Pocket Rocket: Jamie Cullum is Derry Jazz Fest-bound

“Last time, I went to a session in Bennigan’s – what an amazing place that is!”

As the clock counts down towards the City of Derry Jazz Festival, Jamie Cullum certainly knows how to guarantee himself a warm welcome. He spent some time in the city two years ago, and the amiable Englishman is nothing short of buzzing at the prospect of going back.
“I went to St Mary’s School and did a workshop – they’ll be singing with me on the night – and I did a radio show in the city too. I truly loved it there, which is my main reason for going back; I’m not doing much around these parts this year, it’s mainly Europe and US.”
Indeed, the diminutive musician is in demand all over the globe, but he’s at home in Great Missenden when Hot Press bags the chance to catch up; Jamie reveals he can be actually be found there more often than you might think.
“With little kids, I’m now on the road less and less. I’m lucky that I get to set the agenda a bit more nowadays – I’m probably at home more than most dads!”
The role of a patriarch, though, doesn’t mean he doesn’t sneak a little writing session in once the kids are tucked up in bed.
“I do that all the time!” he laughs. “You can’t quite turn off that creative buzz. I’m lucky to be married to someone who does creative stuff for a living (writer and TV presenter Sophie Dahl), so we’re able to juggle things between us. Sometimes, if something just grabs you, you have no choice but to go do it.”
That impulsive nature is a trademark of his incredibly successful career. His last two albums, Momentum and Interlude, were essentially recorded simultaneously; the latter in a matter of days.
“Through my radio show on BBC 2, I met some really good, young, interesting musicians; two and half days in studio, and Interlude was the result. It’s not to say it was easy, but the right people came together at the right time, and everything fell into place. I think having kids makes you more focused, too. You’re not just pissing about in the studio. When you have the chance, you want to make the most of your time.”
Working with other talents is nothing new; throughout his career, he’s been known to collaborate with just about everybody and anybody. “Collaboration,” he says, “is essential to keep a healthy, creative mind. You need to share ideas with others, and get fresh ideas for yourself.
“But funnily enough,” he giggles, “I’m doing the exact opposite right now; locked in a room trying to finish a batch of songs. It looks like being a classic songwriter’s album, just piano and voice… but that could change next week!”
And it’s a familiar – if somewhat unlikely – name that Jamie mentions as being a potential musical partner soon.
“Pharrell and I started something which we’re yet to finish – I hope we will finish it at some point.”
Before he gets around to that, though, there’s a date at the Millennium Forum; fittingly, Jamie reckons Derry has a little bit of the collaborative spirit about it anyway.
“Maybe it’s as an outsider looking in,” he recalls, “but the city seemed to have a real sense of community. There’s a lot of music, and a lot of stuff happening culturally. I found it addictive, actually. Going there from London, it was like another world… y’know, one where people actually talk to each other and seem to like one another!”