Hot New Jazz Artiste
No idea whether his album is available in local stores as yet, but I heard it on Krisworld and fell in love with it on the spot.
18-year-old laddie from Yorkshire. Plays the piano. Velvety smooth tenor. Suave delivery.
Opening track, Joanna, is pure bliss. Soaring vocals coupled with raw emotion rarely seen in one so young.
Other pieces I love include Spooky ( sizzling ), The Fool On The Hill ( the vocal version of Peter Cincotti's beautiful piano solo cover ), and On Days Like These ( dreamy ).
My favourite, though, is definitely The More I See You. Not sure if it's because this is done in a different tempo -- more Latin / rumba than the conventional big band swing -- but it's a clear winner and I must've replayed it countless times during those hours I spent on the plane.
Am always on the lookout for new talent. This guy looks mighty promising.
Vacation entries to follow another day. :)
Saturday, July 22, 2006
Winds Of Change
Just touched down at 7:30am this morning, after minimal sleep despite a beautifully smooth flight.
I blame it on Krisworld. Heh heh. :)
And speaking of the in-flight entertainment, it appears that a particular seat ( ie. mine ) lacks a handset, even though it has a monitor.
Got moved to another seat with lots of leg space, but sadly, didn't enjoy an upgrade. Oh well.
So how was the holiday, you ask?
In a nutshell:
1. It is probably the single most life-changing vacation I've ever experienced. Not life-changing "event" per se, but "vacation". Big difference.
2. European men are DIVINE. Shall elaborate further in another entry. :)
3. Crossed so many borders I often woke up unsure of my exact location. We were concentrated around 4 countries which share common boundaries, namely Switzerland, Germany, Italy and Austria. Bavarian territory -- GORGEOUS.
4. Munich is nowhere as happening as Singapore where World Cup fever is concerned. A bit disappointing.
But the beer is something to drool about. 1-litre mug for just Sing$13 ( Euro $6.50 ). Wah lau eh.
5. Took around 400 photos in all. Will upload as soon as I can. Quite mind-blowing.
6. My mom and I were the only Asians in a 26-member Insight tour group. Completely outnumbered by Australians, Americans, Canadians and New Zealanders. All of whom are older than I am, and mostly married with children back home.
Not only did this make me the pampered baby of the bunch -- and believe me, I was enjoying every minute of it, haha -- it also made me the unwitting target of an American couple who are already making plans to matchmake me with some "eligible Asian men" in their church congregation in Boston. Apparently an affluent group of professionals. Bring it on. :D
But seriously, our fellow travellers are truly wonderful people, and we made many many friends during our 2 weeks together. A few of them will be dropping by Singapore soon, so looking forward to seeing them again!
7. Food was better than what I endured in Italy. But the breakfasts consistently suck. Have eaten so many boiled eggs ( since I hate scrambled ) I'm swearing off these things for at least a fortnight to unclog my arteries.
Managed to find a couple of Chinese eateries though. Without a map! Quite proud of that. :)
8. Was caught in the middle of a major heat wave, never mind our close proximity to the Alps. Thank goodness for my t-shirts. Mum didn't fare as well 'cos she packed mostly woollies, but we're the same size, so problem solved.
I'm very sunburnt, by the way.
9. Favourite places on this tour: Salzburg, Vienna, St. Moritz.
10. Have I mentioned that European men are DIVINE? Think I may be developing some form of rejection to Singaporean guys, who absolutely pale in comparison. :D
So much more to write about, but too tired at the moment. Lots of work duties to get through as well, so please be patient.
Nice to see the angsty dude back in action. :)
Just touched down at 7:30am this morning, after minimal sleep despite a beautifully smooth flight.
I blame it on Krisworld. Heh heh. :)
And speaking of the in-flight entertainment, it appears that a particular seat ( ie. mine ) lacks a handset, even though it has a monitor.
Got moved to another seat with lots of leg space, but sadly, didn't enjoy an upgrade. Oh well.
So how was the holiday, you ask?
In a nutshell:
1. It is probably the single most life-changing vacation I've ever experienced. Not life-changing "event" per se, but "vacation". Big difference.
2. European men are DIVINE. Shall elaborate further in another entry. :)
3. Crossed so many borders I often woke up unsure of my exact location. We were concentrated around 4 countries which share common boundaries, namely Switzerland, Germany, Italy and Austria. Bavarian territory -- GORGEOUS.
4. Munich is nowhere as happening as Singapore where World Cup fever is concerned. A bit disappointing.
But the beer is something to drool about. 1-litre mug for just Sing$13 ( Euro $6.50 ). Wah lau eh.
5. Took around 400 photos in all. Will upload as soon as I can. Quite mind-blowing.
6. My mom and I were the only Asians in a 26-member Insight tour group. Completely outnumbered by Australians, Americans, Canadians and New Zealanders. All of whom are older than I am, and mostly married with children back home.
Not only did this make me the pampered baby of the bunch -- and believe me, I was enjoying every minute of it, haha -- it also made me the unwitting target of an American couple who are already making plans to matchmake me with some "eligible Asian men" in their church congregation in Boston. Apparently an affluent group of professionals. Bring it on. :D
But seriously, our fellow travellers are truly wonderful people, and we made many many friends during our 2 weeks together. A few of them will be dropping by Singapore soon, so looking forward to seeing them again!
