Jamie Cullum in Prague: “I don’t think jazz needs to be as popular as pop music"
British music star Jamie Cullum takes the stage at Prague’s O2 Universum tonight, bringing his unmistakable pop-infused jazz to Czech fans. The set will feature beloved hits alongside new tracks from his forthcoming tenth album. Should jazz ever be as popular as pop?
Born in Essex, Jamie Cullum first rose to fame in the early 2000s. His breakthrough album Twentysomething (2003) remains the fastest-selling jazz album of all time, and his youthful charm and genre-blending style quickly earned him the nickname “Sinatra in Sneakers.”
Since then, Cullum has released nine studio albums, with a tenth on the way. His achievements include Grammy, Golden Globe, and Brit Award nominations, and he has sold more records than any other British jazz musician in history.
Now 46, Cullum continues to perform around the world, including a celebrated set at Glastonbury this summer. Czech audiences know him well: he performed at the Colours of Ostrava festival in 2009 and 2013, and at the O2 Universum in 2022. Speaking with Czech Radio music journalist Jiří Štefl, Cullum praised the Prague venue’s sound system, saying that “the hall sounds incredible.” He also recalled that he felt a deep connection with the audience during his last Prague performance.
His signature jazz-pop fusion, paired with his smooth voice, have made him instantly recognizable, and he is often credited with bringing jazz to new audiences. When asked whether jazz should ever be as popular as pop, Cullum reflected on what distinguishes the two genres:
“In a lot of ways, it would be strange if jazz were as visible as pop. A lot of jazz is very challenging. The kind I play is more approachable – it has a lot in common with pop music – and they don’t always make easy companions.
"Jazz is about exploration and improvisation. It’s not about instant gratification, it’s about creating a sense of community and communication through the music. Pop, on the other hand, is supposed to grab you within the first 20 seconds. They’re kind of opposites really.
"I don’t think jazz needs to be as popular as pop music. As someone who grew up with both, I really love great pop music. I can appreciate a great well-crafted pop song. And obviously I try to write songs, too. But I also try to be a jazz musician. So, I have these two things going on in my head all the time.”
Cullum admits that the deeper he delves into music, the more he realises how vast the world of sound truly is. “Every time I touch the piano, I am full of doubt,” the lyrics of his 2019 song "For the Love" go. While the feeling described in the quote are a somewhat simplified expression, it reflects a certain humility he feels as a jazzman and pianist.
"Jazz is about exploration and improvisation."
Jamie Cullum
“When you commit to any craft or art form, the deeper you go, the more you realize how much you don’t know and how vast the universe of what you’re trying to do really is. This may sound too humble, but I’m very aware of how great people are on the piano. You hear Rachmaninoff, Keith Jarrett, Oscar Peterson, Jacob Collier and all these incredible musicians, and you feel maybe not doubt, but rather the beautiful humility of trying to play an instrument well.
“And that’s what’s beautiful about it - it’s endless and you just keep coming back to it. Some days it feels like doubt, and other days it’s brimming with possibility. It’s a journey with no end.”
He recalls an interview with US-American jazz legend Dave Brubeck, that continues to inspire his approach.
“It was just after a festival and I asked him what he would do after the tour, and he said, ‘I’m going to go home, rest, and practice with a metronome. I want to work on some timing stuff.’ He was 81. The real ones, they just keep going. So I take that as inspiration.”
