Jeff Goldblum has released I Shouldn’t Be Telling You This on Decca Records with his long-time band, the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra. Many famous people have indulged their passion for jazz music and released albums – some good and not so good – and a few should have stuck to the day job, so pressing play was a bit of a step into the unknown.
The album starts with Irving Berlin’s “Let’s face The Music and Dance,” featuring sultry vocals from American actress and singer Sharon Van Etten. It begins quietly, with gentle piano lines under the voice. Through the track, there is a slow but sure build with the musicians from the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra providing solid backing to Goldblum’s entertaining piano sorties. There are rhythm changes, a swing section and the sax solo from James King’s tenor is gorgeous.
Lee Morgan’s “Sidewinder” is then melded with Sonny Bono’s “The Beat Goes On” to create a decent swing number. Though it has nothing like the impact of the originals, it is listenable and entertaining. The piano is playful and trinkling, and the vocals from Inara George (Bird and the Bee, Merrick, the Living Sisters) make the most of this number, such as it is. “Driftin'” would probably have composer Herbie Hancock spinning, but this version does use the orchestra well to back up the piano. It is a pleasant listen with a wonderful bass solo from Alex Frank, and beautiful, emotive sax from James King again.
“The Thrill is Gone / Django” is a lovely interlude with some sassy vocals, a great arrangement for the band and great vocals and lyrical interpretation. The piano solos are excellent and demonstrate Jeff Goldblum’s innate talent for adding texture to swing music. I could feel myself warming to the arrangement. Jo Henderson’s “The Kicker” is given the Mildred Snitzer treatment. It’s a lovely track, with some great trumpet flourishes and Joe Bagg’s delightful organ playing. Goldblum’s feather touches on the piano are effective, and the guitar of John Storie is excellent on this track.
“Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me” features Grammy-winning Fiona Apple on vocals, and is a stunning number with expressive percussion, well-worked guitar and piano. “The Cat” is a swingy, number, heavy on Bagg’s organ and sounds like it hails from the 1960s with a piano and clap interlude right at the end. “Four on Six / Broken English” has a stylish delivery, mashing Wes Montgomery and Marianne Faithfull numbers while featuring English singer and guitarist Anna Calvi on vocals.
“If I Knew Then” features Gina Saputo on vocals and superb instrumental interludes from the band. “Make Someone Happy” closes out I Shouldn’t Be Telling You This with vocals from Gregory Porter. This is probably the highlight of the album for its emotive, note-perfect rendition and the subtle but textured and evocative arrangements for the musicians going on in the background.
What makes I Shouldn’t Be Telling You This entertaining is the different takes on the music, the fun and the tightness of the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra, along with Jeff Goldblum’s engaging playing. Clearly indulging a passion, and harboring a considerable amount of talent which he unleashes, Goldblum has given us a project worthy of a listen or several. He’s the real deal in terms of jazz, with more than 30 years of playing behind him.
His style is light-fingered, dexterous and at times pithy. You get the sense he is not out to prove anything. The music is not about spotlighting Jeff Goldblum, but rather what good jazz music is about: sharing and bringing out the excellent talents he has surrounded himself with in the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra and guest vocalists. There is a charm and quality to this music, whether you analyze it or just put it on play while you get on with your life.
Because he is well known as an actor and for his quirky take on life, it is almost impossible to listen to the music without imagining Jeff Goldblum sitting at his piano – especially after his Glastonbury Festival performance – and that only adds to the appeal of this music.
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