Hugh Jackman Sings 'Soliloquy' At Cancer Research Charity Concert

Hugh Jackman can sing? I probably should know better, but for me, Hugh Jackman will always be Wolverine. I'm wrong, of course, as he is so much more. On Monday he taught me a lesson by singing the famous musical song "Soliloquy" at his sold-out concert at the Jazz at Lincoln Center. Jackman performed at the charity event "The Nearness Of You: In Honor of Michael Brecker" along with renowned musicians Patti Austin, James Taylor, and Harolyn Blackwell.

Proceeds from the concert support the cancer research at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, specifically the work of Azra Raza, M.D. and Siddhartha Mukherjee, MD, D.Phil.

See all the best moments from Hugh Jackman's performance right through Daniela's Lens below:

7:32 p.m.
I arrive at Lincoln Center, and the PR walks me into the venue. One other photographer is already here. It's a big hello.

"You know each other?" asks the PR.

"Yes, of course!" There are not that many photographers working the celebrity beat in New York City; we are a small group.

7:44 p.m.
Padma Lakshmi introduces the evening.

7:48 p.m.
She is here with her daughter Krishna Thea Lakshmi-Dell.

7:50 p.m.
Azra Raza, the Professor of Medicine and Director of the MDS Center at Columbia University, goes on stage:

"In 1977 we were using two drugs referred to seven and three. Today in 2019, I'm still using seven and three. With the same dreadful results. It is an embarrassment. Patients with any form of advanced cancer today are as likely to die from it as they were 50 years ago." she says.

And she goes on: "Why are we not doing better? Because we find cancer too late. The 25% decrease in mortality from cancer that you keep hearing about is because of early detection. Instead of always trying to go after that last cancer cell, we want to go after the first cell." she says. "Imagine taking your morning shower which automatically scans your whole body for any abnormality, your toilet examines the urine for abnormal proteins, you wear a smart bra just for 60 minutes a week, and it has 200 tiny tactile sensors which are built in to monitor micro alterations in texture and temperature. Imagine that you simply exhale deeply and this accurately identifies the smallest of molecules coming from the first cancer cell.

These are not scenes from fantasy movies; these are real-life technologies in varies stages of development."

7:55 p.m.
James Taylor gets on stage. The five-time Grammy Award winner was a lifetime friend of late Michael Brecker and frequently performed with him.

8:03 p.m.
Broadway star Harolyn Blackwell.

8:15 p.m.
And then it's time for Hugh Jackman!

"I want to tell you a quick story about my dad," he says. "My parents immigrated to Australia when I was eight. When their marriage finished, my mom moved back to England where they came from originally. My father brought up me and my four brothers and sisters. He is a pretty amazing man. The time I was eight, he was the one I could rely on, he was always there and the sweetest man as well. Anything I ever did in my career, my dad always said exactly the same thing, every single time: 'Hugh, wonderful work! Wonderful work! Van Helsing... wonderful work, such a beautiful character!'

It didn't matter what it was, right; he would just lie. And it meant the world to me!"

8:22 p.m.
Hugh Jackman says: "And when I was asked to sing at Carnegie Hall, my father, who never missed a day of work in his life at PWC, except for three. And I say three because when you come to New York from Australia it's 24 hours. And he would see me for a day and then fly back straight to the office. Three days."

He goes on: "And he asked me what's the dress code and I tell him it's black tie. But on the day of his arrival I find out its business casual, it's not black tie at all. And I'm freaking out. My dad is in New York for 24 hours, he comes from Australia, and I figure he has got shorts and flip-flops and black tie, right? And in the cab, I say: 'Dad, I'm sorry, I got it wrong, it is not black tie, it's business casual'.

And he said: 'Relax, Hugh, it's all right. But do me a favor, it would really mean a lot to me if I can pick you up at the hotel and walk you to the stage door before the performance at Carnegie Hall.' And I said, of course! Meet me at 6:15!

So at 6:15 on the dot - he is an accountant - there is a knock at my door, and I open up, and there is my father, in the hallway in full black tie, head to toe! And I say, seriously? Dad, it's not black tie! Nobody is wearing black tie except for you and the choir; they are going to think you are a baritone! Dad! Please!

And I never forget, he looked me straight in the eye and he says: 'Hugh, my son is singing at Carnegie Hall, it's black tie for me!'"

8:25 p.m.
"I'm going to sing the next song for my dad. It's from the great musical Carousel. Billy Bigelow is a troubled character. He is out of work. His life has not gone according to plan. At this point of the story, he found out that he is about to become a father." says Hugh Jackman. Then he starts singing "Soliloquy" from "Carousel."

8:30 p.m.
I'm very much in awe! He is so good!

8:38 p.m.
That's it! Bye Hugh, we love you!
And if you'd like to hear him singing, check out his new movie "The Greatest Showman."

8:42 p.m.
The amazing Patti Austin!

8:44 p.m.
One more song with Patti and James. What a great evening!

Daniela Kirsch is an entertainment photographer and founder of NameFace— an event photo agency based in New York City. Through her creative expertise and unique visual style, Kirsch not only knows more than a thing or two about photographing A-list events, but is forever changing the way we interact with the entertainment industry. In June 2018, Kirsch teamed up with Patch to launch the photo series Daniela's Lens, offering weekly features from local events to red carpet magic.

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