You’d be emptying your pockets for the privilege of catching an act like the Eldee Young Trio in New York, Chicago or Tokyo. Lucky you—it just so happens that this former member of the renowned Ramsey Lewis Trio likes Thailand—a lot—and has made the Living Room at the Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit his second home.

Even if you’re not having fun, be assured that Eldee is—that smile on his face is genuine. Not surprising for a man who has been doing what he loves since the time when Big Bands and jazz trios ruled the radio, the stage and the recording industry. He handles the jazz bass like it is part of him. His vocals are at times tongue-in-cheek, but expertly delivered with a mellowness and depth reminiscent of Nat King Cole.

Drop in on Eldee Young, Shawn Kelly on drums and Taurey Butler on piano, and get hip to how lucky you are to live in Bangkok.

How do you keep your performances fresh?
I love music. I love playing for people. In my heart I’m having a ball. I enjoy doing what I am doing for a living. I am blessed in that sense in so many ways.

How has the jazz scene and the music business changed over the years?
The whole business of music is going crazy. The promotion line is everything is young; you’re either young or you’re dead. Everything over maybe 35 is heading towards extinction. The music and everything is geared toward the young, and the sensual. Kids think you can’t dance to jazz. But that’s just not true.

What do you think about the evolution of the jazz scene here?
The growth of jazz is fantastic in Thailand. There have always been good musicians here who play local and pop music, but there are some musicians around now who are playing jazz very, very well. In Asia, the first city for jazz was always Tokyo followed by Singapore. Now they have jazz festivals in Thailand and they turn out great. I feel good about it.

Who were your major musical influences?
Duke Ellington, for sure. One of the big deals of my life was to meet the man and shake his hand. When I was just a kid, my oldest brother took me to see one of his concerts. The horns were shining and the music was beautiful... Josephine Baker had just returned from Europe, and here was this beautiful woman who came out on stage. I was maybe 11 years old, but I appreciated that woman. I told my brother, that’s what I want to do: Go up there and play on the bandstand.

Which female vocalists do you most admire?
Aretha Franklin is the Queen now. She can sing jazz, she can sing standards—she can do whatever she wants to do. Aretha used to come by the club I played in Detroit when I was with the Ramsey Lewis Trio. We played a gig one Saturday night and Aretha was hanging out with us. After we finished, at 7:30 in the morning, we went to her house. Her sisters were up and she sat down at the piano and she and her sisters sang some gospel music for us. She was very sweet. I really, really love Aretha.