Monday Night Jazz Attraction at the Fenix: Jeff Goldblum

“Who is that guy playing piano?� asked the perfect, young California blond woman.

“That’s Jeff Goldblum,� was the answer. “The actor.� Pause. “He’s been in a lot of movies.�

“Oh,� she sighed, her pink forehead furrowing as she searched her martini-soaked memory. Then, a smile of recognition. “Oh, yeah. ‘The Fly’ guy. Cool.�

Yeah, the actor who played the title character in “The Fly� and his band, the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra, offer jazz to a packed house every Monday night at Fenix. Make no mistake. It’s Goldblum who packs ‘em in on what would otherwise be a dead night. Even the blond started to listen more intently to music that, up until that moment, was probably foreign to her. Ah, the power of celebrity.

Goldblum wisely surrounds himself with excellent jazz players: Grammy-nominated Anthony Wilson on guitar; Tim Emmons, bass; Lorca Hart, drums; Lincoln Adler on sax. “RoboCop� Peter Weller sits in on horn when not on location, and jazz pros like vocalist Barbara Morrison often get up and jam.

Despite the talent on board, the band doesn’t take itself as seriously as some jazz groups. The convivial atmosphere gives the impression that the players are just jamming in Jeff’s living room. It could be a kegger if the beer wasn’t so expensive.

Rarely venturing past recognizable material, songs like “Round Midnight� (with the little cha-cha break found in early arrangements) and “Night and Day� delight the mostly female crowd. Miles Davis is represented by “Solar� and “All Blues,� and the band tackles Charlie Parker’s “Scrapple From the Apple� easily and expertly. Trumpeter Tim Weaver and saxophonist Katja Rieckermann (recently transplanted from Germany) get up and add to the mix.

“Jeff knows what he can play and what he can’t,� confides Emmons. He acknowledges that Goldblum’s fame is an asset: The band once did a gig without Goldblum and no one showed up.

Goldblum dispenses with the star attitude, however, and is accessible to friends and fans alike between sets. He works the room like a talk-show host, allowing some to snap a picture or two. He amiably hugs many of the pulchritudinous females in the house, including one whose boyfriend looks on forlornly while she flirts unabashedly with the movie star.

“To Jeff,� says Emmons, laughing, “a boyfriend is a minor annoyance.�

Pittsburgh-born Goldblum got turned on to jazz by his older brother.

“I just adore it,� says the actor. “I’ve taken piano lessons since childhood and played around Pittsburgh in some clubs when I was younger. In fact, I just did some jamming around Vancouver, B.C., while on location for ‘Chain of Fools.’ �

When questioned about the obviously adoring crowd, Goldblum grins that wide movie star grin.

“Well, some of them are from the acting class I teach at Playhouse West.�

Back on stage, Goldblum keeps keyboard volume low, allowing the pros to shine. His solos are rare and sometimes amusingly overwrought, but this is fun, remember? Occasionally he sings, his voice surprisingly high in register yet capable of all the blues that a rich white man can muster.

The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra (the goofy name was hastily chosen out of necessity just before a performance at the Playboy Jazz Festival) takes the stage at Fenix around 9:30 p.m. and plays three sets, with long breaks in between.

By the third set, there’s a lot of dancing and general hilarity. Sunset Strip wolves work the room as best they can (one poor producer-type was seen following women around a la Groucho Marx), but few can distract the girls from watching Goldblum.

“He’s much better-looking in person than he was in ‘The Fly,’ � admits that perfect blond. Well, yeah.

But here’s the best part about Monday nights at Fenix: no cover. And Goldblum is booked for the next several months. In fact, his band is part of Fenix’s New Year’s package.

On that night, expect to pay.

BE THERE

The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra, Mondays at 9:30 p.m. at Fenix, the Argyle Hotel, 8358 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. No cover. (323) 848-6677.