Jamie Cullum

The Southbank is glittering with festive cheer as the audience pour in from the cold to the wood clad embrace of the Royal Festival Hall. Twenty-two years on from his first sell out show in the same venue, Jamie Cullum eases us into his sell-out gig for the London Jazz Festival with a classic Cole Porter cover, ‘I get a kick out of You.’ Dressed in his usual understated black Jacket and trousers with faded red socks bouncing on the pedals, everybody knows Cullum won’t be understated for long.

The energy is building as Cullum shifts gear, moving through ‘Get Your Way,’ ‘What I’d say’ landing on his ‘Work of Art’ which feels as fresh as it did when released in 2017 with a driving beat from his exceptional five piece band. Even at this stage of the night Cullum is magnetic, weaving his spell around the crowd, held by a tight ensemble with extraordinary versatility, changing instruments and formations in an immaculately choreographed show.

‘These are the days’ follows, bringing a reflective moment at the piano with more than a hint of nostalgia and stunning echos on the sax played by Mike Lesirge who also plays Hammon organ, percussion and clarinet or his ‘magical stick’ (according to Cullum). ‘Every Body wants to be a Cat’ brings a sultry late night jazz vibe with Cullum on his feet clicking his fingers at the mic and a languorous double bass solo from Loz Garratt who has a great voice too.

It’s not long before Cullum’s jacket is playfully flung aside to the appreciative crowd and after some impressive piano drumming, the audience are invited to sing in ‘Next Year Baby.’ ‘Mankind’ follows with Cullum climbing up the auditorium with total vocal control, winning over any members of the audience he didn’t already have in the palm of his hands. By mid-set Cullum bounds on top of his Yamaha before taking a giant leap with arms spread out like wings.

Showman aside, Cullum is an exceptional pianist, and his vocals seem better than ever, ranging from a deep bass to glorious husky head notes. He also plays bongos and takes a turn at the decks as his set reaches a climax. With his impish charisma and fast moving, genre hopping, it’s literally impossible to get bored. He fearlessly switches musical genres from stripped back blues through jazz standards, Latin beats and into dance music with his tight nit band who epitomise the word ensemble, themselves switching instruments and moving into new formations seemingly effortlessly.
In fact, one of the highlights of the night was the coming together of all five musicians and two vocalists (Aisha Stuart & Marc Henderson) to sing ‘Save Your Soul’ in close harmony around the piano. I say one of the highlights as there were many including his cover of Nina Simone’s ‘Sinnerman’ where he somehow succeeded in capturing the driving spirit of her inimitable voice. To close the night he dazzled the crowd, now on their feet, lips mouthing the words to his final offerings of ‘Hang your lights’ and ‘Mixtape.’

Cullum was visibly moved at the encore, holding his head in his hands for a few moments before he could face the crowd again. He is still bold, experimental and brilliant though he’s come a long way from the hopeful young jazz singer who played a regular slot at Pizza Express across the road some twenty years ago.



Brad Webb – drums
Bass – Loz Garratt
Guitar – Tom Varrall
Trumpet/guitar – Rory Simmons
Hammond Organ/percussion/sax/clarinet – Mike Lesirge
BV – Aisha Stuart
BV – Marc Henderson

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I get a kick

Get your way/What I'd say/work of art

These are the days

Everybody wants to be a cat

Next Year baby

Mankind

What a difference a day makes

Please please please - Sabrina Carpenter (and Expresso)

Save your soul (Band Backing vocals around the piano)

Taller

20 something

Age of Anxiety

When I get famous

Gong Gong/sinnerman (Nina Simone)

You and me are gone

Killing in the name of/hang your lights

Mixtape

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All at sea (solo)