2026/05/28 – Jeff Goldblum & The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra – The Civic Hall, Wolverhampton
Review & Photos: G. Rossington
On one of the hottest days of the year so far, Wolverhampton got a real taste of “Hollywood cool” as the ever-charming Jeff Goldblum rolled into town to make his debut with The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra. If you were after a relaxed, feel-good evening with top-tier musicianship and plenty of personality, this one definitely delivered.
The evening kicked off with a lovely support set from Dodie, who instantly connected with the more laid-back (and fairly sophisticated) crowd. She kept things simple in the best way, offering stripped-back versions of songs from across her catalogue.
She opened with ‘If I’m Being Honest’ from the Human EP and made switching instruments look effortless moving from piano to guitar, then later adding ukelele into the mix before circling back again. Tracks like ‘Cool Girl’ and ‘Now’ helped win over anyone who wasn’t already a fan, and by the time she reached her closing song, ‘Darling, Angel, Baby’, she had the whole auditorium singing along perfectly in time. A really strong start, and a great way to set the tone for the rest of the night.
After a short interval, Jeff Goldblum stepped out to a huge wave of applause—exactly the kind of reception you’d expect. Before the music properly began, he spent close to 20 minutes chatting with the audience, sharing stories from his time in showbiz and generally doing what he does best: being entertaining without even trying.
He also played a fun little audience game along the lines of “Name an actor and I’ll link the film”, and even quizzed some people in the front rows on Wolverhampton facts. One of the standout moments was when venue staff presented him with a Wolves shirt featuring his name on the back—an easy crowd-pleaser and a nice local touch.
One by one, The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra joined him on stage, with Goldblum introducing each musician before they launched straight into their much-anticipated jazz set.
They opened with ‘Grease Patrol’, and from the first moments it was clear this band isn’t just riding on a famous frontman—they’re genuinely brilliant. Goldblum’s playing was a highlight too. His piano work (those classic “tinkling ivories”, as they say) was impressive and showed he’s absolutely the real deal as a pianist.
By the second song, Goldblum was up on his feet while the band kept the groove going. This led into a playful, semi-improvised number titled: ‘Jeff Goldblum’s Hosting Tonight… (In Wolverhampton)’. It’s a song they perform throughout the tour, but with customised lyrics for each city, which gives every stop a unique, local feel. It’s the sort of personalised detail that audiences tend to remember—small effort, big impact.
The set stepped up again when guest vocalist Khaliah Johnson joined the band. Together they delivered renditions of: ‘Let’s Face The Music and Dance’, ‘Lover’ (a Taylor Swift cover), and ‘If I Only Had A Brain’ (their recent single).
The chemistry between Goldblum and Johnson felt like something straight out of the 1930s New York jazz scene—classic call-and-response energy, with Goldblum on piano and Khaliah leaning into that old-school, story-telling vocal style. It was easily one of the highlights of the night.
Later, Dodie reappeared to duet with Goldblum on: Her own track ‘I Feel Bad For You, Dave’, and a cover of Ben Bernie’s ‘Mean To Me’.
Goldblum made it clear (more than once) just how highly he rates Dodie, calling it a privilege to have her on tour as his label mate. The audience seemed equally taken with her—she was warmly received throughout and clearly left a strong impression.
Once the guest vocalists stepped away again, the orchestra moved into a few jazz staples, including ‘Tattoo’ and ‘The Kicker’, keeping the pace smooth and the mood easy-going.
Khaliah Johnson later returned for ‘Misty’, followed by a real crowd-melter: Goldblum’s take on ‘Over the Rainbow’, introduced as “the most covered song ever”. He managed to make it feel genuinely personal and different, which isn’t easy with a song that well known. The band then rounded out that stretch with ‘Moanin’’, bringing things back to a richer, bolder jazz sound.
To close out the night, Goldblum thanked everyone for coming and, as expected, promised he’d return before too long. For the final number, the band were joined again by both Dodie and Khaliah Johnson for a cover of ‘Driftin’’—but with a twist.
The performance was interspersed with: ‘Defying Gravity’ (referencing Goldblum’s Wizard of Oz connection) and, of course, a nod to the ‘Jurassic Park’ theme.
It was fun, slightly chaotic in the best way, and exactly what the crowd wanted. After a big round of applause, Goldblum reintroduced the band and vocalists, and they made their final exit.
It was fun, slightly chaotic in the best way, and exactly what the crowd wanted. After a big round of applause, Goldblum reintroduced the band and vocalists, and they made their final exit.
All in, Jeff Goldblum and The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra delivered a relaxed, summer-start kind of evening with genuinely excellent musicianship and great audience interaction.
The only real drawback was the set length: around 12 songs in just over an hour. Some people heading out mentioned they felt a bit short-changed, especially given how enjoyable the show was. That said, the quality of the performance was hard to fault—an hour of top-class live jazz, played beautifully and delivered with plenty of charm.
