Boris Vian was a jack of all trades - although unfortunately his name was boris and "Boris of all trades" Never took off as a turn of phrase. But nevertheless vian was a great songwriter, playwright, singer, jazz critic ...Boris Vian was a jack of all trades - although unfortunately his name was boris and "Boris of all trades" Never took off as a turn of phrase. But nevertheless vian was a great songwriter, playwright, singer, jazz critic and, of course novelist so it should have been boris instead of jack.