Scene Last Night: Clapton, Blankfein, Jain, Colbert, Hendricks
A New Orleans-style “Layla” with a gospel kick was the surprise addition to the concert Wynton Marsalis and Eric Clapton performed Thursday night in Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Rose Hall.
It was the one Clapton song in a program focused on traditional blues.
“Wynton brought it up in rehearsals, and Eric said the only way he’d do it is if it’s New Orleans-style,” trumpeter Marcus Printup said at the post-concert gala dinner at Roseland Ballroom. Marsalis arranged the song overnight “and Eric took care of the rest,” said Printup.
Preparing to dig into a chocolate cupcake, Printup then recalled his own favorite moment of the concert: when Clapton said he was nervous.
“He looked nervous, too! What it reminds me of is that I’m a firm believer that you can always learn more,” Printup said.
The combination was winning on stage and off. The gala event raised $3.6 million for Jazz at Lincoln Center, drawing an eclectic crowd including” Lloyd Blankfein, chairman and chief executive of Goldman, Sachs & Co.; Newark, New Jersey, Mayor Cory Booker; singer John Legend; and Glenn Lowry, director of the Museum of Modern Art.
InMotion Photography
A few blocks away, 1,400 guests gathered for the annual photography auction to support InMotion, which provides legal services to disadvantaged women.
Four ballrooms of the Sheraton New York Hotel swelled with mergers-and-acquisition deal-makers, advisers, lawyers and investors, as well as new friends in private equity and hedge funds.
Guests included Ajit Jain, president of reinsurance at Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK/A); Jeffrey Aronson, managing principal at Centerbridge Partners LP; Lori Lesser, partner at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, and Daniel Celentano, senior managing director of Evercore Partners LLC. The event raised $2.2 million.
“We have a great feeling about helping people who are down,” Coleman said. “It’s what we do for a living.”
Last year the organization served 2,091 women and their 2,596 children. Lawyers at top firms do the bulk of the work on a pro bono basis.
“What really convinces people is our leverage,” said Catherine Douglass, founder and executive director of InMotion. “For every dollar we raise we deliver $5 worth of legal services to clients.”
Sondheim’s ‘Company’
Stephen Colbert threw Martha Plimpton in the air and caught her, then kicked up his legs for a chorus line, all in a frumpy maroon sweater and baggy pants.
Clearly he wasn’t the cast member charged with sexing up the New York Philharmonic production of Stephen Sondheim’s “Company.” That job went to Christina Hendricks, the buxom, curvy star of “Mad Men.” Flanked by parental figures in long nightgowns, Hendricks wore a navy flight attendant’s uniform. With some very clever coaxing, Neil Patrick Harris got her to take it off in just a few minutes.
This gala fare got everyone’s hearts racing, among them Alec Baldwin, a new board member of the Philharmonic; fashion designer Michael Kors; Broadway legend Elaine Stritch; and Gary Parr, Lazard Ltd. (LAZ) managing director and chairman of the Philharmonic. The event raised more than $1.2 million.
At intermission, many audience members pronounced Harris the best “Bobby” they’d seen. He’d certainly taken advantage of the staging, which had the conductor Paul Gemignani stationed right in a spot that in one scene, turned into a wall of his apartment. Hendricks admires the spot, in gushing praise of Harris’s apartment decoration.
“Oh this,” Harris said, giving Gemignani a poke in the back. “I never really look at this.”
(Amanda Gordon is a writer and photographer for Muse, the arts and leisure section of Bloomberg News. Any opinions expressed are her own.)
To contact the writer on this story: Amanda Gordon in New York at agordon01@bloomberg.net or on Twitter at @amandagordon.
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Manuela Hoelterhoff at mhoelterhoff@bloomberg.net.
Wynton Marsalis and Eric Clapton play the blues at Frederick P. Rose Hall. Photographer: Jason Kempin/Getty Images
Clapton and Marsalis at Jazz at Lincoln Center
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Lloyd Blankfein, CEO of Goldman Sachs & Co., and Lisa Cashin, a gala underwriter.
Lloyd Blankfein, CEO of Goldman Sachs & Co., and Lisa Cashin, a gala underwriter. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Clapton and Marsalis at Jazz at Lincoln Center
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Richard E. Salomon, vice chairman and managing partner, East End Advisors, LLC; and Marlene Hess, co-chairman of the gala.
