RANDY WALDMAN’s career spans more than 40 years, and he’s performed and toured with many of the biggest names in the jazz, pop and R&B worlds. His work can be heard on hundreds of movies, television shows, and albums. Randy has been Barbra Streisand’s pianist and musical director for over 30 years and is featured on many of her albums, movies, and live performances. He won a Grammy for co-arranging “Somewhere” on Streisand’s The Broadway Album, and he received a Grammy nomination for Best Vocal Arrangement for The Manhattan Transfer’s track, “Code of Ethics” from their album Bodies and Souls. He also toured with George Benson for seven years as his pianist, conductor and arranger. Waldman has worked with the brightest stars in the music firmament, from Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney to Michael Bublé and Quincy Jones.
Waldman’s newest project is called SUPERHEROES. Five years in the making, SUPERHEROES features the stellar rhythm section of pianist RANDY WALDMAN, drummer VINNIE COLAIUTA and bassist CARLITOS DEL PUERTO, who are joined by jazz luminaries including CHICK COREA, WYNTON MARSALIS, STEVE GADD, RANDY BRECKER, EDDIE DANIELS, GEORGE BENSON, JOE LOVANO, ARTURO SANDOVAL, CHRIS POTTER, and the vocal group TAKE 6. Waldman re-arranged theme music from his favorite superhero movies and TV shows, transforming them into fun, accessible, and exciting jazz tunes.
Waldman got the idea for this project a few years ago when he had the good fortune to be seated at an event next to actor Adam West, the original TV Batman. “We talked a lot about music,” relates Waldman. “Adam loved jazz, and the thought occurred to me that he was an actual jazz superhero. That surprising and unexpected conversation stayed in the back of my mind for years.” That chance encounter percolated in Randy’s mind, and inspiration came like a bolt out of the blue. He would make a CD of superhero theme music played by some of his jazz superheroes!
Although he works with artists across many genres, jazz is Waldman’s first love, and he’s previously produced and released three Randy Waldman Trio CDs.
Like most kids growing up, Waldman watched all the popular superhero TV shows, but his favorite was “Adventures of Superman,” and he included in this project the themes from both the TV show and the movies. Waldman opens the TV theme with voiceover cameos by JOHN TRAVOLTA, JEFF GOLDBLUM, JAMES BROLIN, OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN, MICHAEL BUBLÉ, and JOSH GROBAN. The track features Eddie Daniels, who leads off with a beautifully crafted tenor sax solo. Trumpeter Randy Breckereffortlessly follows up the piano solo with a harmonically rich and textured improvisation. The track culminates with a drum solo by Colaiuta that defies the rhythmic laws of physics.
Whether capturing the clash between good and evil on the “Superman Movie” theme, or creating a difficult, polyrhythmic arrangement for the “Mighty Mouse” theme, Waldman’s SUPERHEROES is serious music performed by superheroes of the jazz world. This is music of the highest caliber. It’s fun and accessible even for people who don’t normally listen to jazz.
SUPERHEROES can be pre-ordered at PledgeMusic.com, along with a selection of unique SUPERHEROES related merchandise and experiences that can’t be found elsewhere. The album will be available online everywhere and at BFMjazz.com on September 28, 2018.
