Jamie Cullum brings jazz classics and new album to Blue Note London
The Audi ambassador was on fine form at Blue Note London on Thursday (October 8).
By Nick Reilly
It’s been less than a month since Blue Note London opened its doors with a special show from Robert Glasper, cementing its space as the capital’s coolest new jazz club.
And on Thursday (October 8), the star power gracing their stage increased tenfold with two very special shows from jazz great Jamie Cullum.
Twenty three years since his debut album Twentysomething sold over 1.27 million copies in the UK, here was a show which proved that Cullum’s talent has only grown even further in that period. He frequently hopped between the mic and the piano with trademark gusto, and offered a mixture of the songs which made his name and, most excitingly, the ones he has yet to officially release. On the latter, he offered a taste of new album title track ‘The Roaring 20’s – which, Cullum stressed, was a rumination on our troubled decade despite what the name may suggest.
Similarly, ‘The Town Square’ turned out to be a damning indictment of big tech overlords who do more to divide us than unite.
But Cullum, an Audi ambassador for fifteen years, was able to roll out the stories of a glittering career too. A stunning cover of Frank Sinatra’s ‘In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning’ was prefaced by Cullum telling an enchanted crowd that he performed the song for Queen Elizabeth II after learning it was a favourite of the late monarch.
And for the old school fans in the house ‘Twentysomething’ was immediately met with grins plastered across their face. Thanks to the intimate vibe of this glorious club, that Cullum was able to see every one of them.
It’s the latest performance in a busy year for Cullum where he previously stunned fans with an intimate jazz set at The Audi Haven during Wilderness Festival this summer.
Much like Audi’s ever growing and eclectic fleet, Cullum’s reliably brilliant performance proved why he’s had immense staying power over the last two decades. On the basis of last night’s show, and as a enraptured crowd will attest, he’s still at the top of his game.