Jamie Cullum's new 5 track cd single confirms what most of us already know: Jamie Cullum is a refreshing breath of fresh air. His wonderfully inventive vocals, brilliantly penned original songs and insightful arangements of classic standards are quickly gaining him deserved attention as an up and coming jazz artist of the first order. On his new 5 track cd single, Twenty Zero5 Live, Mr. Cullum has given us five live performances that are at turns playful, introspective, groovey and rocking. These Are the Days, an original composition by Ben Cullum, shows off the R and B swing that Mr. Cullum does so well. Next, he gives us cole porter's I Get a Kick Out of You that is raucous, inventive and exciting at every turn. Next, Mr. Cullum covers Jimi Hendrix's Wind Cries Mary with a bluesy soufullness. All at Sea, one of Jamie's original songs and the gem of this cd, is deeply soulful and introspective expressing a young man's desire to be alone with his thoughts. The cd is rounded out with a surprisingly funkified cover of a Lerner and Lowe classic, I could have danced all night. I'm sure it's composer never envisioned such an exciting and invetive rendition.

Mr. Cullum is quickly proving to be an exciting new talent in the jazz world. His unique mixture of R and B and pop with his own instinctive musicianship gives us an interesting and fresh take on a classic art form. Let's hope a US tour is in the works so that those of us on this side of the pond get to experience him truly