Post #2106058

Jeff Goldblum & The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra, Adelaide Festival Theatre, Saturday last. "Night blooms" tour. Movie stars fronting a band playing jazz have a long history. Jeff Goldblum is no Cary Grant, but Goldblum knew the tradition and got the job done. Opened with thirty minutes of verbal game playing with the audience, dropping of famous names, and a guest appearance (for Adelaide, hometown director Scott Hicks). Long enough so that people who came to see Jeff The Movie Star got what they came for. Then Goldblum played jazz piano competently, but mostly showboating whilst the band did the heavier lifting. Obviously songs he cared for. But since no one would have come to see "Jeff listens to his favourite songs being played by a great band", then of course has to play and occasionally sing. Best of the band was saxophonist James King. Guest singer in four songs was Khailah Johnson. She was excellent, and clearly destined for even greater things than a minor role in Broadway's "+juliet". We were lucky to see her in Adelaide, because her career won't bring her here again. Closed with Moanin', a piano-led instrumental Goldblum had clearly intensely practiced to do the jazz classic justice, and that also allowed the band to kick it up a notch. Overall, a good show and a wonderful Saturday night out. Nice of Goldblum to go to the trouble to bring it to our small city.