Many have been seduced by the City of Lights. Just like the millions of visitors who have been charmed by Paris, Singapore’s star jazz musician Jeremy Monteiro and his long-time collaborator Hong Kong jazz guitarist Eugene Pao both fell under the French capital’s spell over the course of a few visits there. Out of that love affair with the city came the idea to do a joint album capturing the very distinct sound of France.
That album is now reality – “To Paris with Love” pays tribute to the city of Paris and legendary French composer Michel Legrand, with the added personal flair of both jazz luminaries. Most of the songs are by Legrand, with the exception of a couple.
Jeremy Monteiro and Eugene Pao in Paris. Photo © Varian Monteiro.
Jeremy Monteiro and Eugene Pao in Paris. Photo © Varian Monteiro.
Monteiro and Pao performed songs from their new album during a one-night only concert on 16 October at the newly-refurbished Victoria Concert Hall, whose acoustics I found (at least for that one time I’ve been there) “fantastic”, in Monteiro’s words.
Vintage Monteiro was at his best not just tinkling the ivories but bantering with the audience, with both he and Pao taking a selfie before the concert began proper. With his usual affability, Monteiro lent a couple of personal touches during the concert, mingling with the audience during the reception, at times reaching inside the piano lid to strike the strings, and also lending his vocals to the song “Watch What Happens ” – you can hear him sing on the album. He later quipped that “for me that was the most frightening part of the concert, even after three glasses of wine.”
Monteiro and Pao gamely posing for a selfie before the concert. Photo © Fen Chia
Legrand is one of those legendary composers who is so prolific, and whose movie tunes have won so many awards that even if you might not have heard of his name, the mere introductory seconds of his tunes will likely have you snapping your fingers with an ‘aha’ of familiarity.
Monteiro and Pao opened the concert with “I Will Wait for You”, a classic from the 1965 acclaimed movie “The Umbrellas of Cherbourg” that has been covered by countless great artistes. While I wished that the duo have chosen this as one of the tracks to be set to vocals, the improvisation skills of both performers did full justice to the song.
Monteiro at the piano and Pao on his guitar. Photo by Showtime Productions.
The night was also a celebration that honoured the partnerships between Monteiro and his other some-time collaborators, soulful singer Alemay Fernandez and Robert Fernando, the “James Ingram of Singapore” whom Monteiro has known for more than three decades. Fernandez lent her vocals to “Windmills Of Your Mind” from the 1968 heist romance “The Thomas Crown Affair”, while Fernando sang “The Summer Knows” from the coming-of-age blockbuster Summer of ’42.
The two were to return to the stage again to perform “How Do You Keep the Music Playing” together with the Oxley String Quartet. If you purchase the album, you will realise that it is Grammy-winner Carmen Bradford singing on this track.
Monteiro and Pao perform “How Do You Keep the Music Playing” with Alemay Fernandes, Robert Fernando and the Oxley String Quartet. Photo by Showtime Productions.
Notably, the album also includes two original compositions. “Seul à Paris”, or “Alone In Paris”, composed by Monteiro on a “rainy, dark day” when he was walking alone in the Jardin du Luxembourg. It is aptly melancholic yet soothing, a tune you would imagine goes well with a latte to be nursed while sitting in a cafe staring out the window on a rainy afternoon. “De Paris à Segré”, or “From Paris to Segré”, was started by Monteiro and completed by Pao, and inspired by their travels to and from the French capital to the beautiful commune of Segré. It is a lively, jaunty piece that was a fitting end to cap off the concert – not counting their encore piece of “Les Feuilles Mortes” (Autumn Leaves) by Joseph Kosma.
Curtain call for the concert. Photo © Fen Chia.
“To Paris with Love” is a befitting tribute to the romance of Paris and the immense talent of Michel Legrand, who still makes the occasional appearance, aged 83 this year. Whether you are a Francophile, fan of the award-winning movies which featured Legrand’s music or simply a jazz lover, the fingers of two of Asia’s best jazz musicians will tug at your heartstrings.
The album “To Paris with Love” is out in major record stores and on iTunes.
