Jeff Goldblum & The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra Brought a Wicked Selection of Jazz to The Rady Shell with the San Diego Symphony Orchestra
On the night of August 23rd, the picturesque bayfront grounds of The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park transformed into an enchanting haven of classic jazz, comedy, and pure charisma as Jeff Goldblum & The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra took the stage. The excitement began well before the official show start, as Mr. Goldblum strolled out onto the stage twenty minutes early to personally thank relatives of the orchestra, catch up with old friends in the audience, and host a delightful round of movie trivia before briefly stepping off to prepare for the main performance. Joined by Conductor Stuart Chafetz, who brilliantly led both the core ensemble and the San Diego Symphony, the evening promised a seamless blend of world-class orchestral music, jazz and theatrical flair.
The musical selections carried the audience through a wonderfully eclectic journey of timeless classics and inventive modern covers, anchored by the exceptional vocal talent of Broadway artist Khaila Johnson. The first act set a magical tone, opening with a grand Overture, Wonderful, and Jeff Goldblum is Hosting Tonight, a customized rendition packed with clever local references specifically crafted for San Diego, before gliding into Pure Imagination, and then he brought out Khailah Johnson to perform Misty and a sultry cover of Billie Eilish’s No Time To Die, If I Only Had a Brain, and Don’t You Worry About a Thing. Following a brief intermission, the second half kicked off with an Entr’acte, As Time Goes By, Soul Bossa Nova, and A Sentimental Man, leading into a whimsical cover of Taylor Swift’s Lover. Introducing the track, Goldblum playfully teased the audience by noting the writer’s initials were “TS,” hilariously listing off numerous famous artists with those initials while deliberately leaving Taylor out before making the big reveal. The second set wrapped up with Mean to Me, Close to You, and a gorgeous rendition of Over the Rainbow, before bringing the house down with a roaring encore performance of Ray Charles’s classic What’d I Say.
Beyond the brilliant setlist, it was Goldblum’s magnetic and spontaneous stage presence that made the night so deeply engaging. He paused repeatedly between songs to chat casually with his bandmates, banter with Conductor Chafetz and Khailah plus he interacted directly with fans in the crowd. He even brought back his famous word association game from before the show, tossing out names of actors and films to create connections through Hollywood history until the connection triumphantly linked back to himself.
While the audience remained extraordinarily respectful and absorbed in the world-class instrumentation throughout the evening, the joyful energy was undeniable as fans routinely clapped to the rhythm and laughed along with every comedic detour. Overall, it was a genuinely fun, exceptional night under the stars that left the San Diego crowd completely charmed. To make sure you do not miss any upcoming tour dates, new jazz recordings, or special announcements, be sure to follow Jeff Goldblum and The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra across their official social media platforms. We congratulate Jeff, the orchestra, and the San Diego Symphony on a remarkable performance, and from ListenSD, we hope to welcome this legendary showcase back to our waterfront stage very soon
