Jamie Cullum -- "Different Kind of Jazz Star"

[HuckleB]

Cullum Is Different Kind of Jazz Star

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040603/ap_en_mu/music_jamie_cullum_1

"MTV rarely covers jazz, but Jamie Cullum is a different story. A recent "You Hear It First" segment on MTV News included an enthusiastic thumbs-up from superproducer Pharrell Williams, who was so blown away by Cullum's jazz version of his hip-hop hit "Frontin'" that he pronounced the 24-year-old British singer-pianist "definitely our kind of people."

In Britain, the original new talent has enjoyed unexpected, Norah Jones (news)-like success with his major label debut, "Twentysomething." The CD has sold more than 1 million copies since its October release, making Cullum the top-selling British jazz artist ever. It was his first release under a million-pound recording deal with Universal that garnered tabloid headlines like "Who Wants to Be a Jazz Millionaire?"

Cullum, who infuses his jazz with punk, heavy metal and hip-hop influences, has now invaded America with a resequenced version of "Twentysomething" (Verve) and a monthlong tour. His CD has climbed to No. 2 on Billboard's contemporary jazz chart, right behind Norah Jones' "Feels Like Home."

While Cullum and Jones both cross genres and generations, Cullum says "the only similarities are the fact that we both play piano and we sing." Jones is subtle and introverted, a well-schooled musician who blends jazz with soul, country, blues and folk. Cullum is precocious, extroverted, largely self-taught — and in love with pop music."

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I tell you this: You want to enjoy a wonderful night of entertainment and groove, go see him now. Don't wait until you have to stand in line to get tickets for some coliseum show.

[GOPisEvil]

1. Ah...he's British...there's a guy in San Antonio that plays jazz.

Cullum is his last name too. I thought this might be his son, but apparently not. Sounds interesting, though.

[HuckleB]

2. I'm actually a bit shocked that more people around here haven't heard him.

At one time, there were quite a few music aficionados hanging out at DU.

[bif]

3. I've got his Cd. It's great.

He reminds me of Harry Connick Jr. and John Pizzarelli with a lot of enthusiasm. NPR did an interview with him a couple weeks back.

[HuckleB]

4. Woo hoo! A fellow fan!

Yeah, his shows have plenty of enthusiasm. The guy is a serious entertainer.

[HuckleB]

5. A kick for some good, old-fashioned pop jazz done right.