7. Food was better than what I endured in Italy. But the breakfasts consistently suck. Have eaten so many boiled eggs ( since I hate scrambled ) I'm swearing off these things for at least a fortnight to unclog my arteries.
Managed to find a couple of Chinese eateries though. Without a map! Quite proud of that. :)
8. Was caught in the middle of a major heat wave, never mind our close proximity to the Alps. Thank goodness for my t-shirts. Mum didn't fare as well 'cos she packed mostly woollies, but we're the same size, so problem solved.
I'm very sunburnt, by the way.
9. Favourite places on this tour: Salzburg, Vienna, St. Moritz.
10. Have I mentioned that European men are DIVINE? Think I may be developing some form of rejection to Singaporean guys, who absolutely pale in comparison. :D
So much more to write about, but too tired at the moment. Lots of work duties to get through as well, so please be patient.
Nice to see the angsty dude back in action. :)
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
And We Have Lift Off
It's been a long wait, but D-Day is almost upon us, woohoo!
Leaving tomorrow evening and all I can say is: it's really good timing, 'cos if I work another day in this warzone we call an ER, I will start shooting people.
Not kidding.
So it's off to Europe for some R&R. Gonna let my brain rot for 16 days and get all that anger / frustration / homicidal tendencies out of my system.
Plus, will be catching the World Cup finals with native Germans in Munich -- NOT the actual match at the stadium in Berlin ( people keep thinking I have tickets ), but will definitely find a spot with a big TV, order a few beers, maybe place a few bets, exchange a few swear words, heh heh.
Anyhow, pity about Germany losing to Italy. They came SOOOOO close, but alas, fatigue set in and they let their guard down. Can't believe I dragged myself out of bed post-night-shift to watch the game. But Ballack and Klose are worth it. :D
Predictions for the final teams: Italy and France.
My bet's on Italy.
Interesting Link
aliendoc, angsty dude, med student and angrydr, you may want to check this out.
Believe Timothy is an anchor on Channelnews Asia. Wonder how they know about our blogs? Hmm...
Better watch what we write, haha.
Will post from the airport if I find an opportunity. Major packing to get through.
It's been a long wait, but D-Day is almost upon us, woohoo!
Leaving tomorrow evening and all I can say is: it's really good timing, 'cos if I work another day in this warzone we call an ER, I will start shooting people.
Not kidding.
So it's off to Europe for some R&R. Gonna let my brain rot for 16 days and get all that anger / frustration / homicidal tendencies out of my system.
Plus, will be catching the World Cup finals with native Germans in Munich -- NOT the actual match at the stadium in Berlin ( people keep thinking I have tickets ), but will definitely find a spot with a big TV, order a few beers, maybe place a few bets, exchange a few swear words, heh heh.
Anyhow, pity about Germany losing to Italy. They came SOOOOO close, but alas, fatigue set in and they let their guard down. Can't believe I dragged myself out of bed post-night-shift to watch the game. But Ballack and Klose are worth it. :D
Predictions for the final teams: Italy and France.
My bet's on Italy.
Interesting Link
aliendoc, angsty dude, med student and angrydr, you may want to check this out.
Believe Timothy is an anchor on Channelnews Asia. Wonder how they know about our blogs? Hmm...
Better watch what we write, haha.
Will post from the airport if I find an opportunity. Major packing to get through.
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Keep 'Em Coming!
Had a nice big spike in membership overnight. I know the forum's sealed, but this should motivate those of you who are eligible to join ASAP! ( Attempting to work some psychological mumbo-jumbo here, haha. )
Again, here's the link: SMA Online Forum
Should warn you that I'm a moderator though. No telling what I'll do with all that new-found power, bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha...
Special appeal goes out to the junior docs -- HOs, MOs, registrars -- but keep it clean, people. :)
Had a nice big spike in membership overnight. I know the forum's sealed, but this should motivate those of you who are eligible to join ASAP! ( Attempting to work some psychological mumbo-jumbo here, haha. )
Again, here's the link: SMA Online Forum
Should warn you that I'm a moderator though. No telling what I'll do with all that new-found power, bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha...
Special appeal goes out to the junior docs -- HOs, MOs, registrars -- but keep it clean, people. :)
Monday, June 26, 2006
Check It Out
Just doing my part to promote this before the SMA goes on a publicity blitz next month.
SMA Forum
Still a neonate which needs lots of TLC, but we hope to engage as many participants as possible and help the local medical community become more cohesive.
So spread the word to everyone you know.
( Bit of a downside is the high probability of the press dropping in since it's accessible to the public. Hmm, think I'd better bring that up with the boss. )
Counting Down...
Haven't been posting as much lately due to numerous commitments. May not be able to write much since I'm flying off next week and currently pretty stressed out with various preparations. Need to collect my uploaded ipod, dispense house and car keys, settle my cat care issues, attend an AST course, study for a test, &*%$#@#$%.
Anyway, it's something to keep my spirits up. Am hoping Germany will make it to the finals -- for purely selfish reasons, heh heh. If they win the World Cup this year, I'm gonna be in the thick of the action man! ( But it remains to be seen whether they'll beat Argentina in the next match -- long shot, but not impossible. )
More another day. My next entry may be from the airport, haha. :)
p.s. Welcome back, florecitos!
Just doing my part to promote this before the SMA goes on a publicity blitz next month.
