Brian Newman was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and grew up in a musical family. His father was a saxophonist and jazz enthusiast. At the age of 12, Newman already had a clear career aspiration: he wanted to be like Louis Armstrong and become a jazz musician in New York. Newman began to play the trumpet and developed a deep passion for jazz music. He moved to New York City to continue his musical education and establish himself in the lively jazz scene. There he performed in various clubs and built a name for himself as a talented musician.
The collaboration between Brian Newman and Lady Gaga began after Newman played as a support act at one of her gigs. Impressed by his talent, Gaga invited him to work with her. Newman became the musical director and arranger for Gaga’s jazz projects, including the album “Cheek to Cheek” with Tony Bennett. One of the highlights of their work together was the performance of the song “Let Me Be Misunderstood”. This song was featured in Gaga’s movie “Gaga: Five Foot Two” and solidified their artistic partnership.
The original is a song by Nina Simone. However, the 1970s version of Santa Esmeralda is better known to many today: the French-American disco group Santa Esmeralda created an iconic, almost 16-minute disco-flamenco version. This reinterpretation was a huge hit in discotheques and reached high chart positions, especially in Europe. Her version is known for its driving rhythms, brass sections and passionate “flamenco flair”.
In contrast to the rock version of The Animals or the disco version of Santa Esmeralda, Newman and Gaga return to a classic big band and jazz arrangement. The music is dominated by horns (especially Newman’s trumpet), piano, double bass and drums. The instrumentation is organic and recorded live, giving the performance an intimate, authentic club atmosphere.
In this version, Gaga presents herself as a jazz singer. She uses the full range of her voice, from soft, intimate passages to powerful, almost raw outbursts. She doesn’t just sing, she “tells” the story of the song. And of course, on Sarasvati her voice sounds beguiling and the trumpet clear and warm.
