Jason Goldman
Encyclopedia
Jason Goldman is an American
born music producer
, composer
, arranger
, saxophonist
, and educator
.
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.
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).
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.
/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.
In 2002, he won the ASCAP/IAJE
Emerging Jazz Composers award. One of the most recognized composition awards in the jazz field.
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
”. 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.
Goldman recently redid the “Let It Snow” arrangement for Bublé’s upcoming Christmas record scheduled to be released in 2011.
roommate, record producer JR Rotem in 2009, to begin a residency at Hollywood hotspot Café Was, where they continue to perform every Saturday night.
Goldman has performed on some of JR’s productions including a recent 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.
After the completion of the “Feel Better” EP, Goldman started his record company Spicy G Records, with a focus on producing pop music. The company recently signed their first artist, Portland
native, Natalia Malo. Her EP is scheduled to be released mid-2011.
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.
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 – Run Faster – Natalia Malo
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
born music producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, arranger
Arrangement
The American Federation of Musicians defines arranging as "the art of preparing and adapting an already written composition for presentation in other than its original form. An arrangement may include reharmonization, paraphrasing, and/or development of a composition, so that it fully represents...
, saxophonist
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
, and educator
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
.
Early life
Goldman grew up in Norwalk, CTNorwalk, Connecticut
Norwalk is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of the city is 85,603, making Norwalk sixth in population in Connecticut, and third in Fairfield County...
and took up the saxophone at age 11 after being inspired by his father, who was an R&B
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
saxophonist in his youth.
Goldman attended the Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known primarily as a school for jazz, rock and popular music, it also offers college-level courses in a wide range of contemporary and historic styles, including hip...
majoring in jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
composition and film scoring
Film score
A film score is original music written specifically to accompany a film, forming part of the film's soundtrack, which also usually includes dialogue and sound effects...
. After graduating in 1998, Goldman moved immediately to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
to pursue a career in film music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
.
Now in Los Angeles, he decided to audition for the prestigious Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz
Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz
The Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz is a non-profit music education-oriented organization co-founded in 1986 by the family of the late American jazz musician Thelonious Monk, opera singer Maria Fisher and Thomas R...
and apply to the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
to pursue his master’s in Jazz Studies.
In 1999, Goldman was selected by jazz legends Herbie Hancock
Herbie Hancock
Herbert Jeffrey "Herbie" Hancock is an American pianist, bandleader and composer. As part of Miles Davis's "second great quintet," Hancock helped to redefine the role of a jazz rhythm section and was one of the primary architects of the "post-bop" sound...
and Wayne Shorter
Wayne Shorter
Wayne Shorter is an American jazz saxophonist and composer.He is generally acknowledged to be jazz's greatest living composer, and many of his compositions have become standards...
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
Terence Blanchard
Terence Oliver Blanchard is an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, composer, arranger, and film score composer. Since he emerged on the scene in 1980 with the Lionel Hampton Orchestra and then shortly thereafter with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, Blanchard has been a leading artist in jazz...
, Christian McBride
Christian McBride
Christian McBride is an American jazz bassist. His father, Lee Smith, and his great uncle, Howard Cooper, are well known Philadelphia bassists who served as McBride's early mentors...
, Clark Terry
Clark Terry
Clark Terry is an American swing and bop trumpeter, a pioneer of the fluegelhorn in jazz, educator, NEA Jazz Masters inductee, and recipient of the 2010 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award...
, Jimmy Heath
Jimmy Heath
James Edward Heath , nicknamed Little Bird, is an American jazz saxophonist, composer and arranger. He is the brother of bassist Percy Heath and drummer Albert Heath.-Biography:...
, Roy Haynes
Roy Haynes
Roy Owen Haynes is an American jazz drummer and bandleader. Haynes is among the most recorded drummers in jazz, and in a career lasting more than 60 years has played in a wide range of styles ranging from swing and bebop to jazz fusion and avant-garde jazz...
, Kenny Barron
Kenny Barron
Kenny Barron , is an American jazz pianist. He is the younger brother of tenor saxophonist Bill Barron, and known for his lyrical, adaptive style.-Biography:...
, Wayne Shorter, Bobby Watson
Bobby Watson
Bobby Watson is an American post-bop jazz alto saxophonist, composer, producer, and educator. Watson now has 26 recordings as a leader. He appears on nearly 100 other recordings as either co-leader or in a supporting role...
, to name a few).
Upon completion of the Monk Institute and his master’s in music, Goldman recorded his debut album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the 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.
Career
After the release of the ‘’Definitive Standard’’, Goldman was drafted by noted pianistPianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
/composer Shelly Berg
Shelly Berg
Shelton Glen Berg is a jazz pianist from Cleveland, Ohio. His father was trumpet player Jay Berg. At the age of six Shelly Berg entered the Cleveland Institute of Music studying classical piano...
