro.

“

When I really had that inkling of wanting to be a musician was when I was standing in my living room in my family home at that time. I put on a Quincy Jones record, and it was Toots Thielemans, playing a song by Ray Brown called Brown Ballad. And it was so beautiful that I had tears streaming down from my eyes. And then my mom asked me, ‘Why are you standing in the middle of the living room and crying?’ You know, I said, ‘Mom, I have never heard anything more beautiful than this.’

”

From almost passing on an invitation to perform at the world-renowned Montreux Jazz Festival, to his secret love for The Carpenters, Jeremy Monteiro spills the beans in this intimate conversation with his collaborator and second cousin, jazz singer Alemay Fernandez.

Cultural Medallion recipient Monteiro is one of the nation’s most celebrated artists. To date, Jeremy has performed with an exhaustive list of jazz luminaries including Toots Thielemans and James Moody, multi-Grammy winners Randy Brecker and Ernie Watts as well as pop royalty Simon & Garfunkel. Join Jeremy as he delves into the music and artists that have shaped him and as he looks back at memorable milestones throughout his illustrious 45-year career.

Alemay Fernandez

Tracklist of songs in this podcast

2:55 — Always in Love by Jeremy Monteiro, from the album My Foolish Heart: An Acoustic Anthology (2006).

6:26 — Josefina (Live) by Jeremy Monteiro, Jay Anderson and Lewis Nash, from the album Live at No Black Tie in Kuala Lumpur (Recorded live in 2020, released in 2021).

8:20 — All the Things You Are by Jeremy Monteiro, Isaac Redd Holt and Eldee Young, from the album Monteiro Young & Holt and Friends (Recorded in 1988 at the Montreux Jazz Festival, released in 2012).

12:15 — Carousel in a Child’s Mind by Jeremy Monteiro, Isaac Redd Holt and Eldee Young, from the album Monteiro Young & Holt and Friends (Recorded in 1988 at the Montreux Jazz Festival, released in 2012).

14:11 — Orchard Road by Jeremy Monteiro, from the album Compositions – Golden Year Inaugural Vol. 1 (2011).

Listen to Jeremy's full playlist below!