JAZZ LUMINARIES JEREMY MONTEIRO AND EUGENE PAO LAUNCH ‘TO PARIS WITH LOVE’ ALBUM WITH A DUET CONCERT

Take a virtual trip to one of the world’s most romantic cities with ‘To Paris With Love’. Jeremy Monteiro, an award-winning Singaporean composer widely regarded as one of the best jazz pianists in Asia, is joining hands with Hong Kong’s premier jazz guitarist Eugene Pao. Their collaboration ‘To Paris With Love’ comprises an album and a special duet concert that pay tribute to the music of one of the most well-loved French composers, Michel Legrand.

‘To Paris With Love’ was first conceptualized a few years ago when the pair were in Paris for a tour, and finally came into being when they visited the city again for a private concert last year. Held on 16 October 2015, the concert will be staged at the newly refurbished Victoria Concert Hall.

The concert will feature tunes from the album including some Legrand classic all-time favourites, as well as an original Legrand-inspired composition composed by Monteiro and Pao that was inspired by the duo’s travels from Paris to the quaint and beautiful town of Segré in France. At the concert, the Oxley String Quartet and two of Singapore’s veteran powerhouse vocalists, Robert Fernando and Alemay Fernadez, will join the duo to perform this original track titled ‘De Paris à Segré’ (From Paris to Segré).

Jeremy Monteiro said, “I have always wanted to record a duo album with Eugene and perform it with him ‘live’, and I am very happy that we are finally able to do that! I am a big fan of Michael Legrand, having grown up listening to his work when I was a teenager. After visiting Paris a few times and just soaking in the vibrancy and creative energy of the Parisian people, it felt right to collaborate with Eugene, a jazz guitar maestro whom I really respect, on an album that pays tribute to Legrand and the city of Paris. We hope to bring the energy and finesse achieved on the album onto the concert stage, and give everyone a night to remember.”

Eugene Pao said, “It has been such a privilege to be making music and sharing the stage with Jeremy since the early 80’s. What makes the album and the upcoming concert so special and challenging is the fact that most of the songs are a duo project, featuring just the piano and the guitar. We hope that our audience can immerse themselves in our music and be transported to the beautiful city of Paris.”

‘To Paris With Love’ is presented by Showtime Productions and Presenting Sponsor EFG Bank, with support from Lead Supporting Sponsor OUE Limited, Sponsors Azimuth Watches, Page Advisor and Official Public Relations Partner Asia PR Werkz. Tickets for the concert are available at www.sistic.com.sg or SISTIC outlets.