My family and I went to Leo’s X’mas party at SRC on sun, 19 Dec. Leo was our childhood friend from May Road where I was grew up in the ’50s and ’60s from age four to fourteen. I nipped over regularly to the Fernandez’s to help aunty bake her cakes and sometimes watched Leo practise his sax. It was where I first heard and learnt the song “Autumn Leaves”.
Leo grew up to become a professional musician. He played sax with the SBC Orchestra until it folded up and still gigs. Our paths crossed again in the ‘80s when I organized four jazz festivals with the Ministry of Culture. Our families have stayed in touch especially as Leo was a good friend to my late brother Patrick. On Patrick’s final trip home, he, Leo and other May Road buddies relived their gallivanting days, hopping from food court to pubs, like free spirits.
This was the first time we were invited to Leo’s X’mas party. Previous parties were held in a condominium function room but this was the first year it was held in a club so he and his musician kakis could jam.
I sat with veteran broadcasters Joan Chee, Lucy Leong and Mildred Appaduray with whom I had organised the Jazz Festival in the ’80s. It was very nostalgic to exchange notes on mutual friends like Brian Richmond and Norman Lim.
Horace in his element
- Leo on Sax & Danny on the ivories
It was a fabulous jam session! Unstructured, the music veterans – Abel Gan (Sam’s brother), Billy Martinez, Danny Koh, Donald Thaver, Horace Wee, Jerry Murad, Sam Gan, Terry Mortimer, Thomas Paul, Michael Bhanga, Shankar Paul -floated in and out on stage spontaneously, as the mood struck them. Instruments changed hands with ease which kept us guessing who was it who was tinkling the piano keys or strumming. We were treated to oldies like “Buy you a Rainbow”, “Can’t help Falling in Love”, “Autumn Leaves” (my request) and many other songs. Handsome silver-haired couples glided onto the dance floor prompting some of us to suggest that we should revive the tea dances of the 60s.
As we left, all of us urged Leo to organise another gig, soon! At day’s end, after all, all that counts are family, friends and music, music, music !
- Sam Gan, Horace Wee & Leo
Hey, thanks for posting the event Juliana and friend, musician, neighbour Leo for inviting me.
Bravo, Juliana for this new blog. I get to enjoy vicarious partying thru your posts. Btw, I checked Tian Hao Jiang’s website. It looks like he is a Mr Tian after all. In the website, he is known as Hao Jiang Tian, a concession to the yang ren no doubt who always put surnames last. So bravo also to LSF for putting his name correctly at last!