SMA Forum
Still a neonate which needs lots of TLC, but we hope to engage as many participants as possible and help the local medical community become more cohesive.
So spread the word to everyone you know.
( Bit of a downside is the high probability of the press dropping in since it's accessible to the public. Hmm, think I'd better bring that up with the boss. )
Counting Down...
Haven't been posting as much lately due to numerous commitments. May not be able to write much since I'm flying off next week and currently pretty stressed out with various preparations. Need to collect my uploaded ipod, dispense house and car keys, settle my cat care issues, attend an AST course, study for a test, &*%$#@#$%.
Anyway, it's something to keep my spirits up. Am hoping Germany will make it to the finals -- for purely selfish reasons, heh heh. If they win the World Cup this year, I'm gonna be in the thick of the action man! ( But it remains to be seen whether they'll beat Argentina in the next match -- long shot, but not impossible. )
More another day. My next entry may be from the airport, haha. :)
p.s. Welcome back, florecitos!
Sunday, June 18, 2006
Photos from Jamie Cullum's Show
I counted 75 in my collection, but selected these which span the entire 2 hours to give a broader perspective of what what down that night. Enjoy. :)
In addition, here's a transcript of the...
Newspaper Review of Jamie Cullum's Concert June 15th 2006
[ Am posting this for the benefit of fellow fans from Jamie's official site. Welcome! :) ]
NOT JUST A PIANO SHOW by Sujin Thomas, music reporter
There were stunts aplenty and British singer-pianist Jamie Cullum even broke a keyboard lid. But, oh, what fun the show was.
Call it hyper jazz or plain theatrics: British singer-pianist Jamie Cullum certainly knew how to put on a good show.
His was jazz mixed up with other genres like funk, pop and even Brazilian batucada as well as a good dose of circus fanfare.
Backed by a 4-piece band, the 26-year-old -- who had flown in from Japan the day before and left for Los Angeles yesterday -- was charismatic.
He leapt into the air, banged away on the ivories -- once even using the stool he sat on to do the job -- and thumped percussion rhythms on its side with his hands.
There were stunts too, with the pixie chap running across the stage then pounding the piano keyes, even breaking the keyboard lid as he crashed to the floor.
It was no surprise to his 4,600-strong audience who had heard of his knack for destroying pianos at his gigs.
"Hang on, that last bit didn't go right. We have to do it again," he proclaimed, much to everybody's amusement as he regained composure.
In a set that last 1 1/2 hours, he delivered hits like Twentysomething, Photograph, What A Difference A Day Made and even a new song, a guitar ditty called Liar Liar.
Taking 2 musicians with him, he jumped off stage and roused the sedentary audience onto its feet, inviting it to come to the front. That triggered a rush of people who joined him in chorus for a jazzed-up cover of Radiohead's High And Dry.
After an encore set comprising a cover of The White Stripes' Seven Nation Army, jazz standard I Get A Kick Out Of You and Broadway's I Could Have Danced All Night, he made a swift exit.
Why? The football fan said he had to catch the World Cup match between England and Trinidad and Tobago. Good for him -- the former won 2-0.
I counted 75 in my collection, but selected these which span the entire 2 hours to give a broader perspective of what what down that night. Enjoy. :)
In addition, here's a transcript of the...
Newspaper Review of Jamie Cullum's Concert June 15th 2006
[ Am posting this for the benefit of fellow fans from Jamie's official site. Welcome! :) ]
NOT JUST A PIANO SHOW by Sujin Thomas, music reporter
There were stunts aplenty and British singer-pianist Jamie Cullum even broke a keyboard lid. But, oh, what fun the show was.
Call it hyper jazz or plain theatrics: British singer-pianist Jamie Cullum certainly knew how to put on a good show.
His was jazz mixed up with other genres like funk, pop and even Brazilian batucada as well as a good dose of circus fanfare.
Backed by a 4-piece band, the 26-year-old -- who had flown in from Japan the day before and left for Los Angeles yesterday -- was charismatic.
He leapt into the air, banged away on the ivories -- once even using the stool he sat on to do the job -- and thumped percussion rhythms on its side with his hands.
There were stunts too, with the pixie chap running across the stage then pounding the piano keyes, even breaking the keyboard lid as he crashed to the floor.
It was no surprise to his 4,600-strong audience who had heard of his knack for destroying pianos at his gigs.
"Hang on, that last bit didn't go right. We have to do it again," he proclaimed, much to everybody's amusement as he regained composure.
In a set that last 1 1/2 hours, he delivered hits like Twentysomething, Photograph, What A Difference A Day Made and even a new song, a guitar ditty called Liar Liar.
Taking 2 musicians with him, he jumped off stage and roused the sedentary audience onto its feet, inviting it to come to the front. That triggered a rush of people who joined him in chorus for a jazzed-up cover of Radiohead's High And Dry.
After an encore set comprising a cover of The White Stripes' Seven Nation Army, jazz standard I Get A Kick Out Of You and Broadway's I Could Have Danced All Night, he made a swift exit.
Why? The football fan said he had to catch the World Cup match between England and Trinidad and Tobago. Good for him -- the former won 2-0.
Friday, June 16, 2006
In Reverse Chronological Order
It's been an eventful -- albeit exhausting -- week.
But also immensely enjoyable. And that's a gross understatement. :)
First, a Review of the Jamie Cullum's Singapore Concert at SUNTEC City this evening!
