...you can come closer, don‘t be frightened. (Jamie Cullum to a fan who was filming „I get a kick out of you“)

When I read about the announcement of „The Pursuit World Tour 2010“ I couldn‘t wait to get myself a ticket. I decided to simply give it to myself as a christmas present - I just got „all over it“ (my ex) and had to do something to seal my new-found freedom. I was so determined to go and see this Jamie Cullum and his new band live, when eventually I sadly realised that Jamie wouldn‘t be coming to Munich. So, there were only 3 options left for me: Zurich, Cologne (near my hometown) or Vienna. But around christmas the tickets weren‘t available on sale yet. There was only one venue that sold tickets already - the Austria Center Vienna. I checked that link and surprisingly found myself on the webpage of the Vienna Jazz Festival. I‘ve never been to either Moers, nor Montreux, nor Vienna - so this was a great chance to go to see the opening of a Jazz Festival AND Jamie Cullum live.

I‘ve been a fan of Jamie‘s music for quite a long time - well, actually, that‘s... a feel-good lie. Let me explain: it started around 2006 via myspace - but not the myspace as you might now it today, but the one with visible frames and no size fixations and all that. I remember falling in love with „Photograph“ right away. I put that song into my myspace-profile and got a copy of „Twentysomething“ - and much later of „Catching Tales“. I never really managed to see him live, due to several different causes of place and time... Yet, there was another colission with JC‘s music: I was looking for a performance of „Nature Boy“ on youtube.com early 2007-ish - and guess whom I‘ve found again? Yes! Jamie and his marvellous performance in Spain (look it up, you‘ll enjoy!).It wasn‘t - however - until mid-2008 that I kind of re-discovered his music on my itunes playlist. Well, what I found out on that evening was that my taste of music had widened a little and it wasn‘t only songs such as „Photograph“ that really got me rockin‘ - now, I felt that I somewhat and all of a sudden really loved the whole package from „Get Your Way“ to „Blame it on my Youth“. I spent the next four weeks non-stop listenting to his music on my Ipod (well, of course I‘ve had some bites to eat and some sleep and stuff like that as well).

Looking at my life - back then as a 20 year old dreamer that couldn‘t really „get one‘s way“ - I‘ve decided that there was only one song custom-made for me at that time: „Twentysomething“. I‘ve performed a cover of this masterpiece in 2009 at a local Jazz Fest together with my amazing Trio (Piano, Bass, Vocals).
I was in the boat and didn‘t want to get out anymore. „I‘m all over it“ was released and it was kind of a broad hint. I finally had to see him live. „The Pursuit“ came out and I couldn‘t believe my ears. Jamie managed to get out of that corner he was pigeonholed into and finally showed the world what he could do - from classics to electro music (supported by his talented brother Ben). The world was ready for Jamie Cullum - and so was I.
Time passed by quickly.

30th May 2010:
Getting out of bed around 10. I was hoping to get a ride to Vienna, and I did. Unfortunately in an old yellow BMW with an even older, yellow guy listening to 80‘s hard rock OR meditation cd‘s. I was lucky enough to have been accompanied by two other girls, otherwise I‘m not sure if I really would have reached the final destination.
I visited my friend in Vienna, Mariana, who was so kind to give me a place to find some sleep later that night. We‘ve had a pizza and an Ice-Cream and I went off to the Austria Center Vienna.

I found my seat quite quickly and was rapt that row 15 wasn‘t too far away from the stage after all.

Sweet Billy Pilgrim opened the gig after a woman welcomed the audience to the 20th anniversary of the Jazz Fest Wien. Unfortunately we were told to stay seated due to security reasons. That really is a kick in the teeth for people who love music and feel like moving and dancing, I think. The acoustical engineering wasn‘t perfect and I felt sorry for the supporting act because they‘ve really put their heart into their playing but it was hardly recognized or acknowledged by the audience.

The stage turned dark and Jamie Cullum, Chris Hill, Brad Webb, Rory Simmons and Tom Richards entered the stage with „I‘m all over it“. I must say that I really liked the stage design: there were „king-sized“ piano strings in front of a big screen that captured some live close-ups for the audience. The lightning was set with consideration and sense of tact.
I can‘t remember the exact setlist and I urged myself to put down my camera and enjoy the music, after all this was my present and I wanted to fully enjoy myself and the music - as Jamie said: clapping every once in a while will make yourself feel good.
What I remember deeply is feeling emotional during „If I ruled the world“, „Not while I‘m around“, „All at sea“ and „Gran Torino“. What I further recall is enthusiasm and endorphines during the bass solo and the end riff of „I get a kick out of you“ (Chris, you let it all hang out!) or during the sing-along parts of „Twentysomething“, „Umbrella“ and „These are the days“ - which ended with an „I feel fine“ blues that made my heart jump.
When Jamie and the band entered the audience to play a freestyle version of „Cry Me a River“ (great idea; the combination of the classic song together with the bass line of Justin Timberlake‘s „Cry...“) I rushed to the middle to party along. For the first time of the evening I wished that we could throw away all our cameras for once. I mean, I do not exclude myself from the croud that loved to make videos or pictures of that sparkling moment - but actually this was all about jammin‘ and making music. These are the thoughts that run through your mind before...

the HUGE final of the show:
„Wind Cries Mary(Jamie)“ sounded the bell for the last set of songs. We were rushing towards the front of the stage to have nothing but one thing: FUN. And we had! During „Mixtape“ everyone started jumping and clapping - and eventually, the stage nearly collapsed. The floor was shaking and you could see that the band members were as surprised as we were. Tom was motivatin us to do a fast clap-along and he smiled triumphantly when he succeeded in encouraging us. When Jamie came back for the encore he was walking along the edge of the stage grabbing some hands - and before I could realise it, I held his hand too. I think it was one long second and after it was over I was stunned. Pictures of girls screaming at the Beatles or some contemporary rockstars flashed through my mind - yet again, I had to get my head back to where I was - in the middle of a front row at the end of a Jamie Cullum concert. I‘m not used to stardom and I don‘t consider it as something god-given nor heavenly. And that moment just made me feel I‘m right about it. We‘re all human and we‘ll all die one day, that‘s for sure. This is quite a bridge now, I know, but you see, there‘s so much craziness about people in the world. It‘s all just projecting your desires onto others. Here‘s my truth - which doesn‘t have to be conform with yours: For me, Jamie is overly talented, fresh, innovative, charming and a musical genius. And he deserves admiration for that. And only for that. And if you have your own goals, go for them!....
But then again, no. Bullshit! Heavens, I felt like being 13 again - only without the fainting. However, Jamie, if you ever read this, I hope you will stay down-to-earth ;)

In conclusion, there isn‘t much left to say except for: go and find out yourself how beautiful a concert can be and how to rock to Jazz tunes. Thank you for the music, it inspires people all over the world and - more importantly - makes us fans happy. I would love to turn the floor over to Jamie, for his lyrics might describe my respect for his musical achievement perfectly well all at once: „this ain‘t no disc of mp3‘s, this one‘s handmade, fashioned lovingly“.

Sarah,
Germany.