.png){kind=logo}
INTERVIEW W/ Jeff Goldblum: "Being present is a cornerstone of both Jazz music and acting!"
- BOOT
- 4 hours ago
- 4 min read
Film star, fashion icon, music fanatic. Jeff Goldblum is best known for his acting career, leading in films such as Jurassic Park and becoming a regular Wes Anderson collaborator. Yet, his most recent starring role in the blockbuster musical Wicked showcased another of his passions... his love for broadway anthems. Perhaps unknown to many, Jeff has been performing for decades with his wonderful bandmates in The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra. Last year he released a brand new album ‘Still Blooming’ which offers a tasteful curation of beloved jazz standards from both the Golden Era of Broadway and the Great American Songbook.
This album features his Wicked superstar cohorts Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo as well as classics by Maiya Sykes and Scarlett Johansson, creating collaborations that underscore the delicious link between Jazz and Pop culture. Ahead of his live performance at Manchester's Palace Theatre on June 3rd and release of his new companion album 'Night Blooms' on June 5th, Jeff shed some light on his longstanding love for the stage and his newfound love for Manchester.
Q. After Still Blooming performed so well here (No. 10 in UK Album charts), are you excited to perform these fan favourites and what else can people expect from the show?
A. "The band and I can’t wait to perform the new arrangements from Night BIooms. It’s fun to do such beloved songs like Over The Rainbow and If I Only Had A Brain. We’re still playing some of our favourites from previous records, such as 'The Kicker' and 'Let’s Face The Music And Dance'. Audiences seem to really connect with us when we close the show with 'Everytime We Say Goodbye'. We’re going to perform 'Tattoo' mainly for our UK and European audiences. It’s delightful to do a beloved Eurovision song in a new way".
Q. From never having visited Manchester to presenting Olivia Dean with album of the year at this year's BRIT awards, what about Manchester are you looking forward to revisiting?
A. "Manchester is truly a fantastic city. It has such rich history with music and bands. I feel honoured to even be a small part of that. I participated in a record signing event at HMV in Manchester a few months ago. It was invigorating and soul healing to talk to and meet so many wonderful Mancunians. I was honoured to perform a song in Manchester with the brilliant Laufey. I’ve never seen an audience so welcoming. I can’t wait to perform for them again with my band".
Q. Now releasing the companion album 'Night Blooms' on the 5th June – what makes this album stand apart from its predecessor?
A. "In my opinion, Night Blooms is our best album yet. The arrangements are, I think, quite a step up. We recorded with a live orchestra on many of the tracks. The strings add a depth to the music that raises the band and the singers, I believe, to a new level. All the special guests and collaborators are otherworldly and in top form. I’m brimming with excitement for the world to hear Night Blooms".
Q. Night Blooms is packed with collaborations, including a team up with your good and bad witches Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. What was it like working with them in this new musical capacity compared to filmmaking?
A. "Cynthia and Ariana are two of the most talented people alive. Doing music with them feels like an extension of acting. We sang so much on the set of Wicked, that it seemed only natural to move it to the recording studio. They are both enormously gracious with their time and amazing talent. I feel like the luckiest guy in the world to be able to make art with these two incredible women".
Q. On the topic of acting, how do you balance filming demands with your passion for music making? Releasing two albums while fresh off the heels of two Wicked films is no easy feat.
A. "I’m wildly grateful to have a career in acting and music. They work well together and compliment each other. Music is about practice and discipline. On the set of Wicked I would practice piano every morning in order to keep up my chops. And while both worlds offer different and unique creative adventures, I often experience a lot of craft overlap. Being present in the moment, for instance, is certainly a cornerstone of Jazz music and acting".
Q. With more than 50 musicians set to join you on stage, what can audiences expect from this performance? How do you plan to incorporate the orchestra into the show?
A. "I think audiences are in for a real treat. This is a one of a kind presentation. We are not just sculpting an orchestra show around our band. We started from scratch in order to make the orchestra and the band one entity. We also picked some new and very fun songs. All the arrangers and orchestrators are the best in the world, and I’m overflowing with gratitude for what they’ve achieved with this harlequinade. We scatter in songs from Wicked, Willy Wonka, and there are several other surprise nods to cinema. It’s truly moving for me to be playing piano with a full orchestra. The experience is kind of tough to put into words. I’m getting misty just thinking about it".
Comments