JAMIE CULLUM
Greenwich Music Time Festival - Sunday 10th July 2016
Greenwich Music Time Festival - Sunday 10th July 2016
The God’s were kind for the Sunday night performance of the Greenwich Music Time Festival.
We arrived just in time to see second warm up act Andreya Triana. The self-taught lyricist from south London has come a long way from her early days of improvisation and 'Freeflo Sessions' which has earned her adoring fans worldwide.
Having heard a couple of her tracks, I wasn’t sure what to expect as she is quite a chameleon. Her voice although distinct has undertones of Amy Winehouse and Adele, gaining its beauty from the splinters within it, rather than the mirrored sheen.
I loved the hand claps and harmonies of “Lullaby”. “A Town Called Obsolete” and “Keep Running” are well penned, both showcasing her vocal dexterity and clear diction.
Interacting well with the crowd, “Gold” her final song had the crowd singing and swaying in unison. Certainly a lady who is going places!
We arrived just in time to see second warm up act Andreya Triana. The self-taught lyricist from south London has come a long way from her early days of improvisation and 'Freeflo Sessions' which has earned her adoring fans worldwide.
Having heard a couple of her tracks, I wasn’t sure what to expect as she is quite a chameleon. Her voice although distinct has undertones of Amy Winehouse and Adele, gaining its beauty from the splinters within it, rather than the mirrored sheen.
I loved the hand claps and harmonies of “Lullaby”. “A Town Called Obsolete” and “Keep Running” are well penned, both showcasing her vocal dexterity and clear diction.
Interacting well with the crowd, “Gold” her final song had the crowd singing and swaying in unison. Certainly a lady who is going places!
We were lucky to have seen Jamie Cullum before at Love Supreme, so we knew what a show man he is.
Walking demurely on stage trade mark jeans and sneakers he launched straight into “The Same Things” punching the keys like a man possessed, leaping off the piano to whack a snare drum at the front of the stage, this is just the first number.
The interplay between keyboard and Jamie's vocals on “Old Devil Moon” later giving way to big band swing with the backing of the distinguished saxophone playing of Tom Richards, was for me pure witchcraft.
Bluesy number “Hard Times” had Jamie crouched, slamming the piano like a man possessed.
The contrast is what shocks and captivates the audience, Jamie’s ability to exude so much energy yet other times, he takes it down quiet and intimate and it’s equally or even more effective. This was the case on his trademark cover of Radiohead’s “High and Dry” an emotional take that left the audience eating out of his hand.
His rendition of Cole Porter's “Love for Sale” was pulled apart over a predatory funk groove led by bassist Loz Garret, which gave it streetwalker sass.
Jamie had the crowd on their feet to the upbeat 60’s inspired soul dance number "When I Get Famous” bounding off the stage into the audience to stand on the seats, taking selfies with the crowd, security ever present, unimposing.
Rihanna’s “Don’t Stop the Music” at the request of Jamie had the crowd clapping their hands and jumping up and down in unison.
Walking demurely on stage trade mark jeans and sneakers he launched straight into “The Same Things” punching the keys like a man possessed, leaping off the piano to whack a snare drum at the front of the stage, this is just the first number.
The interplay between keyboard and Jamie's vocals on “Old Devil Moon” later giving way to big band swing with the backing of the distinguished saxophone playing of Tom Richards, was for me pure witchcraft.
Bluesy number “Hard Times” had Jamie crouched, slamming the piano like a man possessed.
The contrast is what shocks and captivates the audience, Jamie’s ability to exude so much energy yet other times, he takes it down quiet and intimate and it’s equally or even more effective. This was the case on his trademark cover of Radiohead’s “High and Dry” an emotional take that left the audience eating out of his hand.
His rendition of Cole Porter's “Love for Sale” was pulled apart over a predatory funk groove led by bassist Loz Garret, which gave it streetwalker sass.
Jamie had the crowd on their feet to the upbeat 60’s inspired soul dance number "When I Get Famous” bounding off the stage into the audience to stand on the seats, taking selfies with the crowd, security ever present, unimposing.
Rihanna’s “Don’t Stop the Music” at the request of Jamie had the crowd clapping their hands and jumping up and down in unison.
The majority of the songs spotlighted Jamie’s band with trumpeter Rory Simons, Brad Webb on drums, Loz Garrat bass and Tom Richards on sax, their intimacy definitely showed, with the group playing tricks on each, Jamie the ring leader.
A talented composer, his stylish keyboard playing and distinct voice are not what just endears you to him, it is his personality it is infectious a genuine Mr Nice Guy who is still humble forever thanking his adoring fans for being there not a ploy but meant from the heart.
At the end of the night when the band had taken their last bows Jamie returned to cheers of more. Ending the night to all-time favourite “Gran Torino” a solo in total silence the light of the moon Wrens twin towers and city skyscape, pure magic.
The festival has helped raise much needed funds for an ambitious restoration project seeing Wren’s and Hawksmoor’s Grand Hall restored to its former glory, after decades of deterioration.
Photographs & Review by Jane Bonotto
A talented composer, his stylish keyboard playing and distinct voice are not what just endears you to him, it is his personality it is infectious a genuine Mr Nice Guy who is still humble forever thanking his adoring fans for being there not a ploy but meant from the heart.
At the end of the night when the band had taken their last bows Jamie returned to cheers of more. Ending the night to all-time favourite “Gran Torino” a solo in total silence the light of the moon Wrens twin towers and city skyscape, pure magic.
The festival has helped raise much needed funds for an ambitious restoration project seeing Wren’s and Hawksmoor’s Grand Hall restored to its former glory, after decades of deterioration.
Photographs & Review by Jane Bonotto