I'm going to suffer the consequences of severe insomnia tonight. But man oh man oh man, if you weren't there for the show, you really missed out on something special.
Things kicked off quite promptly at 8:15pm, with Jamie making an unannounced appearance on-stage, surprising the audience who initially didn't realize he'd arrived ( me included ).
Almost immediately, he and his band ( trusty old mates Geoff Gascoyne on bass and Sebastiaan de Krom on drums, plus 2 new fellas on trumpet and saxophone / percussion / keyboard ) launched straight into Photograph from his latest Catching Tales album. Lots of energy and great improvs, but I didn't really feel the heat till later ( read on to find out more :)).
Following that opening piece, he treated us to an awesome, 2-hour non-stop jam session comprising electrifying performances of Get Your Way, Mind Trick, What A Difference A Day Made, These Are The Days, Twentysomething, Old Devil Moon, I Could Have Danced All Night, I Get A Kick Out Of You, Wind Cries Mary, and High And Dry, among others ( to be reviewed separately below ).
Wardrobe changes consisted of simple peeling off of outer layers, i.e. he began in a black jacket / black pants / white shirt getup, but by the 3rd song he'd taken both the jacket and shirt off, leaving just a T-shirt. Some guy later yelled for him to "Take your pants off!" ( during the encore ). Wonder who THAT was? :D
He's grown much shaggier ( that's the best description I can think off, heh heh ). In short ( no pun intended ), his hair is longer and the fringe reminds me a bit of Paul Twohill from Singapore Idol. Though nowhere as scary, of course.
Stage antics are well-known to most by now: frantic banging, lots of jumping around, kicking, plucking, hammering, a couple of leaps from the top of the piano. He succeeded in breaking the keyboard lid -- tried to reattach it but failed. He also played a damn mean guitar and brought the house down with 2 fantastic drum solos, one of which was a recreation of festivities in his hometown, reminiscent of the Mardis Gras parade. No wonder he felt a little winded, commenting that "I need to go the gym more." Poor thing. :)
Highlights Galore
My favourite performances:
Very unexpected choices, mind you. That's what I love about Jamie -- you can listen to his CDs, watch the DVDs, catch him in various TV performances, experience an intimate showcase ( check out my previous entry dated July 17th 2004, accessible through the archives on the right ) -- this guy NEVER does a song the same way twice.
2 years ago, I loved I Get A Kick Out Of You and Frontin'.
This time round, I absolutely ADORE London Skies and Lover, You Should Have Come Over.
The former was written for his girlfriend as a reassurance that there's much to love about London, despite its "crappy weather". Jamie played the guitar on this one, and sang it most tenderly. Maybe fellow concert-goers beg to differ, but I think he poured his heart and soul into it, and although it's never been one of my personal favs, it is now. Great job. :)
The latter, on the other hand, is a cover of a Jeff Buckley classic. Again, never made much of an impression on me before, but blew me away tonight. He didn't perform this at the last showcase, so hearing it 'live' was a whole new experience, and his vocals were so raw I was completely mesmerized. I just love it whenever he sings "Sometimes a man / gets carried away". Whoa nelly!
The covers rock!
I counted 4 new ones tonight.
1. A hip-hop medley: So Sick ( by Ne-Yo ) and Gold Digger ( Kanye West and Jamie Foxx ) which led to the finale, i.e. Frontin' ( originally done by N.E.R.D. ).
Truth be told, I'm no hip-hop fan, but I know these songs 'cos I, err, watch MTV a lot. :)
And for the record, he hit the ball right out of the park on this one!
I happen to pretty much hate So Sick, though Gold Digger's got a nice riff, but Jamie's acoustic piano versions were BEAUTIFUL. GENIUS. UNBELIEVABLE. Darn sexy too, especially on the latter when he did the "get down girl go 'head get down" bits. I remember shaking my head in admiration. He made both songs a hundred times better than I ever imagined was possible. Wow.
Read on to find out what Jamie had to say about them later -- yes, I spoke to him. :D
The 3rd cover came in the 2nd hour, when he JUMPED OFF THE STAGE, WALKED PAST US ( we were in the 2nd row next to the centre aisle ), STOPPED AT AROUND THE 8TH ROW, PLANTED HIS MICROPHONE STAND RIGHT THERE IN THE MIDDLE OF AN ECSTATIC AUDIENCE, BROUGHT HIS BASSIST DOWN WITH HIM, THEN LAUNCHED INTO A VERY COOL ACOUSTIC PERFORMANCE OF NATURE BOY.
Took me a while to recognize the song, but Peter Cincotti covered it on his debut album, as did Celine Dion.
During the piece, Jamie welcomed fans from all the way in the back of the auditorium to come forward. He shook hands, posed for pictures, squeezed past amused crowds in one of the rows then planted himself right smack in the middle, sitting down for a few minutes while Geoff did a solo.
It was GREAT! :D
The last cover is none other than Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes. I don't know this one, but he sang his guts out 'cos it was the last song of the evening, so I'll remember it for the rest of my life!
LET ME SAY IT AGAIN -- THE COVERS ROCK!!!
