Describing Jamie Cullum as the UK Michael Bublé would do a disservice to the English musician and grossly underscore his own undeniable talents. Sure, both men are the sexy stars of modern pop jazz, but the similarities end there, Bublé’s swinging Frank Sinatra charm a sharp contrast to Cullum’s wild Jerry Lee Lewis appeal.

Cullum sings, beatboxes and plays piano, among other instruments, and while his music is rooted in jazz, he draws on alt rock, trip hop, electronica, piano pop and hip-hop influences, and incorporates classic standards, showtunes and modern-day numbers into his repertoire of original songs, from “Caravan” to “Singin’ in the Rain” to the White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army.” Live, he improvises setlists, delivers fiery, dynamic performances like a rock n’ roll frontman, and brings an edge to the wholesomeness many associate with the pop jazz genre.

The 30-year-old artist self-released his debut full-length in 1999; by 2006, he had major label support, four LPs behind him — two claiming Top 10 spots on the UK Albums Charts, one gold, the other platinum — and a loyal legion of international fans.

Cullum hasn’t quite broken into the U.S. market, but he can fill 2,000-plus seat venues like Ruth Eckerd Hall and his fifth and latest, 2009’s The Pursuit, is primed for some more American attention with its deft fusion of the old and new, something Cullum is known for but does particularly well on this album.

Produced by Greg Wells (Pink, Rufus Wainwright), The Pursuit includes nine Cullum originals and five covers, opening with a brassified arrangement of Cole Porter’s “Just One of Those Things,” segueing into the buoyant, piano stomp of Cullum’s first single, “I'm All Over It,” bringing a made-for-the-bedroom lounge-and-groove feel to Rihanna’s dance hit, “Don’t Stop The Music,” and delivering the West End’s “If I Ruled The World” with tasteful electronic flourishes and a certain mellow prettiness. All showcase Cullum’s buttery velvet croon and songwriting chops as well as his eclectic tastes and influences.

I got the chance to chat with Cullum from his home in England last week while he was on a brief break from touring. Among other topics, we discussed his unstructured performance style, his reasons for selecting particular covers, the ideas behind The Pursuit, and his recent debut on reality TV.

This article appears in Jun 24-30, 2010.