Richard E. Salomon, vice chairman and managing partner, East End Advisors, LLC; and Marlene Hess, co-chairman of the gala. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Clapton and Marsalis at Jazz at Lincoln Center
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Gayle King, host of a show on the OWN network and editor-at-large of Oprah magazine, with Peter A. Weinberg, partner, Perella Weinberg Partners LP.
Gayle King, host of a show on the OWN network and editor-at-large of Oprah magazine, with Peter A. Weinberg, partner, Perella Weinberg Partners LP. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Clapton and Marsalis at Jazz at Lincoln Center
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Cory Booker, mayor of Newark; Don Michael Randel, president of Andrew W. Mellon Foundation; and Gordon Davis, partner at Dewey & LeBoeuf.
Cory Booker, mayor of Newark; Don Michael Randel, president of Andrew W. Mellon Foundation; and Gordon Davis, partner at Dewey & LeBoeuf. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Clapton and Marsalis at Jazz at Lincoln Center
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Jennifer Raab, president of Hunter College; John Arnhold, CEO, First Eagle Investment Management, LLC and a gala underwriter; and Catharine Hill, president of Vassar College.
Jennifer Raab, president of Hunter College; John Arnhold, CEO, First Eagle Investment Management, LLC and a gala underwriter; and Catharine Hill, president of Vassar College. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Clapton and Marsalis at Jazz at Lincoln Center
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Damien Woetzel, director, Vail International Dance Festival and retired New York City Ballet dancer, with Marcus Printup, trumpet player, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.
Damien Woetzel, director, Vail International Dance Festival and retired New York City Ballet dancer, with Marcus Printup, trumpet player, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Clapton and Marsalis at Jazz at Lincoln Center
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Shahara Ahmad-Llewellyn, vice chairman of Jazz at Lincoln Center, and Tucker York, head of the private client group at Goldman Sachs & Co.
Shahara Ahmad-Llewellyn, vice chairman of Jazz at Lincoln Center, and Tucker York, head of the private client group at Goldman Sachs & Co. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Clapton and Marsalis at Jazz at Lincoln Center
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Mike Ramos and Ashley Schiff Ramos, Jazz at Lincoln Center board member and the concert producer of "Wynton Marsalis and Eric Clapton Play the Blues."
Mike Ramos and Ashley Schiff Ramos, Jazz at Lincoln Center board member and the concert producer of "Wynton Marsalis and Eric Clapton Play the Blues." Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
InMotion Photography Auction & Benefit
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Blackstone Group's Michael O'Hara, managing director; Jamie Baird, vice president; and Erik Lisher, managing director and InMotion Junior Advisory board member.
Blackstone Group's Michael O'Hara, managing director; Jamie Baird, vice president; and Erik Lisher, managing director and InMotion Junior Advisory board member. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
InMotion Photography Auction & Benefit
Jane DeFlorio, InMotion board member and managing director, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., and Michael DeFlorio, senior managing director at Harvest Partners. The couple pose with a photograph bought at the InMotion gala live auction for $6,000: "Shuttered Manufacturing Plant #7 (Inc.), Cleveland, Ohio, 2001.
Jane DeFlorio, InMotion board member and managing director, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., and Michael DeFlorio, senior managing director at Harvest Partners. The couple pose with a photograph bought at the InMotion gala live auction for $6,000: "Shuttered Manufacturing Plant #7 (Inc.), Cleveland, Ohio, 2001.
InMotion Photography Auction & Benefit
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Nakul Krishnaswamy, PioneerPath Capital; Ajit Jain, president of reinsurance, Berkshire Hathaway Inc.; Ram Sunduram, partner, Goldman Sachs & Co.; and Anilesh Ahuja, CEO and CIO, Premium Point Investments.
Nakul Krishnaswamy, PioneerPath Capital; Ajit Jain, president of reinsurance, Berkshire Hathaway Inc.; Ram Sunduram, partner, Goldman Sachs & Co.; and Anilesh Ahuja, CEO and CIO, Premium Point Investments. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
InMotion Photography Auction & Benefit
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Luc A. Despins, partner and chairman of the Global Restructuring practice at Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP.
Luc A. Despins, partner and chairman of the Global Restructuring practice at Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
InMotion Photography Auction & Benefit
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Lori Lesser, a partner at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, and Carol Losos, an art historian.
Lori Lesser, a partner at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, and Carol Losos, an art historian. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
InMotion Photography Auction & Benefit
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Brad Eric Scheler, chairman of InMotion's board and partner, Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP.
