ALL EXCLUSIVE Lots of this and that from the backstage at Barbra Streisand’s return to Brooklyn: first of all, actor Elliott Gould had no idea his son with Barbra, 46 (yes, hard to believe) year old Jason Gould could sing, would sing, did sing on stage and so professionally with Barbra at the show. Elliott looked a little stunned. During the show, Barbra presents a birthday video that Jason made for her 70th with him singing “Nature Boy” backed by an orchestra. He sounds like a pro, with a deep lustrous version of his mom’s vocals.
After the video, he joined Barbra on stage, where they sang together, then he performed “This Masquerade” on his own. He could easily have a career, and an act. Backstage he told me he’s got songs on iTunes. Indeed he has five songs including “Nature Boy” and “How Deep the Ocean.” A surprised Elliott told me: “I didn’t know he could sing like that. But once when he was younger he sang when we were on a trip, and I knew he had it in him.” A proud father, I’d say…
…A big group gathered in a circle and sang “Happy Birthday” to Chris Botti at the backstage party. The youthful looking horn player turned 50 at midnight. Among the group was his manager, Bobby Colomby, an original member of the great Blood, Sweat, & Tears–who are still not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, dammit. Now Chris– who tours constantly–is with Barbra at every show–just wowing the crowd musically and doing double time as an able co-host…Good for him…ex girlfriend Katie Couric stopped by to say hello. She missed the show because of an event with one of her kids, but wanted to see Chris and congratulate him…
…The after-party was hosted, nominally, by Universal Pictures chief Ron Meyer– as a friend, not professionally. He brought his 18 year old daughter and two of her college friends. Meyer is the mensch of the movie business. And he’s about to have a huge, huge hit with Tom Hooper’s “Les Miserables” starring Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, and Anne Hathaway. Meyers’ guests included former Paramount chief Sherry Lansing and director husband William Friedkin. Also there, the great “Rocky” producer Irwin Winkler…
…Barbra’s manager of half a century Marty Ehrlichmann had a little gathering of his own immediately after the show, and before Barbra was ready to see everyone. She had joked on stage that Marty “spotted me in the neonatal unit at Brooklyn Hospital and knew that I had a voice.” Cantankerous Marty has steered Streisand through mostly ups and presumably downs (I don’t know of any). They’ve had a remarkably successful association. And he’s as feisty as ever, a great guy in a bad business…
…Finally: Barbra’s producer Jay Landers says if “Release Me,” her new album of unreleased tracks is a hit, they have more. And “Release Me” will enter the charts around number 5 on Monday. Not bad.
