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Already a sensation in his native England, 22-year-old piano man Jamie Cullum comes off like a hip amalgamation of Harry Connick, Jr. and Randy Newman on his sophomore effort, Twentysomething. As with Blue Note's crossover wunderkind Norah Jones, Cullum works best when he's not trying too hard to please hardcore jazz aficionados, but it's not too difficult to imagine his bonus-track version of Pharrell Williams' "Frontin'" turning some jazz fans onto the Neptunes. Showcasing Cullum's sardonic wit and lounge-savvy attitude, the album deftly flows from singer/songwriter love songs to jazzy barroom romps and reappropriated modern rock tunes. Cullum has a warm voice with a slight rasp that retains a bit of his Brit accent even though his influences -- Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Tom Waits -- are resolutely American. Truthfully, Cullum isn't the most accomplished vocalist and his piano chops are pleasant at best -- Oscar Peterson he ain't. That said, he's still a kick. What he lacks in technique he makes up for in swagger and smarts as many of his original compositions reveal. On the swinging and wickedly humorous title track -- a take on postgraduate slackerdom -- Cullum sardonically laments, "After years of expensive education, a car full of books and anticipation, I'm an expert on Shakespeare and that's a hell of a lot but the world don't need scholars as much as I thought." It's a timely statement in our overeducated, underemployed "dot-bomb" economy and deftly posits Cullum as a jazz singer as much of as for his generation. Also compelling are his choices of cover tunes, as he is able to imprint his own persona on the songs while magnifying what made them brilliant to begin with. To these ends, Jeff Buckley's "Lover, You Should've Come Over" gets a gut-wrenchingly minimalist treatment and Radiohead's "High and Dry" comes off as the best Bruce Hornsby song you've never heard. Conversely, Cullum treats jazz standards as modern pop tunes, reworking them into contemporary styles that are neither cynical nor awkward. In fact, his atmospheric, '70s AM pop take on "Singin' in the Rain," replete with string backgrounds and Cullum's percolating Rhodes keyboard, is one of the most appealing cuts on the album, lending the Great American Songbook warhorse an air of virginity.
© Matt Collar /TiVo
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Stewart Levine, Producer - Rik Pekkonen, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Maria Grever, Composer - John Parricelli, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Stanley Adams, Author - Martin Shaw, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Geoff Gascoyne, Bass Guitar, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Jamie Cullum, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Sebastiaan de Krom, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Francis Fuster, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2003 Universal Classics & Jazz
Stewart Levine, Producer - Ben Castle, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Rik Pekkonen, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Martin Shaw, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Geoff Gascoyne, Double Bass, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Ben Cullum, ComposerLyricist - Jamie Cullum, MainArtist - Alan Barnes, Alto Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Sebastiaan de Krom, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Francis Fuster, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2003 Universal Classics & Jazz
Gavyn Wright, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Stewart Levine, Producer - David Daniels, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - ARTHUR FREED, ComposerLyricist - NACIO HERB BROWN, ComposerLyricist - Rik Pekkonen, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bruce White, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - John Parricelli, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Geoff Gascoyne, Bass Guitar, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Jamie Cullum, MainArtist - Francis Fuster, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Jackie Shane, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Strange, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2003 Universal Classics & Jazz
Stewart Levine, Producer - Ben Castle, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Rik Pekkonen, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - John Parricelli, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Shaw, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Geoff Gascoyne, Bass Guitar, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Jamie Cullum, Composer, MainArtist - Alan Barnes, Alto Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Francis Fuster, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2003 Universal Classics & Jazz
Gavyn Wright, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Stewart Levine, Producer - David Daniels, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Rik Pekkonen, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bob Dorough, Composer - Bruce White, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Geoff Gascoyne, Bass Guitar, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Jamie Cullum, MainArtist - Jackie Shane, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2003 Universal Classics & Jazz
Gavyn Wright, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Stewart Levine, Producer - Ben Castle, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - David Daniels, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Rik Pekkonen, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - E.Y. HARBURG, ComposerLyricist - Bruce White, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Mark Nightingale, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Burton Lane, ComposerLyricist - Oren Marshall, Tuba, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Shaw, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Geoff Gascoyne, Bass Guitar, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Jamie Cullum, MainArtist - Alan Barnes, Alto Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Francis Fuster, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Jackie Shane, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2003 Universal Classics & Jazz
Gavyn Wright, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Stewart Levine, Producer - David Daniels, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Rik Pekkonen, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bruce White, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Frederick Loewe, ComposerLyricist - Alan Jay Lerner, ComposerLyricist - John Parricelli, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Geoff Gascoyne, Bass Guitar, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Jamie Cullum, MainArtist - Francis Fuster, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Jackie Shane, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2003 Universal Classics & Jazz
Stewart Levine, Producer - Edward Heyman, ComposerLyricist - Rik Pekkonen, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Geoff Gascoyne, Bass Guitar, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Jamie Cullum, Piano, Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - OSCAR LEVANT, ComposerLyricist - Graeme Lyall, Arranger, Work Arranger
℗ 2003 Universal Classics & Jazz
Stewart Levine, Producer - Cole Porter, ComposerLyricist - Rik Pekkonen, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Geoff Gascoyne, Bass Guitar, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Jamie Cullum, MainArtist
℗ 2003 Universal Classics & Jazz