Singalongs
He asked us to do backup on These Are The Days and High And Dry. Fun, but wish there'd been more. :)
And without stating the obvious, Jamie's one of the friendliest performers around. Talked to the audience often, joked around a lot, swigged a can of Tiger beer then gave it to a guy standing near the stage during the encore segment, brought his 5 sets of sneakers with him then proffered them so we could applaud and make catcalls when the show neared the end, wrapped himself in the British flag as an act of patriotism ( especially since there's an England match tonight )... There're just too many incidents to recount, argh!
By the end of the concert, everyone had rushed security ( with Jamie's blessing, of course ) and stationed themselves at the front, leaping around like lunatics when he told them to, to great effect I must admit. It was a giant mosh pit, and I had to stand on my chair in order to get good shots.
Yes, dear readers, I took more than 50 pictures at this gig. Will upload them soon. :)
It was indeed a TERRIFIC show. But I can't help wondering if a more intimate setting would've helped the situation? Have never really liked SUNTEC. Even the Singapore Indoor Stadium feels better. Weird.
And now, for the Meet-And-Greet Session With Mr. Cullum. :D
Thought it was guaranteed to all VVIP ticket-holders, but apparently not.
My deepest appreciation to the very nice lady who made this all possible. :)
It was a simple affair which took place at a balcony just above the stage. Whole thing lasted maybe 15-20 minutes at most, with perhaps 15-20 people in attendance.
Jamie changed clothes and freshened up before meeting us, and was extremely warm and obliging throughout. There wasn't a formal queue so we just stood around him and took turns walking forward to pose for pictures and get autographs.
I was one of the last to go up to him, after Jamie asked, "Have I missed anyone?"
So I stepped to his side, said hello and stretched out my arm. He flashed a grin, returned the greeting and gave me a nice firm handshake.
[ the following exchange is a rough gist of what transpired ]
Me: I really enjoyed your show -- it was great!
JC: Oh thank you very much!
( we stop to take a photo, during which he puts his arm around me and vice versa )
Me: ( passing him 2 CD sleeves and the tour programme ) Can you sign more than 1 CD?
JC: ( beaming ) Of course! ( proceeds to scribble his signatures )
Me: By the way, are you going to record So Sick and Gold Digger for your next album?
JC: ( looks a little embarrassed then laughs ) I don't know. I actually just heard them on the radio today!
Me: Well, I hope you will, 'cos you did a great job with those covers.
JC: ( looks touched, smiles again ) Thank you, I appreciate that. And thanks for coming.
Very nice chap. Attentive to a fault, made direct eye contact for most of the conversation and stood very close, such that I was practically whispering and he whispered right back. Haha. :)
Stay tuned for photos. Have to scroll through a big chunk then post the better ones. There're some priceless shots in there!
Fattening Dinners, Gossip, Booze and Late Night Football
I didn't plan most of them, but somehow got roped into it.
Tuesday was spent with a group of male medical colleagues, a number of whom I was meeting for the first time.
Covert ops in progress, so can't provide details here. But it's for a good cause. :)
Spent 2 hours soaking in the information that was flying around the table. I always feel a little out of place in boys' club situations, but I know they did their best to relieve the pressure.
Looking forward to the next wave of changes, which will hopefully materialize quite soon.
And last but not least, Monday's dinner / hangout session with a Certain Someone. ( in case you're wondering, I never date, but I do hang out :))
Someone whom I haven't seen in 3 years, and who's never formally invited me out during the 6 years we've known each other -- until now.
We've worked together before, but he took a sharp detour in 2003. Hint: "747".
Think many would be quite surprised to learn that we've kept in touch for so long.
I went with no expectations whatsoever, but he managed to exceed any that I could muster. The evening was, in a word, flawless.
Thank you for that. :)
It's been an eventful -- albeit exhausting -- week.
But also immensely enjoyable. And that's a gross understatement. :)
First, a Review of the Jamie Cullum's Singapore Concert at SUNTEC City this evening!
I'm going to suffer the consequences of severe insomnia tonight. But man oh man oh man, if you weren't there for the show, you really missed out on something special.
Things kicked off quite promptly at 8:15pm, with Jamie making an unannounced appearance on-stage, surprising the audience who initially didn't realize he'd arrived ( me included ).
Almost immediately, he and his band ( trusty old mates Geoff Gascoyne on bass and Sebastiaan de Krom on drums, plus 2 new fellas on trumpet and saxophone / percussion / keyboard ) launched straight into Photograph from his latest Catching Tales album. Lots of energy and great improvs, but I didn't really feel the heat till later ( read on to find out more :)).
Following that opening piece, he treated us to an awesome, 2-hour non-stop jam session comprising electrifying performances of Get Your Way, Mind Trick, What A Difference A Day Made, These Are The Days, Twentysomething, Old Devil Moon, I Could Have Danced All Night, I Get A Kick Out Of You, Wind Cries Mary, and High And Dry, among others ( to be reviewed separately below ).
Wardrobe changes consisted of simple peeling off of outer layers, i.e. he began in a black jacket / black pants / white shirt getup, but by the 3rd song he'd taken both the jacket and shirt off, leaving just a T-shirt. Some guy later yelled for him to "Take your pants off!" ( during the encore ). Wonder who THAT was? :D
He's grown much shaggier ( that's the best description I can think off, heh heh ). In short ( no pun intended ), his hair is longer and the fringe reminds me a bit of Paul Twohill from Singapore Idol. Though nowhere as scary, of course.
