Jeff Goldblum on How He Landed Ariana Grande on His Jazz Album
In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, actor Jeff Goldblum revealed how he managed to get pop sensation Ariana Grande to feature on his new jazz album, Still Blooming. The album, recorded with his band the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra, features a star-studded lineup of guest vocalists, including Grande and Cynthia Erivo.
According to Goldblum, the collaboration with Grande came about due to their work together on the set of Wicked, where Goldblum played the role of the Wizard of Oz. During filming breaks, Goldblum would often break into song, and Grande and Erivo would join in. "I would think of every song that I could that came up in my system from the American songbook or Broadway shows, and they knew everything, and we would sing ’em all together," Goldblum explained to Rolling Stone. "And then [director] Jon M. Chu would bring us back to the issue at hand and say, ‘3, 2, 1, action.’"
It was during one of these impromptu singing sessions that Goldblum began singing "I Don’t Know Why (I Just Do)", a 1931 song made famous by Frank Sinatra and the Andrews Sisters. Grande’s reaction was immediate and emotional, as she revealed that her grandfather used to sing the song to her every day. Goldblum, who is a gifted jazz piano player, took a chance and asked Grande if she’d like to sing on his album. "I said, well, you know, we got this band and sometimes we have singers," he recalled to Rolling Stone. "It would be a miracle, but if you wanna sing with us, it would be a dream come true." Grande immediately agreed.
Grande wasn’t the only superstar guest to feature on the album. Erivo also made an appearance, delivering a virtuosic version of "We’ll Meet Again". According to Goldblum, the song choice was suggested by members of his band, who were inspired by its use at the end of the 1964 film Dr. Strangelove. Erivo sang live with the band, while Grande and Scarlett Johansson recorded their parts remotely. "What a thrill that was," Goldblum said to Rolling Stone. "Boy, I saw her take over that microphone… You can’t get better than that… Every time she opens her mouth, it takes my breath away."
The interview with Rolling Stone also touched on Goldblum’s hopes for the second Wicked film, as well as his thoughts on retirement. "For now," he said, "my appetite is strong, my body is robust. I’m full of vitamin A, and I have this lucky chance to do a little of this, a little of that, and we’ll see what happens."
The full interview with Jeff Goldblum is available on Rolling Stone’s website, and can also be heard on their weekly podcast, Rolling Stone Music Now, hosted by Brian Hiatt. The podcast features in-depth interviews with some of the biggest names in music, including Mariah Carey, Bruce Springsteen, and Taylor Swift.
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