Jeremy Monteiro Organ Quartet: Live Upon Nassim Hill

Singaporean Jeremy Monteiro is primarily known as a pianist, having played with James Moody, Jimmy Cobb, Carmen Bradford, Charlie Haden and Ernie Watts, no less. But he is also a fine organist, an instrument he taught many moons ago. Monteiro returned to those roots with the trio Organamix, whose energy was captured on the live Kuala Lumpar date Groovin' at Groove Junction (Jazznote Records, 2009), and his considerable chops shine once more on this, his fiftieth album, Live Upon Nassim Hill, Monteiro's first hometown live recording in a distinguished career.

The set leans towards Monteiro originals, forged in the soul-jazz, swing and blues language of the great organ combos of Jimmy Smith, Jack McDuff and Jimmy McGriff. Keeping Monteiro good company are Oklahoma-born, Singapore-based tenor saxophonist Shawn Letts, German guitarist Wesley Gehring, Thai drummer Chanutr Techtananan (aka Hong) and Indonesian-born, Singapore-based singer Vanessa Shavonne. Letts is an old sparring partner of Monteiro, while Gehring has previously recorded with the leader. Hong, Monteiro's go-to drummer, has toured internationally in various of Monteiro's ensembles, including The Asian Jazz All-Stars Power Quartet. Not for nothing does the quartet sound so tight.

The fleet, three-part unison lines on the swinging "Jazzybelle's Shuffle's"' intro and the bevy of subsequent solos set the template. While the style may be familiar—and instantly accessible—the playing, individually and collectively is first rate. Classically trained in Wiesbaden, Gehring has spent considerable time touring small jazz clubs in the States. The result is a guitarist of impeccable diction, but with a soulful, bluesy tone somewhere between Wes Montgomery and Grant Green. The guitarist peppers the set with fine interventions.

Likewise, Letts leaves a lasting impression; his fluid soloing, warm and robust, is heard to good effect on "Mount Olive," an upbeat gospel blues written in honor of Monteiro's former bandmates Eldee Young and Redd Holt—both of Ramsey Lewis Trio fame. Once the partying has abated Monteiro takes us to church in an emotive gospel finale, laced with Gehring's bluesy lines.

Throughout, Monteiro is at the helm of a Viscount Legend Live organ, which boasts a big old sound in the vintage tone-wheel spirit. Making good use of the multiple drawbars and double keyboards, Monteiro rips it up on the funky "Boogaloo Hullabaloo" and the calypso-flavored "Homecoming," and lends shimmering support to vocalist Vanessa Shavonne on a bluesy "Georgia On My Mind;" Here, and on a beautifully weighted reading of David Mann/Bob Hilliard standard "In The Wee Small Hours of the Morning," Shavonne displays real class, her evident vocal power never trumping the emotional currency in her delivery. A singer after Ella Fitzgerald's heart, Shavonne surely has a bright future ahead.

Over the years Monteiro has also honed his vocal talents, with Sings (Jazznote Records, 2023) marking his first album of all-sung material. Here he opens his pipes on the brushes-steered "I'm Confessin' that I Love You"—with fine solos from Gehring, Letts and the leader.

Recorded before an appreciative audience in the German Ambassador's residence, Live On Nassim Hill is a soulful, swinging, bluesy celebration. In other words, vintage Jeremy Monteiro. Singapore's tireless jazz ambassador marches on.

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