A filmed version of one of the shows was released on Netflix in November 2017. He was also Barbra Streisand's pianist, music director, and conductor for her Barbra: The Music, The Mem'ries, The Magic tour. In 2017, Waldman appeared on Seal's Standards album which features Frank Sinatra's songs. In 2002, he worked on the soundtrack for Ice Age before releasing a third album, Timing is Everything, in 2003.
His second album, UnReel, was released in 2001 and featured a variety of soundtrack and theme music from many different films and television shows. The album consisted of a collection of classical songs reworked with jazz arrangements. In 1998, Waldman released his first solo album, Wigged Out, on his own WhirlyBird Records, featuring bassist John Pattitucci and drummer Vinnie Colaiuta. He also worked with numerous artists over the course of his career including Barbra Streisand, Michael Jackson, Paul McCartney, Patti LaBelle, Celine Dion, Beyoncé, Madonna, Whitney Houston, Olivia Newton-John, Barry Manilow, Ray Charles, The Stylistics, Michael Bublé, Quincy Jones, Johnny Mathis, Stevie Wonder, Andrea Bocelli, John Travolta, Kenny G, Katey Sagal, and others. In the 1990s, Waldman worked on the soundtracks for numerous films including Forrest Gump, The Bodyguard, Mission: Impossible, and Titanic. Waldman has been Streisand’s pianist for over 35 years and is featured on many of her albums, movies, and live performances. Two years later, Waldman's co-arrangement of the West Side Story song " Somewhere", on Barbra Streisand's The Broadway Album, won a Grammy. In 1983, Waldman was nominated for a Grammy for Best Vocal Arrangement for The Manhattan Transfer's "Code of Ethics", from their album Bodies and Souls. In the 1980s, Waldman worked on soundtracks such as Ghostbusters, Romancing the Stone, Back to the Future, Nuts, Beetlejuice, Salsa, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, The Abyss, and Weekend at Bernie's. He has performed on hundreds of albums, motion picture soundtracks, television shows, and jingles. Įventually, Waldman began a session career in Los Angeles that would go on to span 40 years. After the tour, Waldman relocated to Los Angeles and, within a year, he toured with Minnie Riperton, Lou Rawls, Paul Anka, and George Benson, the last of whom kept Waldman around as his pianist, musical director, and arranger for the following seven years. He was then hired by The Lettermen to go on tour from Chicago to Los Angeles. Career Īt the age of 21, Waldman was hired to go on tour as the pianist for Frank Sinatra.
While in high school, he performed with the Northwestern University Jazz band. He was hired to demonstrate pianos at a local piano store at age 12. Waldman began playing piano at age five at which time he was considered a child prodigy. Waldman was born in Chicago, Illinois on September 8, 1955. 3.2 Songwriting, instrumental, and production.