520 Etc.: Jamie Cullum at the Bijou
This Friday night July 6th, British musician Jamie Cullum will be bringing his own brand of jazz-pop to the Bijou Theatre to promote his latest album, Catching Tales.
As with his past albums Pointless Nostalgic (2002) and Twentysomething (2003), his latest release works to bridge the gap between multiple genres of music. With his sultry Sinatra/Connick/Buble-style voice, his takes on the Great American Songbook make you swoon. But Cullum's not simply just another pretty baritone (however he is easy on the eyes!).
He is firmly rooted in jazz, but he tends to blur the lines between pop, hip hop, blues and funk--especially with his original pieces--by combining percussive rhythms, interesting melodies and often gritty lyrics. His ability to create a musical world where all genres play intelligently well with others is an exciting aural treat!
"At first I didn't think certain songs had a place in what I was doing with jazz, but I've realized that everything does, and that reaffirms my belief that jazz is the greatest platform to do whatever you want."
His cover of Jimi Hendrix's "The Wind Cries Mary" proves that perfectly.
"The way I like to approach music is to mix things round and, fortunately, I like to mix it with things that people find a bit more familiar. I love pop music so I mix jazz and pop music. Not because I want to make it accessible but because it’s music that I enjoy. I guess I've just got an angle on it that people find a bit more interesting."
Jamie Cullum is sure to live up to his reputation for witty, high-energy performances this Friday at the Bijou. Get your tickets if you don't have them already and we'll see you at the show!
Click here for more information about Jamie Cullum and his music.