Interlude

Interlude marks a significant pivot in Jamie Cullum's discography, moving away from the crossover pop-jazz of 'The Pursuit' toward a more traditional, yet raw, jazz aesthetic. Produced by Benedic Lamdin (Nostalgia 77), the album was recorded in a series of live sessions that prioritized vibe and spontaneity over technical perfection. This approach is evident in the choice of repertoire, which blends jazz standards like 'Good Morning Heartache' with unexpected contemporary covers such as Sufjan Stevens' 'The Seer's Tower'. The album features notable collaborations, most significantly with Gregory Porter and Laura Mvula, which help ground the record in a modern soul-jazz context. Critics noted that this was Cullum's most 'authentic' jazz record to date, praising the analog warmth and the decision to record live-to-tape, which captured a grit often missing from modern vocal jazz releases.