Stage antics are well-known to most by now: frantic banging, lots of jumping around, kicking, plucking, hammering, a couple of leaps from the top of the piano. He succeeded in breaking the keyboard lid -- tried to reattach it but failed. He also played a damn mean guitar and brought the house down with 2 fantastic drum solos, one of which was a recreation of festivities in his hometown, reminiscent of the Mardis Gras parade. No wonder he felt a little winded, commenting that "I need to go the gym more." Poor thing. :)
Highlights Galore
My favourite performances:
Very unexpected choices, mind you. That's what I love about Jamie -- you can listen to his CDs, watch the DVDs, catch him in various TV performances, experience an intimate showcase ( check out my previous entry dated July 17th 2004, accessible through the archives on the right ) -- this guy NEVER does a song the same way twice.
2 years ago, I loved I Get A Kick Out Of You and Frontin'.
This time round, I absolutely ADORE London Skies and Lover, You Should Have Come Over.
The former was written for his girlfriend as a reassurance that there's much to love about London, despite its "crappy weather". Jamie played the guitar on this one, and sang it most tenderly. Maybe fellow concert-goers beg to differ, but I think he poured his heart and soul into it, and although it's never been one of my personal favs, it is now. Great job. :)
The latter, on the other hand, is a cover of a Jeff Buckley classic. Again, never made much of an impression on me before, but blew me away tonight. He didn't perform this at the last showcase, so hearing it 'live' was a whole new experience, and his vocals were so raw I was completely mesmerized. I just love it whenever he sings "Sometimes a man / gets carried away". Whoa nelly!
The covers rock!
I counted 4 new ones tonight.
1. A hip-hop medley: So Sick ( by Ne-Yo ) and Gold Digger ( Kanye West and Jamie Foxx ) which led to the finale, i.e. Frontin' ( originally done by N.E.R.D. ).
Truth be told, I'm no hip-hop fan, but I know these songs 'cos I, err, watch MTV a lot. :)
And for the record, he hit the ball right out of the park on this one!
I happen to pretty much hate So Sick, though Gold Digger's got a nice riff, but Jamie's acoustic piano versions were BEAUTIFUL. GENIUS. UNBELIEVABLE. Darn sexy too, especially on the latter when he did the "get down girl go 'head get down" bits. I remember shaking my head in admiration. He made both songs a hundred times better than I ever imagined was possible. Wow.
Read on to find out what Jamie had to say about them later -- yes, I spoke to him. :D
The 3rd cover came in the 2nd hour, when he JUMPED OFF THE STAGE, WALKED PAST US ( we were in the 2nd row next to the centre aisle ), STOPPED AT AROUND THE 8TH ROW, PLANTED HIS MICROPHONE STAND RIGHT THERE IN THE MIDDLE OF AN ECSTATIC AUDIENCE, BROUGHT HIS BASSIST DOWN WITH HIM, THEN LAUNCHED INTO A VERY COOL ACOUSTIC PERFORMANCE OF NATURE BOY.
Took me a while to recognize the song, but Peter Cincotti covered it on his debut album, as did Celine Dion.
During the piece, Jamie welcomed fans from all the way in the back of the auditorium to come forward. He shook hands, posed for pictures, squeezed past amused crowds in one of the rows then planted himself right smack in the middle, sitting down for a few minutes while Geoff did a solo.
It was GREAT! :D
The last cover is none other than Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes. I don't know this one, but he sang his guts out 'cos it was the last song of the evening, so I'll remember it for the rest of my life!
LET ME SAY IT AGAIN -- THE COVERS ROCK!!!
Singalongs
He asked us to do backup on These Are The Days and High And Dry. Fun, but wish there'd been more. :)
And without stating the obvious, Jamie's one of the friendliest performers around. Talked to the audience often, joked around a lot, swigged a can of Tiger beer then gave it to a guy standing near the stage during the encore segment, brought his 5 sets of sneakers with him then proffered them so we could applaud and make catcalls when the show neared the end, wrapped himself in the British flag as an act of patriotism ( especially since there's an England match tonight )... There're just too many incidents to recount, argh!
By the end of the concert, everyone had rushed security ( with Jamie's blessing, of course ) and stationed themselves at the front, leaping around like lunatics when he told them to, to great effect I must admit. It was a giant mosh pit, and I had to stand on my chair in order to get good shots.
Yes, dear readers, I took more than 50 pictures at this gig. Will upload them soon. :)
It was indeed a TERRIFIC show. But I can't help wondering if a more intimate setting would've helped the situation? Have never really liked SUNTEC. Even the Singapore Indoor Stadium feels better. Weird.
And now, for the Meet-And-Greet Session With Mr. Cullum. :D
Thought it was guaranteed to all VVIP ticket-holders, but apparently not.
My deepest appreciation to the very nice lady who made this all possible. :)
It was a simple affair which took place at a balcony just above the stage. Whole thing lasted maybe 15-20 minutes at most, with perhaps 15-20 people in attendance.
Jamie changed clothes and freshened up before meeting us, and was extremely warm and obliging throughout. There wasn't a formal queue so we just stood around him and took turns walking forward to pose for pictures and get autographs.
I was one of the last to go up to him, after Jamie asked, "Have I missed anyone?"
So I stepped to his side, said hello and stretched out my arm. He flashed a grin, returned the greeting and gave me a nice firm handshake.
[ the following exchange is a rough gist of what transpired ]
Me: I really enjoyed your show -- it was great!
