The Pursuit

Jamie Cullum | Format: MP3 Download

Product Details

• Original Release Date: March 2, 2010
• Release Date: March 2, 2010
• Label: Verve Forecast
• Copyright: (C) 2009 Decca, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
• Record Company Required Metadata: Music file contains unique purchase identifier. Learn more.
• Total Length: 1:03:20
• Genres:
• ASIN: B003AC4SNA
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #25,326 Paid in MP3 Albums (See Top 100 Paid in MP3 Albums)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Always surprising, this is Jamie's best album., March 2, 2010

By 

jazzias - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Pursuit [CD / DVD] [Deluxe Edition] (Audio CD)

He has a tremendous talent, no one can have doubts about that.

He was catapulted into spotlight after his 2003 debut "Twentysomething" marked him out as the poster child for the new age of Jazz. His second album received a much more muted response - behind the scenes he's been busy toiling away.

According to some critics, he "has released a string of increasingly poppy Jazz-influenced records. The Pursuit is a richer, more rounded creation. It reveals the influences of a man who is as at home making four-to-the-floor club tracks with his brother as knocking out jazz standards" - Rob Potter

In his latest release, "The Pursuit", a new-found confidence is clearly evident and fans will notice a slight veer away from the jazz sound he is famous for as he visits other genres.

The Cole Porter cover version that starts this album ("Just One Of Those Things" - recorded with the Count Basie orchestra at Tony Bennett's studio) may make you think that this jazz talent is in danger of playing it all a bit too predictable, but he soon shakes things up.

Later, the single "If I Ruled The World, a song memorably tackled by Tony Bennett and by the incomparable Regina Belle on her latest album Lazy Afternoon, becomes entirely Cullum's own.

In fact the track sounds sombre and almost funerary, and recalls Portishead, while "Music Is Through" has a house beat and "We Run Things" is just boldly experimental.

Some other tracks to look out for are the beautiful "Love Aint't Gonna Let You Down", and "Mixtape", featuring none other that the dulcet tones of Sophie Dahl as part of the backing vocal.
This album is a must for loyal lovers of Jamie Cullum's music, and for those who want to hear something genuinely surprising and original.

The special edition version of The Pursuit includes a bonus DVD with exclusive live and behind-the-scenes footage.
Twentysomething
Catching Tales
Pointless Nostalgic
The Essential Tony Bennett (Rm) (2CD)
Lazy Afternoon

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Super, and how to listen to his song "Wheels", March 14, 2010

By 

Thomas W. Sulcer (Summit, NJ USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Pursuit (Audio CD)

Jamie Cullum is a young top caliber crossover artist who excels at almost everything -- jazz-piano, singing, arrangements, creativity, melodies, bass lines, so that he's been aptly dubbed "Sinatra in Sneakers" by the press. His singing is exciting, hungry, desperate with a fetching longing and bravado. Perhaps five or six songs in this SUPREMELY EXCELLENT ALBUM will become classics since they're borderline addictive; the other songs are excellent and creative, with fresh choices and unusual instrumentation. Cullum understands rhythm, beat, melody, harmony, and has wonderful ways of working with the bass and drums. If there's an area where Cullum needs improvement, it's lyrics, but generally I think most people don't care about words particularly on the up-tempo numbers. He combines a keen sense of timing and rhythm and melodies so each change is unpredicted but wonderful. Cullum is a joy to listen to. If you play his song "Wheels" while driving in your car, when he sings about the wheels falling off of the world, you'll feel airborne. He sings as well as Sinatra with subtle tones and choices. Supremely recommended!!!

-- Thomas W. Sulcer
Author of "The Second Constitution of the United States"
(free on web; google title + Sulcer)

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome new Cullum, March 5, 2010

By 

barry (Boston, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Pursuit [CD / DVD] [Deluxe Edition] (Audio CD)

Jamie Cullum is not necessarily mainstream and definitely a huge find if you come across his music. What a talent. If you ever want to find someone who was made to play, write and perform music from their soul it is this guy. TWENTYSOMETHING was the first defining moment for this great artist receiving praise from critics and listeners alike. His next release CATCHING TALES was considered a positive notch on his belt but didn't receive the save level of praise as the latter. As a sidenote for me it definitely was a step up for Mr. Cullum. Now we have THE PURSUIT and as far as I am considered this is his new defining moment.

Every artist has a basic genre they are defined in and for Jamie Cullum is was jazz pop and many reinterpretations of old standards in the Cullum style. And he has had his style since day one. Sometimes you hear him compared to Harry Connick Jr. or Michael Buble and though he sings some standards his style is so far removed from these performers. His growth on this release is astounding. Jamie Cullum is now 30 and to see an artist grow so much at an early age is a pleasure and a rarity. Each song he tackles is not for the masses but his own interptretation done from the heart. He is a singer songwriter and he has a superb gift with the songwriting as well. His piano playing is another gift and is always used to bring emotional depth to his performances.

Some of the standards he tackles here are JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS, which starts off the cvd with a brassy, wonderful interpration that blows in your face as a great huge intro to what is to come. IF I RULED THE WORLD is a standard that many of the greats have interpreted and he makes this so much his own each time I listen I have to stop and listen to it with full attention as his vocals grab me. The important thing about Cullum is that though at first considered a singer who reinterpreted standards he has always been an inventive, risk taking independant style artist and that is a part of each song. Songs that are not standards are all written by Jamie himself and his true versatility shines on those tracks here. We get I'M ALL OVER IT which is the most poppish song he has ever done and it is amazing. WHEELS and MIXTAPE will surely become Cullum essentials and his reinterpretation of Rihanna's DON'T STOP THE MUSIC definitely shows how much he makes a song his own. With his self penned ballad LOVE AIN'T GONNA LET YOU DOWN he shows how even with a love song he remains true as an artist and provides a tour de force performance combing intense vocals with the amazing piano playing.

Jamie does venture further away from the standards here but it all flows flawlessly for whatever genre he tackles you get the true artistry of Jamie Cullum. No song is filler and no song is repetituous. Each track gets the Cullum touch and that is a gift. He has such a gruff voice and how he can work it and reach such emotional heights astounds me. The deluxe edition gives you some great bonus tracks like GRACE IS GONE and the live version of DON'T STOP THE MUSIC. There is also a great dvd with live performances and interviews.

Such praise as I have been giving here is honestly only reserved for a performer who is a true artist and that is Jamie Cullum. He explores, invents and is always true to himself. With a true artist when they venture out sometimes it works and sometimes it does not. Jamie Cullum takes many chances here and it all works. This is his best release so far and I highly recommend it.