Jamie Cullum - The Pursuit

He’s small in stature, with a boyish demeanor to match, but Jamie Cullum has become a giant in the jazz-pop world. The London-born singer-pianist first made headlines in 2003, when he won the British Jazz Awards’ Rising Star prize. He’s since become Britain’s top-selling jazz artist, due as much to his flamboyant performance style (leaping onto his piano to sing, beating out a rhythm on the body of the instrument with his hands) as his inventive approach to jazz standards and pop covers.

    Cullum’s Hollywood breakthrough came when he co-wrote the title song for Clint Eastwood’s film Gran Torino and earned a Golden Globe nomination. His love life also took a happy turn, when he met supermodel Sophie Dahl, the daughter of acclaimed British novelist Roald Dahl and a best-selling author herself. The two were married last month at an English country hotel.

    Dahl’s presence is all over Jamie’s fifth album, The Pursuit, an infectious crossover release. The title is taken from the Nancy Mitford novel, The Pursuit of Love, one of Dahl’s favorite books. Dahl is the subject of several songs, including the ballad “Love Ain’t Gonna Let You Down.” She even sings, along with Cullum’s mother, father, brother and friends, on the joyful pop of “Mixtape.” Meanwhile, Cullum channels the emotions of his new romance with dazzling piano work on Cole Porter’s “Just One of Those Things” and heartfelt vocals on Rihanna’s “Please Don’t Stop the Music.” Expect big things from the diminutive jazz artist from now on.