Maduro: The Secluded Jazz Lounge In Dempsey That Honours Tradition With Panache

Welcome to the jazz scene’s newest secret in Dempsey (Credit: Colossal Photos)

The resilience of jazz in Singapore is a tale speckled with struggle. Despite the genre’s vast appeal, appeasing both the blasé easy-listeners and gifted aficionados, it hasn’t always had a field day when it comes to securing a cranny in the city for it to flourish.

Tainted with high-profile shutdowns over the years, the jazz scene has lost establishments such as Sultan Jazz Club, B28, Blu Jaz Café and Montreux Jazz Café, to the grief of many connoisseurs and dilettantes. Crushed by the weight of urban restrictions, these havens fizzled out despite the sizzle they brought to the table.

So perhaps, it’s not a shabby idea to have a jazz hideout that’s distant from the harshness of the metropolis. Sequestered within the serene district of Dempsey is where you’ll find jazz’s latest advocate, Maduro, and it champions the weathered genre not with garish proclamations, but with touches of subtlety and elegance.

Grab a drink, and soak up the warm ambience of Maduro (Credit: Colossal Photos)

As I get cosy on a Saturday post-dinner evening, mildly sunken into a plush sofa not unlike something you’d find in a living room, I am entranced by an exceptional ensemble of jazz greats. Bassist extraordinaire, Christy Smith, fronts the motley crew he’s put together for his residency – Mei Sheum on piano, Aaron James Lee on drums, Sean Hong Wei on saxophone and Zora Smith on vocals. Together, they mesmerise with unorthodox renditions of jazz classics and contemporary earworms, from Julie London’s “Cry Me A River” to Esperanza Spalding’s “Precious”.

The charismatic Christy Smith (Credit: Colossal Photos)

Watching them execute their craft with smooth precision and effortless charm, it’s very clear that these jazz musicians are in their element. In Maduro, they appear free, finding solace in an environment where their notes can roam without restriction and their talents are genuinely appreciated, as each spellbinding solo they blaze through garners trails of applause. It’s musical storytelling down to a fine art, conveyed to guests who’ve ventured all the way to the Dempsey enclave for their jazz fix – they are listening acutely.

But where did Maduro even come from? Reflecting its secretive nature, Maduro seeped into the scene with an enigmatic yet intriguing backstory: the passion project of one Mr. P, a seasoned veteran of the genre. In press materials, Maduro is marketed as Mr. P’s love letter, delivered openly to jazz enthusiasts who share his predilection. Mr. P is framed as a character who lives the high life, rubbing shoulders with fellow elites in his private lounge, presumably sipping whiskies while sharing triumphant anecdotes of his storied past. Maduro is his next triumph, and he isn’t the least bit ashamed to flaunt it.

Meet jazz pianist, Peter Ng, Maduro’s Mr. P (Credit: Maduro)

A few months after its launch, however, Maduro finally revealed the identity behind its titular protagonist, and it is none other than a man whom, indeed, commands respect amongst his jazz peers in the industry. Peter Ng, a celebrated jazz pianist in the ’80s, is the ambitious dreamer behind Maduro; the aptly-titled “Mr. P”.

It’s no wonder then, that Maduro has been able to draw the who’s who in the jazz scene over a short span of time. Jazz stalwarts who have already played here include Tan Wei Xiang, Alemay Fernandez, Andrew Lim, Jacintha Abisheganaden, Chok Kerong, and even the legendary Jeremy Monteiro.

Jeremy Monteiro is one of jazz’s national treasures (Credit: Colossal Photos)

In fact, during my visit, I spot the icon himself sitting nonchalantly in a corner, watching Christy Smith and his ensemble wow the crowd. And for a palpable moment, I wonder if Monteiro would indulge in the fantasies of others in the room, much like mine – to come onto stage for a surprise solo or two. You’ll never really know who will drop by in the Maduro lounge, and like the unpredictability of jazz, that’s part of its magic.

The performance roster changes every month, with rotational residencies and special nights where international guests are invited. Maduro does, however, promise fixed weekly series that reflect the milestone-rich prestige of Mr. P while progressively looking towards jazz’s future. These include Tiara Friday Club (on Fridays) and Saturday’s Best (on Saturdays) that gather an all-star lineup of jazz phenoms, and 1819 Tuesdays (on Tuesdays) that are essentially open jam sessions for both established virtuosos and fledgling new-timers, keeping the spirit of jazz alive.

Live jazz is abundant at at Maduro every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday (Credit: Colossal Photos)

As a refined host, Mr. P is also the type to invite you into his den, while spoiling you with his extensive collection of well-kept libations. Maduro, too, toasts this tradition with a stocked bar facing the stage, filled with an array of palate-pleasing rarities. From Scottish whiskies to French wines, and an assortment of reinvented cocktails such as the Foggy Old Fashioned and Maduro Negroni, the beverages here all make a tip-top complement to your jazz listening experience. Also prepared by Atout, the sophisticated French bistro that sits below Maduro, is a menu of tantalising bar bites including rillettes, truffle brie and beef sliders. And take my word for it, with some performances lasting three sets or so, with interludes in between, you will get peckish.

It’s nights like these that keep jazz in Singapore alive (Credit: Colossal Photos)

After all, Maduro is a place of indulgences, whether it’s a 30-year Macallan you’re after or a double bass solo you’re never heard before. Maduro was born from an indulgence; a vision to share one’s affection for a genre that’s recurringly threatened by red tape and venue closures. If Maduro can provide a safe bastion for jazz – at least, for the foreseeable future – in Singapore, then the community will embrace it with open arms. From what I’ve seen, it’s already happening.

It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing. But undeniably, Maduro is suavely swinging with sincerity and class. And jazz couldn’t ask for anything more.

Maduro, 40C Harding Road, Level 3, Singapore 249548, +65 9756 4775. Open Mon-Thu 2pm-1am, Fri-Sat 2pm-2am, closed on Sunday.