I didn't quite know what to expect from Jamie Cullum in his San Francisco performance last night. I knew Jamie was a jazz pianist who had sold over a million CDs in the U.K. That was the extent of my knowledge.
As Cullum started playing the grand piano and singing These Are The Days, my mind instantly said "This is a young Billy Joel." That characterization worked well for about a minute until Jamie stood up and started playing with the manic energy of Joe Cocker or perhaps Jerry Lee Lewis. When he wasn't standing up to play the grand, he was standing on it, jumping off it, or pounding on it with his stocking-clad feet. While this sounds like a recipe for a lot of noise, Cullum and his band made it work to spectacular effect.
Cullum's wide range, infectious humor and tremendous talent made for an evening of revelations. In the end, Jamie Cullum is Jamie Cullum: A Jazz Pianist with Rock Star Sensibilities.
A jazz artist this great should be selling out stadiums like SBC Park. Twenty four year-old, Jamie Cullum came to San Francisco last night and rocked this town. The only people who were lucky enough to experience Cullum and his band were at Bimbo's 365 Club in North Beach. And experience them we did!
One does not just listen to the sexy, sultry, soulful voice of Jamie Cullum. Cullum & Company offer an experience that has you singing to the beat and smiling to the sound the likes of his world-class bass player, Geoff Gascoyne.
Cullum, Gascoyne, and drummer Sebastiaan de Krom are the reason two British fans on an around-the-world trip, changed their departure date from San Francisco to be at Bimbo's last night. "We just missed him in Toronto and Los Angeles, so we re-booked our flights in order to be here," said, Jenny, a fan from Liverpool. "In the U.K., he plays to sold-out crowds of 10,000-15,000 at a time," Paul Cridland from Birmingham added. "We could no more experience him ten feet from the stage at home the way we did here, tonight."
Cullum Fans "Liverpool Jenny" & "Birmingham Paul"
Ben already owns both of Cullum's CDs, Twentysomething and Pointless Nostalgic. He was also one of the fans in the crowd last night who sang along with Cullum when he performed the title track from his latest CD.
KFOG, if you're listening, think Jamie Cullum the next time you produce Live From The Archives.
Last year, our favorite new artist was from the U.K. Seventeen year-old, Joss Stone and her Soul Sessions CD are also still a bit of a secret here in America. This year, Jamie Cullum heads to the top of the list.
If punk and heavy-metal are your thing, give Jamie Cullum a look.
If hip-hop is what gets you swinging, bring on Jamie Cullum.
If you like jazz, you will love Jamie Cullum & Company.
Eclectic and soulful, every song was worth the $15 cover charge at Bimbo's.
His Twentysomething CD was just released in the U.S. by Verve Records on May 11, 2004. Worldwide, over one million copies have already been sold.
Cullum grew up in rural England with his brother Ben, who is a songwriter and dance music producer. Ben The Ghost has been Jamie's biggest musical influence. In the credits of his new CD, produced by Verve Records, Jamie says, "Thanks to Ben for your exquisite songs and for being pretty much the entire reason I'm doing this."
Today, when Jamie is not on the road, he and Ben live near one another in London.
Two of the songs on his Twentysomething album, These Are the Days and It's About Time were written by brother Ben.
Jamie's own song Twentysomething may have you thinking "Harry Connick, Jr." It may also have you "ooh da dad iting" all the way to Tower Records or iTunes for a copy.
These Are the Days has a twinge of Billy Joel in it.
Jimi Hendrix' Wind Cries Mary never sounded so jazzy, especially with Jamie Talbot and Ben Castle on sax.
All at Sea, These Are the Days and It's About Time would be welcome songs to listen to Sunday mornings on KFOG.
Other Cullum selections are classics that take you back to another day. Singin' in the Rain, I Could Have Danced All Night, What a Difference a Day Made and Cole Porter's I Get a Kick Out Of You are four.
From his 1st album, Pointless Nostalgic, he sang I Want to Be a Popstar. The song is a reflection of the hard work it took to get to where Cullum is today. Unlike the quick fame that the Idol shows create for winners like American Idol's Fantasia Barrino and Pop Idol's Michelle McManus, Cullum has worked his way up from smokey jazz clubs to wedding receptions to now sold-out stadiums in Britain. He was even invited by Prince Charles to perform at a special celebration for the Queen. While Cullum is only twenty-four, he is been on the jazz club circuit since he was in his teens.
Jamie has no formal training. In fact, while he plays the piano and guitar like there's no tomorrow, it all comes from the inside. No music book ever taught him how to play. Before he even entered college, he began to attract the attention and support of the local jazz community. Cullum began to phase out of small jazz pubs onto the big scene after singing and playing the tune Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans. It is said that this is where and when he realized that he might be able to turn his talent and personality into a professional career.
Since he graduated from the University of Reading in 2001, where he majored in English and film studies, he has been lauded as "The David Beckham of Jazz," "Sinatra in Sneakers," and "The Next Norah Jones."
Whatever they call him, he's the UK's best selling jazz artist of all time.
His platinum-selling Twentysomething was produced by American, Stewart Levine for Dave Ja Vu Productions. Other artists Levine has produced for include: Simply Red, BB King, George Benson, David Sanborn and Masters at Work.
Jamie Autographing Elin's CD Jacket
After a two-and-a-half-hour concert that included jumping off the piano, running around the stage, and giving his all to the responsive crowd, Cullum was gracious enough to stick around and sign album covers and pause for photo shoots. One happy customer was Elin Gidmark from Ornskoldsvik, Sweden -- most famous for being the hometown of Peter Forsberg of the Colorado Avalanche. Whereas Jenny and Ben from Britain were just starting their round-the-world-travels, Elin is on the final leg of a round-the-world in five months journey. She was happy to have a couple of nights stay in a private home in San Francisco after sleeping in hostels throughout Thailand, Australia, Fiji and Hawaii. More than anything, this twenty-something year-old was grateful to take in some of the best art and culture San Francisco has to offer -- thanks to Jamie Cullum and Bimbo's 365 Club.
For more on Jamie go to: JamieCullum.com
For a great piece on Cullum's rise to stardom, go to: Sing365.com
Jamie, Geoff & Sebastiann
Jamie, Geoff and Sebastiaan, we love your energy, your sound and your talent. Your going to kick some you know what wearing those boots from Austin, Texas. As much as the world compares you to other greats, you are an original!
Inspire & Be Inspired.
~Jennifer King
P.S. Cullum & Company will be performing in Portland, Oregon at The Alladin Theatre (503.233.1994) on Sunday, June 6th.
On Monday night, they will be at the Century Ballroom in Seattle, Washington.
On the 8th, they'll perform in Vancouver, Canada.
And then on Thursday, June 10th, Jamie will be in New York to appear on Late Night with David Letterman.
Other Jamie Cullum Stories Published in RuggedElegantLiving.com
05/31/04, Jamie Cullum Playz Jazz at Bimbo's
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