JC: Oh thank you very much!
( we stop to take a photo, during which he puts his arm around me and vice versa )
Me: ( passing him 2 CD sleeves and the tour programme ) Can you sign more than 1 CD?
JC: ( beaming ) Of course! ( proceeds to scribble his signatures )
Me: By the way, are you going to record So Sick and Gold Digger for your next album?
JC: ( looks a little embarrassed then laughs ) I don't know. I actually just heard them on the radio today!
Me: Well, I hope you will, 'cos you did a great job with those covers.
JC: ( looks touched, smiles again ) Thank you, I appreciate that. And thanks for coming.
Very nice chap. Attentive to a fault, made direct eye contact for most of the conversation and stood very close, such that I was practically whispering and he whispered right back. Haha. :)
Stay tuned for photos. Have to scroll through a big chunk then post the better ones. There're some priceless shots in there!
Fattening Dinners, Gossip, Booze and Late Night Football
I didn't plan most of them, but somehow got roped into it.
Tuesday was spent with a group of male medical colleagues, a number of whom I was meeting for the first time.
Covert ops in progress, so can't provide details here. But it's for a good cause. :)
Spent 2 hours soaking in the information that was flying around the table. I always feel a little out of place in boys' club situations, but I know they did their best to relieve the pressure.
Looking forward to the next wave of changes, which will hopefully materialize quite soon.
And last but not least, Monday's dinner / hangout session with a Certain Someone. ( in case you're wondering, I never date, but I do hang out :))
Someone whom I haven't seen in 3 years, and who's never formally invited me out during the 6 years we've known each other -- until now.
We've worked together before, but he took a sharp detour in 2003. Hint: "747".
Think many would be quite surprised to learn that we've kept in touch for so long.
I went with no expectations whatsoever, but he managed to exceed any that I could muster. The evening was, in a word, flawless.
Thank you for that. :)
Saturday, June 10, 2006
'Tis A Good Thing Indeed
... to be on call the night of the opening World Cup match. :)
Managed to watch the ENTIRE game during the shift, with supper to boot.
Saw around 10 cases -- unbelievable for our ER on a Friday night.
No resuscitations.
Only a couple of drunks. Guess they partied all night and never showed till later ( I'm assuming the morning shift may have suffered the consequences ).
Didn't sleep ( habit of mine ), but kept awake playing every single game on this website. Addictive -- you've been warned!
Another month to go before the football madness ends. I could get used to this. :)
P.S. Not that I'm a fan, but that last goal from Germany by the blonde guy was a thing of beauty. And Klose's quite good-looking. Yes, that's all the commentary I can provide about this baffling sport ( men chasing a ball -- ooh, how exciting ). But at least I finally understand what "offside" means, thanks to a very patient MO who explained the whole concept to me.
Holding Back The Years
Read a couple of old entries last night, namely those penned during the last months of the 2003 SARS crisis.
To be frank, I miss the heated essay-writing. Took up a lot of my time, but it was one of the most important chapters in my life, and the words continue to resonate to this day.
I'm not going to lie and say that I'm afforded great freedom of expression. I know I'm being closely watched, and that "certain people" won't hesitate to take action if I'm deemed too much of a loose cannon.
But is speaking the truth such a bad thing? Is there anything wrong with stating the facts? How can anyone in his/her right mind expect doctors, who have brains and spirit and opinions, to live their lives like the unsuspecting humans in The Matrix, fully accepting of the virtual bliss they're presented with, oblivious to the little red flags sprouting here and there?
Alas, none of this can be solved anytime soon. But I sincerely hope that it will be. Someday.
Munich
Felt it fit to dose myself with some history about the 1972 Olympics, since I'll be visiting the city next month.
Rented the Steven Spielberg film, which is, IMHO, totally deserving of a Best Picture Oscar.
Yes, I've seen Crash and Brokeback Mountain. Both excellent in their own right, but Munich is in an entirely different league altogether.
As haunting as Schindler's List, and as action-packed as Minority Report. The script is exquisite, the acting unsurpassed.
Methinks the Academy made a mistake this year.
At Last
A meeting after more than 3 years. A proper dinner after 6.
Not sure how it turned out to be this way, but I am greatly looking forward to it.
Perhaps I'll write about it, or perhaps I won't. Let's play this one by ear. :)
Reviews
Criminal Minds delves into familiar territory, as I've been fascinated by criminal profiling since my college days ( ask my GP tutor how many essays I wrote about serial killers, haha ). I've read almost every book famed FBI agent John Douglas has written, and I'm a huge fan of TV series and movies which deal with similar themes.
My first impression of CM is... not that good. Granted, there's Mandy Patinkin and Thomas Gibson ( both Chicago Hope alumni and among my favourites from that show ). Yes, they hunted a brutal psycho in the pilot, complete with frenetic chase scenes and harried group discussions.
But in the end, it all felt too easy. Compacting everything into 1 hour isn't realistic for a story of this scope, but somehow, CSI and Numb3rs ( the latter also involving the FBI ) manage to do it with effortless finesse.
Guess it all comes down to pacing. Too many red herrings can ruin the whole stew. Best to keep those to a minimum -- just enough to jolt once in a while, but not too many to get your synapses in a twist.
Haven't heard rave reviews for this so far. From the producers of Grey's Anatomy, but not up to par with the medical series as yet.