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
Los Angeles County High School for the Arts
Los Angeles County High School for the Arts is a Visual and Performing Arts high school located on the campus of California State University, Los Angeles in Los Angeles, California, United States. Founded in 1984, the public, tuition-free school offers both college preparatory courses and...
, to teach various courses in jazz studies.
In 2002, he won the ASCAP/IAJE
International Association for Jazz Education (IAJE)
International Association for Jazz Education , formerly a not-for-profit corporation based in Manhattan, Kansas, was a volunteer-run organization that, among other things, allocated student scholarships through its approved festivals program. Its annual conference was a gathering point for...
Emerging Jazz Composers award. One of the most recognized composition awards in the jazz field.
Around the same time, Goldman was contacted by Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
, which had just finished a record with newcomer Michael Bublé
Michael Bublé
Michael Steven Bublé is a Canadian singer. He has won several awards, including three Grammy Awards and multiple Juno Awards. His first album reached the top ten in Canada and the UK. He found worldwide commercial success with his 2005 album It's Time, and his 2007 album Call Me Irresponsible was...
, to audition
Audition
An audition is a sample performance by an actor, singer, musician, dancer or other performing artist.Audition may also refer to:* The sense of hearing* Adobe Audition, audio editing software...
for a spot in Bublé’s band
Band
- Clothing, jewelry, and accessories :* Bands , two pieces of cloth fitted around the neck as part of formal clothing for clergy, academics and lawyers* Bandolier or bandoleer, an ammunition belt* Belt * Wedding ring or wedding band...
.
Goldman was auditioned and selected to be the featured saxophonist in Bublé’s band by legendary record producer David Foster
David Foster
David Walter Foster, OC, OBC , is a Canadian musician, record producer, composer, singer, songwriter, and arranger, noted for discovering singers such as Michael Bublé, Josh Groban, and Charice Pempengco; and for producing some of the most successful artists in the world, such as Céline Dion, Toni...
.
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
Mack the Knife
"Mack the Knife" or "The Ballad of Mack the Knife", originally "Die Moritat von Mackie Messer", is a song composed by Kurt Weill with lyrics by Bertolt Brecht for their music drama Die Dreigroschenoper, or, as it is known in English, The Threepenny Opera. It premiered in Berlin in 1928 at the...
”.
After a year and half, he made the difficult decision to leave the band to pursue a family
Family
In human context, a family is a group of people affiliated by consanguinity, affinity, or co-residence. In most societies it is the principal institution for the socialization of children...
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
Charlie Chaplin
Sir Charles Spencer "Charlie" Chaplin, KBE was an English comic actor, film director and composer best known for his work during the silent film era. He became the most famous film star in the world before the end of World War I...
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
Radio City Music Hall
Radio City Music Hall is an entertainment venue located in New York City's Rockefeller Center. Its nickname is the Showplace of the Nation, and it was for a time the leading tourist destination in the city...
, David Foster called upon Goldman to write an arrangement of the Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
classic “Let It Snow
Let It Snow
"Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!", also known as "Let It Snow", is a song written by lyricist Sammy Cahn and composer Jule Styne in 1945. The song was written in July 1945 in Hollywood, California during one of the hottest days on record. First recorded by Vaughn Monroe, it became a popular...
”. The arrangement was so popular that Warner Bros/Reprise
Reprise Records
Reprise Records is an American record label, founded in 1960 by Frank Sinatra. It is owned by Warner Music Group, and operated through Warner Bros. Records.-Beginnings:...
added it as a bonus track
Bonus track
In terms of recorded music, a bonus track is a piece of music which has been included on specific releases or reissues of an album. This is most often done as a promotional device, either as an incentive to customers to purchase albums they might otherwise not, or to repurchase albums they already...
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
Queen Latifah
Dana Elaine Owens , better known by her stage name Queen Latifah, is an American singer, rapper, and actress. Her work in music, film and television has earned her a Golden Globe award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, two Image Awards, a Grammy Award, six additional Grammy nominations, an Emmy...
.
He also performed with Wayne Newton
Wayne Newton
Wayne Newton is an American singer and entertainer based in Las Vegas, Nevada. He performed over 30,000 solo shows in Las Vegas over a period of over 40 years, earning him the nicknames The Midnight Idol, Mr. Las Vegas and Mr. Entertainment...
, Chris Isaak
Chris Isaak
Christopher Joseph "Chris" Isaak is an American rock musician and occasional actor.-Early life:Isaak was born in Stockton, California, the son of Dorothy , a potato chip factory worker, and Joe Isaak, a forklift driver. Isaak's mother is Italian American, originating from Genoa...
, Michael Feinstein
Michael Feinstein
Michael Jay Feinstein is an American singer, pianist, and music revivalist. He is an interpreter of, and an anthropologist and archivist for, the repertoire known as the Great American Songbook. In 1988 he won a Drama Desk Special Award for celebrating American musical theatre songs...