Stewart Levine, Producer - Ben Castle, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Rik Pekkonen, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jamie Talbot, Alto Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - John Parricelli, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Shaw, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Geoff Gascoyne, Bass Guitar, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Jamie Cullum, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Francis Fuster, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Strange, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2003 Universal Classics & Jazz
Stewart Levine, Producer - Ben Castle, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Jimi Hendrix, ComposerLyricist - Rik Pekkonen, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jamie Talbot, Alto Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Shaw, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Geoff Gascoyne, Bass Guitar, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Jamie Cullum, MainArtist - Francis Fuster, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2003 Universal Classics & Jazz
Stewart Levine, Producer - Rik Pekkonen, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Geoff Gascoyne, Bass Guitar, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Jamie Cullum, MainArtist - Jeff Buckley, Composer - Michael Strange, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2003 Universal Classics & Jazz
Stewart Levine, Producer - Ben Castle, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Rik Pekkonen, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jamie Talbot, Alto Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - John Parricelli, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Shaw, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Geoff Gascoyne, Bass Guitar, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Ben Cullum, Composer - Jamie Cullum, MainArtist - Michael Strange, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2003 Universal Classics & Jazz
Gavyn Wright, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Stewart Levine, Producer - Ben Castle, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - David Daniels, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Rik Pekkonen, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bruce White, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Jamie Talbot, Alto Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Shaw, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Geoff Gascoyne, Bass Guitar, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Jamie Cullum, Composer, MainArtist - Francis Fuster, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Jackie Shane, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2003 Universal Classics & Jazz
Buzz Cason, ComposerLyricist - Mack Gayden, ComposerLyricist - Steve Lipson, Producer - Bernie Grundman, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Tim Young, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Heff Moraes, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Geoff Gascoyne, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Jamie Cullum, Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Sebastiaan de Krom, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2004 Universal Classics & Jazz
Shawn Carter, ComposerLyricist - Chad Hugo, ComposerLyricist - Pharrell Williams, ComposerLyricist - Andy Rogers, Producer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kevin Rumble, Producer, Engineer, Co-Producer, StudioPersonnel - Jamie Cullum, MainArtist - Piers Bradford, Producer, Additional Producer - Phil Stocker, Sound Editor, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2004 BBC
Stewart Levine, Producer - Ben Castle, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Rik Pekkonen, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mark Nightingale, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - John Parricelli, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Oren Marshall, Tuba, AssociatedPerformer - Kay Swift, ComposerLyricist - Paul James, ComposerLyricist - Martin Shaw, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Geoff Gascoyne, Bass Guitar, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Jamie Cullum, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Alan Barnes, Alto Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2003 Universal Classics & Jazz
Philip Selway, ComposerLyricist - Edward O'Brien, ComposerLyricist - Colin Greenwood, ComposerLyricist - Thom Yorke, ComposerLyricist - Jonny Greenwood, ComposerLyricist - Jamie Cullum, Piano, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Mathew Tucker, Producer
℗ 2004 Universal Classics & Jazz
Tony Asher, ComposerLyricist - London Session Orchestra, Strings, AssociatedPerformer - Brian Wilson, ComposerLyricist - Barnaby Dickinson, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Geoff Gascoyne, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jamie Cullum, Keyboards, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - John Hoare, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Malcolm Macfarlane, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - sabastiaan de kromm, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Celia Blaker, Producer - Tim Thomsett, Editor, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2004 Universal Classics & Jazz
Album review
Already a sensation in his native England, 22-year-old piano man Jamie Cullum comes off like a hip amalgamation of Harry Connick, Jr. and Randy Newman on his sophomore effort, Twentysomething. As with Blue Note's crossover wunderkind Norah Jones, Cullum works best when he's not trying too hard to please hardcore jazz aficionados, but it's not too difficult to imagine his bonus-track version of Pharrell Williams' "Frontin'" turning some jazz fans onto the Neptunes. Showcasing Cullum's sardonic wit and lounge-savvy attitude, the album deftly flows from singer/songwriter love songs to jazzy barroom romps and reappropriated modern rock tunes. Cullum has a warm voice with a slight rasp that retains a bit of his Brit accent even though his influences -- Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Tom Waits -- are resolutely American. Truthfully, Cullum isn't the most accomplished vocalist and his piano chops are pleasant at best -- Oscar Peterson he ain't. That said, he's still a kick. What he lacks in technique he makes up for in swagger and smarts as many of his original compositions reveal. On the swinging and wickedly humorous title track -- a take on postgraduate slackerdom -- Cullum sardonically laments, "After years of expensive education, a car full of books and anticipation, I'm an expert on Shakespeare and that's a hell of a lot but the world don't need scholars as much as I thought." It's a timely statement in our overeducated, underemployed "dot-bomb" economy and deftly posits Cullum as a jazz singer as much of as for his generation. Also compelling are his choices of cover tunes, as he is able to imprint his own persona on the songs while magnifying what made them brilliant to begin with. To these ends, Jeff Buckley's "Lover, You Should've Come Over" gets a gut-wrenchingly minimalist treatment and Radiohead's "High and Dry" comes off as the best Bruce Hornsby song you've never heard. Conversely, Cullum treats jazz standards as modern pop tunes, reworking them into contemporary styles that are neither cynical nor awkward. In fact, his atmospheric, '70s AM pop take on "Singin' in the Rain," replete with string backgrounds and Cullum's percolating Rhodes keyboard, is one of the most appealing cuts on the album, lending the Great American Songbook warhorse an air of virginity.
© Matt Collar /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 19 track(s)
- Total length: 01:16:34
- Main artists: Jamie Cullum
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Decca (UMO)
- Genre: Jazz
© 2004 Universal Classics & Jazz This Compilation ℗ 2004 Universal Classics & Jazz
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