Kings and queens, sultans and princes from 25 countries gathered in Bangkok yesterday to celebrate Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej's 60 years on the throne. But in addition to being the world's longest-reigning monarch, for a small group of jazz musicians, he is also the King of Swing.
Every Saturday, Thailand's beloved 78-year-old king breaks out his saxophone to jam with 10 other local musicians.
There was more pomp and less swing yesterday though, as the highlight for the international royalty, after attending a reception for the king in Bangkok's marble palace, was a royal barge procession -- a centuries-old ceremony held only once every few years.
The king and his guests watched as over 2,000 naval oarsmen in traditional red uniforms rowed 52 elaborately carved long-boats down the Chao Phraya river to the Temple of Dawn.
The guest list included Japan's Emperor Akihito, Spain's Queen Sofia, Britain's Prince Andrew, Brunei's Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, Jordan's King Abdullah II and Monaco's Prince Albert II.
Royals also came from Bahrain, Belgium, Bhutan, Cambodia, Denmark, Kuwait, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Morocco, the Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Qatar, Swaziland, Sweden, Tonga and the United Arab Emirates.
But Bhumibol has also played with jazz royalty -- including legends like Benny Goodman, Stan Getz, Lionel Hampton and Benny Carter.
"He is simply the coolest king in the land," the late Hampton quipped in a 1987 article in Sawasdee magazine.
Bhumibol is well-known among Thais and some of the world's jazz legends as an accomplished musician and composer.
Many can hum and sing his most popular tunes, influenced by his favorite artists -- Louis Armstrong, Sidney Bechet and alto saxophonist Johnny Hodges of Duke Ellington's Orchestra. Bhumibol used to listen to their records and play along.
"The king's style is Dixieland or New Orleans style, like Sidney Bechet when he plays the soprano saxophone," said Manrat Srikaranonda, a pianist who has played with the king for more than half a century.
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