Decca Eyes New Chart Peak for Jeff Goldblum: "He’s a Brilliant Ambassador for Jazz"
Decca Records’ Tom Lewis and Laura Monks have sung the praises of Jeff Goldblum, hailing him as a brilliant ambassador for jazz as the Hollywood star prepares to celebrate his highest-charting album to date. Music Week caught up with the label’s co-presidents and commercial director Benedict Curran to discuss the success of Goldblum’s latest venture, Still Blooming, and what it means for the future of jazz.
Still Blooming, Goldblum’s fourth studio album with The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra, was released on April 25 and features a collection of jazz standards, including the single "I Don’t Know Why (I Just Do)", which boasts a star-studded guest list including Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Maiya Sykes, and Scarlett Johansson. The album debuted at No.10 in Friday’s chart, a new peak for Goldblum, who previously peaked at No.26 with his 2018 debut The Capitol Studios Sessions and at No.20 with I Shouldn’t Be Telling You This, both released via Decca.
According to Music Week source, Laura Monks, "People say, ‘Don’t meet your heroes.’ I would say, ‘Do meet Jeff Goldblum,’ because when you meet him, he is everything you expect him to be and more." Monks praises Goldblum’s work ethic and commitment to the project, stating, "This is absolutely a passion project for him. Obviously, people know him predominantly as an actor, but he has always been committed to a love of music and that absolutely shines through."
Tom Lewis, co-president of Decca, adds that Goldblum’s charisma and talent have helped to introduce jazz to new audiences. "Jeff can take jazz to places that it might not necessarily always reach in terms of mainstream media coverage… He’s a Trojan horse of jazz." The album’s success is also attributed to Goldblum’s promotional efforts, including his appearance on The Late Late Show with James Corden and his own pop-up store at Spiritland in London’s King’s Cross.
Benedict Curran notes that Goldblum’s experience with long Hollywood press junkets has prepared him for the promotional trail. "He’s used to selling a movie, so this really comes naturally to him." The team also utilised social media to great effect, with Goldblum engaging with fans and creating viral content, including "Jeffirmations", which ended up on Radio 1 as part of his conversation with Scott Mills.
The success of Still Blooming raises questions about Goldblum’s status as a music artist, as well as an actor. Laura Monks believes that this album campaign has been the first where, in a broader sense of audience, it’s clicked – that it’s not a gimmick, he genuinely has a passion for music and is a very good jazz musician.
The album’s collaborations with high-profile artists such as Ariana Grande and Scarlett Johansson have also brought new ears to Goldblum’s jazz work. According to Benedict Curran, "On Spotify, we worked with Ariana’s team to pitch the track. Ariana has something like 104 million followers on Spotify, so when that track was released it went into 104 million personalised playlists and we saw the streams absolutely explode."
As for the impact of Goldblum’s involvement in the movie Wicked, Tom Lewis notes that it has been "extraordinary", allowing Goldblum’s charm to reach an entirely new audience. "Wicked has been a brilliant route to Jeff being in pop culture in this year," Laura Monks adds.
Looking ahead, Decca is optimistic about the future, with a thriving roster of artists from across many genres. "We’re feeling incredibly positive," Monks concludes. "We have a thriving roster of artists from across many genres, all doing things in their very unique style."
The album Still Blooming is available now, and fans can expect more from Goldblum and The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra in the future. With his passion for jazz and his infectious charm, Jeff Goldblum is set to continue making waves in the music industry for years to come.
Decca’s success with Goldblum is a testament to the label’s commitment to nurturing talented artists and pushing the boundaries of different genres. As the music industry continues to evolve, it’s clear that Decca will remain at the forefront, championing unique and exciting voices like Jeff Goldblum.
Goldblum’s dedication to jazz is inspiring, and his collaborations with other artists have resulted in some truly unforgettable music. As Music Week source notes, "He’s a brilliant ambassador for jazz, but I think his other element which is extraordinary is every single person he encounters falls in love with him because he makes you feel so special."
