The cover of The Pursuit, Jamie Cullum's fifth CD, shows the singer / pianist next to an exploding piano. This cannot be anything other than a metaphor for his ever firmer sound, because on The Pursuit the rock influences are more present than ever. On the other hand, there is more jazz than on the poppy predecessor Catching Tales (2005). Cullum's piano and voice on the opener Just One Of Those
… Things are accompanied by the Count Basie Big Band and You And Me Are Gone consists of a swinging gospel groove with a wagon load of percussion. For the rest it is pop, rock and ballads what the clock strikes. Carefully modeled into the typical Jamie Cullum sound, although with the help of the necessary jazz influences (piano for parts that are usually filled in with guitar in pop music, brushes instead of drum sticks, etc.) that forms the accompaniment for his characteristic, somewhat cold-sounding voice. (AD)more