This compilation of tunes by Jeremy Monteiro, written both by himself as well as with collaborators, is a celebration of his life and career as a pianist and composer, as he marks his golden year. From the breezy samba "Orchard Road"; written to capture the vibrance of the city's main street in his homeland Singapore, to the cheeky swingy number "No Mystery" and even to "Blues For Ray" that is a reflective bluesy tribute to Ray Charles, the album is an exploration of Monteiro's eclectic abilities as a composer and pianist. The album features stellar performances by Charlie Haden, Ernie Watts, Al Foster, Eldee Young, and Redd Holt, including South East Asian jazz stars Tamagoh, Andrew Lim, Hong and other notable collaborators. If you have not yet experienced the work of this talented jazz musician who has performed with the likes of James Moody, Michael Brecker (with Simon & Garfunkel), and Toots Thielemans, or even if you already are acquainted with Jeremy's work, Compositions Vol. 1 is a great primer for the beginning listener and a definite must-have addition to your collection of his recordings.