Jason Goldman
Jason Goldman is an American born music producer, composer, arranger, saxophonist, and educator.
Early life
Goldman grew up in Norwalk, CT and took up the saxophone at age 11 after being inspired by his father, who was an R&B saxophonist in his youth.
Goldman attended the Berklee College of Music majoring in jazz composition and film scoring. After graduating in 1998, Goldman moved immediately to Los Angeles to pursue a career in film music.
Now in Los Angeles, he decided to audition for the prestigious Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz and apply to the University of Southern California to pursue his master’s in Jazz Studies.[1]
In 1999, Goldman was selected by jazz legends Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter to be a member of the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz where he toured the world and performed with a who’s who list of jazz icons (Herbie Hancock, Terence Blanchard, Christian McBride, Clark Terry, Jimmy Heath, Roy Haynes, Kenny Barron, Wayne Shorter, Bobby Watson, to name a few).[2]
Upon completion of the Monk Institute and his master’s in music, Goldman recorded his debut album titled the ‘’Definitive Standard’’. The record featured all original jazz compositions and arrangements as well as some of the hottest young jazz musicians in the country.[3]
Career
After the release of the ‘’Definitive Standard’’, Goldman was drafted by noted pianist/composer Shelly Berg to teach at the University of Southern California. At the same time, he was asked to join the faculty at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, to teach various courses in jazz studies.[4]
In 2002, he won the ASCAP/IAJE Emerging Jazz Composers award. One of the most recognized composition awards in the jazz field.[5]
Around the same time, Goldman was contacted by Warner Bros. Records, which had just finished a record with newcomer Michael Bublé, to audition for a spot in Bublé’s band.
Goldman was auditioned and selected to be the featured saxophonist in Bublé’s band by legendary record producer David Foster.
Goldman toured extensively across the globe with Bublé for a year and a half. During which time he began writing new original arrangements for Bublé and his 8-piece band. While on the road, Bublé filmed his 1st DVD/CD combo called ‘’Come Fly With Me’’, which featured the band’s life on the road. Goldman’s playing was featured as well as his original arrangement of “Mack the Knife”.
After a year and half, he made the difficult decision to leave the band to pursue a family and many more writing opportunities in Los Angeles.
Before leaving the band, Goldman wrote one of Bublé’s most memorable arrangements on Charlie Chaplin’s classic “Smile”. While Jason had already left the band, the arrangement was so well received the band eventually recorded it on Bublé’s second DVD/CD ‘’Caught In The Act’’.
In preparation for Bublé’s debut performance at Radio City Music Hall, David Foster called upon Goldman to write an arrangement of the Christmas classic “Let It Snow”.[6] The arrangement was so popular that Warner Bros/Reprise added it as a bonus track on a rerelease of Bublé’s 1st Christmas record ‘’Let It Snow’’.
Goldman has also performed with artists from all over the music spectrum. In 2005, he joined jazz bassist Christian McBride on tour with rapper/soul jazz artist Queen Latifah.
He also performed with Wayne Newton, Chris Isaak, Michael Feinstein, Paul Anka. He has also done numerous performances with producers David Foster and JR Rotem.
In 2008, Goldman recorded his 2nd album as a leader titled ‘’Wave Street Sessions’’ on the Wave Street label. This was a DVD/CD combo featuring his quartet and original music.
Producing/Spicy G Records
After producing his first 2 jazz records, Goldman teamed up with his close friend and old college roommate, record producer JR Rotem in 2009, to begin a residency at Hollywood hotspot Café Was.
Goldman has performed on some of JR’s productions including a track for Beluga Heights rapper, Mann.
Inspired by JR, Goldman began his producing career producing singer/songwriter Nikki Lang’s EP “Feel Better” which has received rave reviews in the media.
Young Musicians Project (YMP)
In 2009, motivated by the collapse of the economy and the drastic cuts to arts education, Goldman started a charitable nonprofit organization called the Young Musicians Project.
YMP provides inner city schools and after school programs free in-school and web clinics on various topics in the music industry.
Goldman is currently the President and Artistic Director of the YMP.
Discography
As performer:
2001 – The Definitive Standard – Jason Goldman Nonet
2003 – Come Fly with Me – Michael Bublé
2008 – Wave Street Sessions – Jason Goldman Quartet
As Arranger:
2003 – Come Fly with Me – Michael Bublé Original arrangement of Mack the Knife
2005 – Caught in the Act – Michael Bublé Original arrangement of Smile
2005 – Clay Aiken, Jukebox Tour
2006 – Let It Snow EP – Michael Bublé Original arrangement of Let it Snow
2007 – Gilmore Girls Episode 140 – Knit, People, Knit!
As Producer:
2009 – Feel Better – Nikki Lang
2011 – Natalia Malo – Natalia Malo
2012 - Back to Life - Juliet Weybret
References
- ↑ "Faculty Search - USC Thornton School of Music". Usc.edu. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
- ↑ "Monk Institute Awards and Honors". Berklee.edu. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
- ↑ Archived May 28, 2010 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ "L.A. County High School for the Arts". Lachsa.net. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
- ↑ "ASCAP Error Page". www.ascap.com. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
- ↑ "Advertisement". Variety. Retrieved 4 November 2014.