Lush Life

Himself

Al Gorky

Benny

Buddy Chester

Janice Oliver

Singer

Trombone #1

Jack

Lucy

Lester (as Alex Desert)

Waiter

Session Leader

Young Man

Howard (as Tom LaGrua)

Party Guest #1

Eleanor

Sarah

Beanstrom

PeeWee

Norman

Clerk

Woman #1

Harry

Dana (as 'Nita Whitaker)

Doctor

Ambulance Driver / Paramedic (uncredited)

Husband of Woman with Sprained Ankle (uncredited)

Woman with 'Sprained Ankle' (uncredited)

Kathy Baker's singing in the film was dubbed by Sue Raney.

The musicians seen on screen throughout the film are actual Los Angeles musicians who perform and record film scores, with the exception of actors Jeff Goldblum, Forest Whitaker, Don Cheadle and 'Alex Desert'. Everette Harp seen early in the film at a recording session is an actual jazz saxophonist with a complete discography. Forest Whitaker also starred in another film based on jazz, "Bird" in which he played late jazz saxophonist Charlie "Bird" Parker who is refernced in this film several times and plays the trumpet in reference to another great jazz musician, Clifford Brown. Lennie Niehaus, the film's composer and arranger's voice can be heard counting down the orchestra in the opening recording session that Jeff Goldblum and Forest Whitaker open the film with. Jack Sheldon who plays Norman, was a jazz trumpet player performing with the likes of Johnny Mandel and Stan Getz.

The title for the film comes from a famous tune written by Billy Strayhorn.