Brad Eric Scheler, chairman of InMotion's board and partner, Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
InMotion Photography Auction & Benefit
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Timothy Coleman, senior managing director at the Blackstone Group and an InMotion board member. He injured his hand while waterskiing.
Timothy Coleman, senior managing director at the Blackstone Group and an InMotion board member. He injured his hand while waterskiing. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
InMotion Photography Auction & Benefit
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
James Cooper and Tatiana Lapushchik, both partners at Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP.
James Cooper and Tatiana Lapushchik, both partners at Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
InMotion Photography Auction & Benefit
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
InMotion board members Bryan Marsal, co-CEO of Alvarez & Marsal, and Myron Trepper, partner at Wilkie Farr & Gallagher LLP.
InMotion board members Bryan Marsal, co-CEO of Alvarez & Marsal, and Myron Trepper, partner at Wilkie Farr & Gallagher LLP. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
InMotion Photography Auction & Benefit
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Hilary Dengel, associate, and Damian Schaible, partner, at Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP.
Hilary Dengel, associate, and Damian Schaible, partner, at Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
InMotion Photography Auction & Benefit
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
John, Elaina, Rosanna, Marion, and Anthony Scotto. The Scotto family owns Fresco, a midtown restaurant. "Lots of the guests tonight come into the restaurant. They eat healthy, fish and salad," Marion Scotto said.
John, Elaina, Rosanna, Marion, and Anthony Scotto. The Scotto family owns Fresco, a midtown restaurant. "Lots of the guests tonight come into the restaurant. They eat healthy, fish and salad," Marion Scotto said. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
InMotion Photography Auction & Benefit
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Todd Bondy, Daniel Celentano, Jelena Strelcova, and William Repko, of Evercore Partners.
Todd Bondy, Daniel Celentano, Jelena Strelcova, and William Repko, of Evercore Partners. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
"Company" at the New York Philharmonic
Chris Lee via Bloomberg
Christina Hendricks as April in Stephen Sondheim's "Company" at the New York Philharmonic.
Christina Hendricks as April in Stephen Sondheim's "Company" at the New York Philharmonic. Photographer: Chris Lee via Bloomberg
"Company" at the New York Philharmonic
Dario Cantatore/Getty Images
Martha Plimpton, Stephen Colbert and Neil Patrick Harris have some fancy dance moves in the New York Philharmonic's production of "Company."
Martha Plimpton, Stephen Colbert and Neil Patrick Harris have some fancy dance moves in the New York Philharmonic's production of "Company." Photographer: Dario Cantatore/Getty Images
"Company" at the New York Philharmonic
Dario Cantatore/Getty Images
Alec Baldwin, New York Philharmonic board member, at the orchestra's spring gala.
Alec Baldwin, New York Philharmonic board member, at the orchestra's spring gala. Photographer: Dario Cantatore/Getty Images
"Company" at the New York Philharmonic
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Solo grooms top the centerpieces at the New York Philharmonic "Company" gala, taking a cue from the musical's central character, Bobby, played by Neil Patrick Harris.
Solo grooms top the centerpieces at the New York Philharmonic "Company" gala, taking a cue from the musical's central character, Bobby, played by Neil Patrick Harris. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
"Company" at the New York Philharmonic
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Alan MacDonald, COO of global banking at Citigroup Inc., with Stormy Byorum, left, and Gigi Mahon.
Alan MacDonald, COO of global banking at Citigroup Inc., with Stormy Byorum, left, and Gigi Mahon. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
"Company" at the New York Philharmonic
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Adrienne Arsht supports musical theater at the Kennedy Center, where Sondheim's "Follies" opens on May 7.
Adrienne Arsht supports musical theater at the Kennedy Center, where Sondheim's "Follies" opens on May 7. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
"Company" at the New York Philharmonic
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Gail Maidman, an interior designer, wears a dress featuring images of Stephen Sondheim. Maidman designed the fabric; a tailor made the dress.
Gail Maidman, an interior designer, wears a dress featuring images of Stephen Sondheim. Maidman designed the fabric; a tailor made the dress. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
"Company" at the New York Philharmonic
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Lance Le Pere and Michael Kors at the New York Philharmonic gala performance of "Company."
Lance Le Pere and Michael Kors at the New York Philharmonic gala performance of "Company." Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
"Company" at the New York Philharmonic
At "Company," Larry Silverstein with his daughter Lisa Silverstein; son-in-law Tal Kerret; and wife, Klara Silverstein.
At "Company," Larry Silverstein with his daughter Lisa Silverstein; son-in-law Tal Kerret; and wife, Klara Silverstein.
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