Commander In Chief fared much better. Boasting a tight cast which includes Geena Davis and Donald Sutherland, the storyline -- though ludicrous by present standards -- managed to compel.
Look out for the guy who plays her son -- gorgeous fellow. And I mean REALLY gorgeous. :)
Concerts!
Sinatra in sneakers cometh! HATE the "Beckham of jazz" nickname though. Write-up to follow.
Robbie Williams is confirmed for a show here 18th November. If, like me, you're a member of the Inner Sanctum club, you get priority booking ( starts 19th June ).
AND IF YOU HAVEN'T ATTENDED ANY OF HIS PERFORMANCES BEFORE, THEN FOR PETE'S SAKE GRAB A SEAT AND GET YOUR ASS DOWN THERE PRONTO, 'COS HE IS PHENOMENAL.
My mom loves him too ( believe it! ). She's hoping he'll do a few of his jazz numbers, but I'll take anything he hurls my way. :)
Wishing you a good week ahead.
... to be on call the night of the opening World Cup match. :)
Managed to watch the ENTIRE game during the shift, with supper to boot.
Saw around 10 cases -- unbelievable for our ER on a Friday night.
No resuscitations.
Only a couple of drunks. Guess they partied all night and never showed till later ( I'm assuming the morning shift may have suffered the consequences ).
Didn't sleep ( habit of mine ), but kept awake playing every single game on this website. Addictive -- you've been warned!
Another month to go before the football madness ends. I could get used to this. :)
P.S. Not that I'm a fan, but that last goal from Germany by the blonde guy was a thing of beauty. And Klose's quite good-looking. Yes, that's all the commentary I can provide about this baffling sport ( men chasing a ball -- ooh, how exciting ). But at least I finally understand what "offside" means, thanks to a very patient MO who explained the whole concept to me.
Holding Back The Years
Read a couple of old entries last night, namely those penned during the last months of the 2003 SARS crisis.
To be frank, I miss the heated essay-writing. Took up a lot of my time, but it was one of the most important chapters in my life, and the words continue to resonate to this day.
I'm not going to lie and say that I'm afforded great freedom of expression. I know I'm being closely watched, and that "certain people" won't hesitate to take action if I'm deemed too much of a loose cannon.
But is speaking the truth such a bad thing? Is there anything wrong with stating the facts? How can anyone in his/her right mind expect doctors, who have brains and spirit and opinions, to live their lives like the unsuspecting humans in The Matrix, fully accepting of the virtual bliss they're presented with, oblivious to the little red flags sprouting here and there?
Alas, none of this can be solved anytime soon. But I sincerely hope that it will be. Someday.
Munich
Felt it fit to dose myself with some history about the 1972 Olympics, since I'll be visiting the city next month.
Rented the Steven Spielberg film, which is, IMHO, totally deserving of a Best Picture Oscar.
Yes, I've seen Crash and Brokeback Mountain. Both excellent in their own right, but Munich is in an entirely different league altogether.
As haunting as Schindler's List, and as action-packed as Minority Report. The script is exquisite, the acting unsurpassed.
Methinks the Academy made a mistake this year.
At Last
A meeting after more than 3 years. A proper dinner after 6.
Not sure how it turned out to be this way, but I am greatly looking forward to it.
Perhaps I'll write about it, or perhaps I won't. Let's play this one by ear. :)
Reviews
Criminal Minds delves into familiar territory, as I've been fascinated by criminal profiling since my college days ( ask my GP tutor how many essays I wrote about serial killers, haha ). I've read almost every book famed FBI agent John Douglas has written, and I'm a huge fan of TV series and movies which deal with similar themes.
My first impression of CM is... not that good. Granted, there's Mandy Patinkin and Thomas Gibson ( both Chicago Hope alumni and among my favourites from that show ). Yes, they hunted a brutal psycho in the pilot, complete with frenetic chase scenes and harried group discussions.
But in the end, it all felt too easy. Compacting everything into 1 hour isn't realistic for a story of this scope, but somehow, CSI and Numb3rs ( the latter also involving the FBI ) manage to do it with effortless finesse.
Guess it all comes down to pacing. Too many red herrings can ruin the whole stew. Best to keep those to a minimum -- just enough to jolt once in a while, but not too many to get your synapses in a twist.
Haven't heard rave reviews for this so far. From the producers of Grey's Anatomy, but not up to par with the medical series as yet.
Commander In Chief fared much better. Boasting a tight cast which includes Geena Davis and Donald Sutherland, the storyline -- though ludicrous by present standards -- managed to compel.
Look out for the guy who plays her son -- gorgeous fellow. And I mean REALLY gorgeous. :)
Concerts!
Sinatra in sneakers cometh! HATE the "Beckham of jazz" nickname though. Write-up to follow.
Robbie Williams is confirmed for a show here 18th November. If, like me, you're a member of the Inner Sanctum club, you get priority booking ( starts 19th June ).
AND IF YOU HAVEN'T ATTENDED ANY OF HIS PERFORMANCES BEFORE, THEN FOR PETE'S SAKE GRAB A SEAT AND GET YOUR ASS DOWN THERE PRONTO, 'COS HE IS PHENOMENAL.
My mom loves him too ( believe it! ). She's hoping he'll do a few of his jazz numbers, but I'll take anything he hurls my way. :)
Wishing you a good week ahead.
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