Twentysomething [Import]

Jamie Cullum | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 30, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Import
• Label: Universal Import
• ASIN: B0000C4LX8
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #240,123 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. What A Difference A Day Made

2. These Are The Days

3. Singing In The Rain

4. Twentysomething

5. But For Now

6. Old Devil Moon

7. I Could Have Danced All Night

8. Blame It On My Youth

9. I Get A Kick Out Of You

10. All At Sea

11. Wind Cries Mary

12. Lover You Should Have Come Over

13. It's About Time

14. Next Year Baby

Editorial Reviews

Major label debut from twentysomething crooner. Like his contemporary Michael Buble, he refreshes jazz standards and popular classics with a clear, modern vocal style and production. He also writes his own material with his brother Ben, the surprisingly mature results having a jazz-pop feel in the vein of Van Morrison. 14 tracks. Universal. 2003.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars UNBELIEVABLE!!, November 11, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Twentysomething (Audio CD)

As an American ex-pat transferred to London for 5 years, I happened to come across Jamie Cullum in a live concert, by accident. After 2 songs, my jaw was on the ground. I couldn't believe this young kid was producing that energy, that voice, that stage presence! Unreal. I could go on and on about this guy. I will tell you this: Jamie Cullum is the next big thing. He covers the oldies better than Harry Connick jr. and his original stuff is unbelievable. It's only going to take 20 minutes on the tonight show with Jay Leno, and the secret will be out. This is the best music I have listened to in 5 years. It's all pure and recorded in Analog! What you hear is what you get, no digital rearranging of the recording to clean it up. This is a MUST get disk.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing...., May 4, 2004

By 

Kerrfal "Enry72" (Rome Italy) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Twentysomething (Audio CD)

Let me tell you, I bought this CD few months ago in England (I am from Italy) just listening to it in a music store and soon felt in love with it. It is somehting new to me, a mix of jazz and new wave sound. Some covers and some stuffs of his own! incredible for being only 23.
Then, 2 weeks ago he came to play live in Rome. I went to see him and I was so pleasantly surpirsed for the way he plays live. Much better live than in studio! He plays the piano with aggressive talent! and plays evry song in such a good way. This musician comes directly to my heart when playng! At the end of the concert the 70 people stood up for a standing ovation! well done Jamie.
Waiting for your next work!!!
If you wann follow me in this world.....buy this item! it worths listening to. At least, give a chance and won't be disappointed....

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jamie Cullum - highly individual take on jazz, January 27, 2004

By 

Mr. R. B. Ager "Ronald Ager" (Nottingham, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Twentysomething (Audio CD)

Jamie Cullum is one of a seemingly endless stream of young men and women being picked up by the major labels to satisfy an apparent demand (in the UK at least) for music that's a bit more mature than the Pop/American Idol market, aiming at the soul, jazz and swing side of easy listening.

Cullum is definitely on the jazz side of things, and unlike some, his arrangements are all his own, some highly individual and not to everyone's taste.

First of all, it is a definite advantage if you see this young man play in concert; in the UK he's been given television exposure on chat shows, and a complete performance at the Brecon Jazz Festival, in which he plays most of this album, has also been shown.

Jamie is a 20-something as in the album title. He has a disarming personality, he's the boy-next-door, or a "cheeky-chappie", and this does come out in his music making. His vocals and phrasing, while sometimes quite straight (encouraging the press to dub him a "Sinatra in sneakers") can also be quite individual, not to say quirky. His versions of "Singin' In The Rain" and "Old Devil Moon" fall into that category, and are all the better for it, for a non-jazz person like me, anyway. And his take on "I Could Have Danced All Night", which involves playing the woodwork, the top of, the piano, together with unusual phrasing of vocal, has to be seen to be appreciated.

Other cover versions, such as "What A Difference A Day Made" and Hendrix's "Wind Cries Mary" are more respectful. He does, however make a complete mess of "I Get A Kick Out Of You" (too Sinatra) and Jeff Buckley's "Lover You Should Have Come Over"; I won't say he can't play the blues, it was just the wrong song to try.

Of the six original songs, three are his own compositions including the title track; they are quite lightweight and very catchy, and lyrically autobiographical. Three songs are written by his brother Ben, and are less noteworthy.

Jamie's piano playing is agile and wonderfully light-fingered; there is no heavy handed thrashing of the ivories. And the backing band sounds absolutely first class, especially Geoff Gascoyne on bass; I have little knowledge of jazz session men, but I understand they're some of the best, and they sound it.

So, all in all a very enjoyable album from a young talent. On its own it may sound a little odd or eccentric but it's well worth sticking with; hopefully, if this gets released properly in the US, he will get some television exposure - it will certainly help to shed some light on the performances.