, Paul Anka
Paul Anka
Paul Albert Anka, is a Canadian singer, songwriter, and actor.Anka first became famous as a teen idol in the late 1950s and 1960s with hit songs like "Diana'", "Lonely Boy", and "Put Your Head on My Shoulder"...
. 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
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
. This was a DVD/CD combo featuring his quartet
Quartet
In music, a quartet is a method of instrumentation , used to perform a musical composition, and consisting of four parts.-Western art music:...
and original music.
Goldman recently redid the “Let It Snow” arrangement for Bublé’s upcoming Christmas record scheduled to be released in 2011.
Producing/Spicy G Records
After producing his first 2 jazz records, Goldman teamed up with his close friend and old collegeCollege
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
roommate, record producer JR Rotem in 2009, to begin a residency at Hollywood hotspot Café Was, where they continue to perform every Saturday night.
Goldman has performed on some of JR’s productions including a recent track for Beluga Heights
Beluga Heights Records
Beluga Heights Records is a Los Angeles-based record label founded by producer J. R. Rotem. The label is known for working with top musical artists such as Rihanna and Leona Lewis as well as discovering and developing new acts like Sean Kingston, Jason Derülo, Iyaz, Auburn and Mann.-History:The...
rapper
Rapping
Rapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”...
, Mann.
Inspired by JR, Goldman began his producing career producing singer/songwriter Nikki Lang’s EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
“Feel Better” which has received rave reviews in the media.
After the completion of the “Feel Better” EP, Goldman started his record company Spicy G Records, with a focus on producing pop music. The company recently signed their first artist, Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
native, Natalia Malo. Her EP is scheduled to be released mid-2011.
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 organizationNonprofit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
called the Young Musicians Project.
YMP provides inner city
Inner city
The inner city is the central area of a major city or metropolis. In the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Ireland, the term is often applied to the lower-income residential districts in the city centre and nearby areas...
schools and after school programs
After-school activity
An after-school activity is any organized program which invites youth to participate outside of the traditional school day. Some programs are run by a primary or secondary school and some by externally funded non-profit or commercial organizations...
free in-school and web clinics on various topics in the music industry.
Goldman is currently the President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
and Artistic Director
Artistic director
An artistic director is the executive of an arts organization, particularly in a theatre company, that handles the organization's artistic direction. He or she is generally a producer and director, but not in the sense of a mogul, since the organization is generally a non-profit organization...
of the YMP.
Discography
As performer:2001 – The Definitive Standard – Jason Goldman Nonet
2003 – Come Fly With Me
Come Fly with Me (song)
"Come Fly with Me" is a 1957 popular song composed by Jimmy Van Heusen, with lyrics by Sammy Cahn."Come Fly with Me" was written for Frank Sinatra, and was the title track of his 1958 album of the same name...
– Michael Bublé
Michael Bublé
Michael Steven Bublé is a Canadian singer. He has won several awards, including three Grammy Awards and multiple Juno Awards. His first album reached the top ten in Canada and the UK. He found worldwide commercial success with his 2005 album It's Time, and his 2007 album Call Me Irresponsible was...
2008 – Wave Street Sessions – Jason Goldman Quartet
As Arranger:
2003 – Come Fly With Me – Michael Bublé
Michael Bublé
Michael Steven Bublé is a Canadian singer. He has won several awards, including three Grammy Awards and multiple Juno Awards. His first album reached the top ten in Canada and the UK. He found worldwide commercial success with his 2005 album It's Time, and his 2007 album Call Me Irresponsible was...
Original arrangement of Mack the Knife
Mack the Knife
"Mack the Knife" or "The Ballad of Mack the Knife", originally "Die Moritat von Mackie Messer", is a song composed by Kurt Weill with lyrics by Bertolt Brecht for their music drama Die Dreigroschenoper, or, as it is known in English, The Threepenny Opera. It premiered in Berlin in 1928 at the...
2005 – Caught In The Act – Michael Bublé
Original arrangement of Smile
2005 – Clay Aiken
Clay Aiken
Clayton Holmes "Clay" Aiken is an American singer, songwriter, actor, producer and author who began his rise to fame on the second season of the television program American Idol in 2003. RCA Records offered him a recording contract, and his multi-platinum debut album Measure of a Man was released...
, Jukebox Tour
2006 – Let it Snow EP – Michael Bublé
Original arrangement of Let it Snow
Let It Snow
"Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!", also known as "Let It Snow", is a song written by lyricist Sammy Cahn and composer Jule Styne in 1945. The song was written in July 1945 in Hollywood, California during one of the hottest days on record. First recorded by Vaughn Monroe, it became a popular...
2007 – Gilmore Girls
Gilmore Girls
Gilmore Girls is an American family comedy-drama series created by Amy Sherman-Palladino, starring Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel. On October 5, 2000, the series debuted on The WB and was cancelled in its seventh season, ending on May 15, 2007 on The CW...
Episode 140 – Knit, People, Knit!
As Producer:
2009 – Feel Better – Nikki Lang
2011 – Run Faster – Natalia Malo