Brian Newman

Brian Newman
Newman in New York City
Newman in New York City
Background information
Born (1981-06-10) June 10, 1981 (age 43)
Ohio, United States
GenresJazz
Occupation(s)Musician, singer
InstrumentTrumpet
Years active1990–present
Websitebriannewman.com

Brian Newman (born June 10, 1981) is an American jazz musician, singer, and trumpet player. He is most known for his numerous performances with Lady Gaga and her surprise appearances at his performances in New York City. Newman currently holds a residency at the Rose Bar at the Gramercy Park Hotel in New York City and is married to American burlesque performer Angie Pontani.

Early life

Newman was born on June 10, 1981, and raised in Mentor and Concord Township in Cleveland, Ohio. He told his mother at age 12 that he wanted to grow up to be a New York City jazz musician.[1] He began playing at age nine and made his public debut at age 14.[2] He is a 1999 graduate of Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin High School.[3] Concerning his youth in Cleveland, Newman stated, "That's one thing Cleveland and my family taught me well—the importance of hard work...There are a lot of hard workers in Cleveland."[4] He attended the University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Career

Newman with Lady Gaga during her residency in Las Vegas (pictured in 2022)

Along with other graduates from Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music, Newman began performing in venues across New York City including the Oak Room at the Plaza Hotel, and Duane Park. Newman has also performed trumpet for Tony Bennett and Mark Murphy.[5] When he first arrived in New York, Newman served bar and waited tables between performances to help make ends meet.[6] Newman's music was featured in the 2011 film, Friends with Kids.[citation needed] In 2018, he released the LP Showboat.[7]

Collaboration with Lady Gaga

While in New York City, Newman befriended Lady Gaga's boyfriend, Luc Carl, which led to a friendship with Lady Gaga. He has performed with Gaga on the special, A Very Gaga Thanksgiving (and its follow-up EP, A Very Gaga Holiday),[8] The Today Show, the MTV Video Music Awards, and BBC Radio. He arranged and appeared on Lady Gaga's jazz album with Tony Bennett, Cheek to Cheek (2014), and later their second album, Love for Sale (2021).[9][10] Gaga has also made random surprise appearances at Newman's gigs throughout the city which have been covered by major media outlets including E!, MTV, and VH1.[11][12][13] His trumpet performance can also be heard on the track "Just Another Day", from Gaga's 2016 album Joanne.[14] He also collaborated with Gaga on "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" from his Showboat album.[7] Their later collaborations include the television special One Last Time: An Evening with Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga,[15] and Gaga's Las Vegas residency, Jazz & Piano.[16]

Personal life

Newman is married to Angie Pontani, a burlesque dancer who was Miss Exotic World 2008.[17] They have a daughter. Her godmother is Lady Gaga.[18]

Discography

  • Live From New York City (2012)
  • Eyes On the City (2016)
  • Showboat (2018)

References

  1. ^ "PMC Magazine". Pmc-mag.com. August 13, 2013. Archived from the original on November 1, 2013. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
  2. ^ "Style Like You". Stylelikeu.com. Archived from the original on September 29, 2013. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
  3. ^ "Life Style Mirror". Archived from the original on October 3, 2013. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
  4. ^ "News Herald". Retrieved September 21, 2013.
  5. ^ Holden, Stephen (January 18, 2008). "New York Times". The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 7, 2018. Retrieved February 6, 2017.
  6. ^ "PMC Magazine". Pmc-mag.com. August 13, 2013. Archived from the original on November 1, 2013. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
  7. ^ a b Slingerland, Callum (November 19, 2018). "Hear Lady Gaga Cover Nina Simone's 'Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood'". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on November 19, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  8. ^ A Very Gaga Holiday (Media notes). Lady Gaga. Convent of the Sacred Heart, New York City. 2011. p. 3. ASIN B006CUI7UW.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ^ "Brian Newman". BrianNewman.com. Archived from the original on September 15, 2013. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  10. ^ Hunt, El (September 30, 2021). "Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga – 'Love For Sale' review: oldies covers with a playful wink". NME. Archived from the original on September 30, 2021. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
  11. ^ "E Online News". E!. n.d. Archived from the original on July 7, 2018. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
  12. ^ Vena, Jocelyn (January 6, 2011). "MTV News". MTV. Archived from the original on November 1, 2013. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
  13. ^ Bené Viera (December 18, 2012). "VH1 Music Tuner". VH1. Archived from the original on November 1, 2013. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
  14. ^ Joanne (CD). Lady Gaga. United States: Streamline/Interscope Records. 2016. 2580102.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. ^ One Last Time: An Evening with Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga. Paramount+. November 28, 2021. Archived from the original on July 30, 2022. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  16. ^ Mazur, Kevin (October 20, 2021). "Glitz, glamour and Gaga: 'Jazz & Piano' provides quintessential Vegas show experience". Las Vegas Sun. Archived from the original on October 21, 2021. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  17. ^ "The bride wore whoa! How smitten bandleader Brian Newman won the heart of a city burlesque queen Angie Pontani". Daily News. New York. February 17, 2013. Archived from the original on November 3, 2013. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
  18. ^ Lakshmin, Deepa (July 26, 2016). "Lady Gaga Is A Very Popular Godmother". MTV. Archived from the original on October 11, 2022. Retrieved October 11, 2022.