Annex 1
TOOTS THIELEMANS
Special Guest
Jean Toots Thielemans was born in Brussels, Belgium in 1922 and immigrated to USA in 1952. At age three, Toots played the accordion and started playing the harmonica as a hobby.
His first idol was guitarist Django Reinhardt, Europe's first acclaimed jazz musician, and at a young age, he was influenced by American musician Charlie Parker, who was widely acknowledged as the foremost jazz alto saxophonist and one of the greatest jazz pioneers. Toots’ earlier engagementsin the USA included being a member of Charlie Parker’s All Stars in Philadelphia, and the George Shearing Quintet.
Nicknamed “Toots” after musicians Toots Mondello and Toots Camarata, his first international breakthrough was joining Benny Goodman on his European concert tour in 1950.
A perennial winner of the Down Beat readers and critics poll in the “miscellaneous instruments” category, Toots was also harmonica soloist for many film scores such as Midnight Cowboy, The Getaway, Sugarland Express, Cinderella Liberty, Turks Fruits and Jean de Florette. He composed Bluesette in 1962.
He has held numerous concerts and recorded with names like George Shearing, Ella Fitzgerald, Quincy Jones, Paul Simon, Bill Evans, Jaco Pastorius, Natalie Cole, Pat Metheny and Billy Joel.
“I can say without hesitation that Toots is one of the greatest musicians of our time. On his instrument, he ranks with the best that jazz has ever produced. He goes for the heart and makes you cry. We have worked together more times than I can count and he always keeps me coming back for more…”
from Quincy Jones’ Liner Notes
Q’s Jook Joint, 1995
Annex 2
JEREMY MONTEIRO
Piano
Jeremy Monteiro, Singapore’s premier jazz pianist and vocalist has won critical acclaim in many parts of the world. At home in Singapore, he has been dubbed "Singapore's King Of Swing" by the local press.
In October 2002 Jeremy was conferred Singapore’s highest honour in the Arts, the Cultural Medallion. In 1988, Swing Magazine of Switzerland called him “one of the best exponents of Jazz Piano”. That year, he performed with his all-star band, Monteiro, Young & Holt at the prestigious Montreux Jazz Festival.
Jeremy has been featured in more than 400 press articles around the world, including Billboard Magazine and The Washington Post. He has a total of 21 albums to his credit. He has performed in major jazz festivals such as the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, the Pori Jazz Festival in Finland and the Mt. Fuji Jazz Festival in Japan. Among the jazz luminaries he has performed and/or recorded with include James Moody, Ernie Watts, Michael Brecker, Lee Ritenour, Terumasa Hino, Joe Lee Wilson, Cassandra Wilson, Vanessa Rubin and Simon & Garfunkel to name a few.
In March 1990, at the same time as Natalie Cole, he was admitted as an active voting member of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (Los Angeles Chapter), and has voted at the Grammy Awards from 1991 through 2003.
As a composer, Jeremy has been awarded a Silver Medal at the 1991 International Radio Festival of New York, as well as finalist awards at the 1990 and 1991 London International Advertising Awards for best original music score (radio, television. and cinema). He has composed or produced over 700 pieces of music and is listed in the year 2000 edition of Who's Who of The World. He also served as Artistic Director of the Singapore International Jazz Festival 2001.
ADAM NUSSBAUM
Drums
Adam Nussbaum grew up in Norwalk, Connecticut, started to play drums at age 12 after studying piano for five years, and also began playing bass and saxophone as a teenager. He moved to New York City in 1975 to attend The Davis Center for Performing Arts at City College.
His professional career began with Joe Lee Wilson, Sheila Jordan and he played a weekend with Sonny Rollins in 1977 in Milwaukee. In 1978 he joined Dave Liebman’s quintet and did his first European tour with John Scofield. During the early eighties he continued working with Scofield in a trio with Steve Swallow. In 1983 he became a member of Gil Evans Orchestra and played with Stan Getz as well. He later joined the Eliane Elias/Randy Brecker Quartet, Gary Burton, and Toots Thielemans.
In 1987 he began touring with the Michael Brecker Quintet. In 1988 they recorded the Grammy winning Don’t Try This At Home. During 1992 he was part of the Carla Bley Big Band and that same year John Abercrombie hired him to complete his organ trio with Dan Wall.
Today, Adam is active with Abercrombie, George Gruntz Concert Jazz Band & Trio, James Moody Quartet, Steve Swallow Quintet, Kenny Wheeler Quartet and Jerry Bergonzi Quartet. He plays the entire gamut of jazz styles on the drums, from bebop to avant-garde jazz.
He is also busy maintaining an active freelance schedule. Adam teaches as an Adjunct Professor at New York University, the New School for Social Research and the State University of New York at Purchase. He has also done clinics and master classes around the world.
JAY ANDERSON
Bass
With more than two decades of experience, acoustic bassist/composer Jay Anderson is among the most versatile and respected jazz artists performing today, and is considered one of the best bassists in the world. He has had long associations with Michael Brecker, Joe Sample, Toots Thielemans, Michael Franks, Eliane Elias, Warren Bernhardt, Steve Khan and Carmen McRae. He has also worked with big bands led by Bob Mintzer, Woody Herman, Mel Lewis, Maria Scheneider and Gil Goldstein. His musical reach has also included ‘non-jazz’ credits with Frank Zappa, Celine Dion, Tom Waits, Allen Ginsburg, Michael Legrand and Dr. John.
In addition to being a highly sought after sideman with numerous sessions to his credit, Jay is a proven voice in his own right. Composed, arranged and produced by Jay himself, his albums Next Exit and Local Color have received outstanding critical acclaim, both in the US and abroad.
Annex 3
REPERTOIRE
Repertoire for the concert will be selected from the following list:
The Island Ivan Lins and V. Martines
Three Views of A Secret Jaco Pastorius
I Loves You Porgy George Gershwin
Stardust Hoagy Carmichael
I Can't Get Started Vernon Duke
I Do It For Love Paul Simon
What A Wonderful World George David Weiss
The Days of Wine & Roses Henry Mancini
Sophisticated Lady Duke Ellington
Very Early Bill Evans
For My Lady Toots Thielemans
Hard To Say Goodbye Toots Thielemans
Theme From Sesame Street
In Your Own Sweet Way Dave Brubeck
Dolphin Dance Herbie Hancock
Bluesette Toots Thielemans
Ballade A Damien Toots Thielemans
Always in LoveJeremy Monteiro
SoliloquyJeremy Monteiro / Robin Macatangay
Inner VoiceJeremy Monteiro
AsianaJeremy Monteiro
Jeremy Monteiro NYC Trio
PianoJeremy Monteiro
DrumsAdam Nussbaum
BassJay Anderson
Sound EngineerSunil Kumar
Production ExecutiveZee Soh Fun