Jazz in Thailand

Thailand’s relationship with jazz is unique among the nations of the world, for the country’s most famous jazz musician was for more than half a century, also the most famous Thai person, namely it’s saxophone-playing monarch. King Bhumibol Adulyadej (1927-2016) reigned in Thailand for more than 70 years. He composed a number of jazz pieces, starting with ‘Candlelight Blues’ at the age of 18, shortly before taking the throne in 1946. In 1950 he started a radio station from the palace, which allowed him to perform with his jazz band, Lay Kram. Renamed the Au Sau Wan Suk Band, the band’s Friday night broadcast would sometimes involved audience requests telephoned in from his fans/subjects. His position certainly allowed him the opportunity to perform with some significant international jazz visitors to Thailand, including Benny Goodman in 1956, and later Benny Carter, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band and the Claude Bolling Band, the last two of whom recorded compositions by Bhumibol. In 2017, following the monarch’s death, Larry Carlton recorded a full album of his compositions.

King Bhumibol’s passion for the music was certainly a key factor in the founding of the Bangkok and Hua Hin Jazz Festivals in 2003, Hua Hin being the base for the King’s summer residence. It might also explain why there is such a thing as the Royal Thai Police Jazz Orchestra. Interesting though this all is, I don’t wish to suggest that the whole jazz scene in Thailand hinged around its monarch, and will return to this page at some point to flesh out the scene.