Categories : Jazz + Blues, Music Reviews.
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Rating: 4 / 5 Reviewer: Andrew Mitchell |
Jamie Cullum’s greatest attribute lays in deconstructing everything from classic standards to the latest dance floor hit and adapting it to his own jazz influenced form of commercial pop. Musical genres may be mute to him but a timeless melody is not. The Pursuit, Cullum’s latest release may be his most eclectic representation of his savvy abilities yet.
But for his stripped down take on Rihanna’s R&B hit, ‘Please Don’t Stop The Music,’ most of his iPod listening clientele are more apt to be hearing his take on Sondheim’s ‘Not While I’m Around’ for the first time. And while the former, with a much heavier focus on lyric and melody over production makes Rihanna’s original feel more like the cover, his dispirited lounge take on ‘Not While I’m Around’ lacks the required nuance and poignancy that made it such a revered musical theatre piece. There are hints of Billy Joel evident on the original cuts like the piano thumping, foot stomping first single release, ‘I’m All Over It Now’ and his language of love declaration, ‘Mixtape.’ But it’s the haunting theme from Clint Eastwood’s Gran Torino that provides the most potent listening experience.
A five year wait for a new release brings with it many expectations. While The Pursuit may be no great leap of faith for Cullum, considering the commercial viability, it may finally be the breakthrough he’s been waiting for.
