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Archive 2006
Catching tales from Jamie Cullum's 2006 tour
To sell two million copies of your first album, and to have already sold one million of your second
without even a hit single probably gives you a hint that Jamie Cullum is an artist who really sells
on reputation and ability. Even more astonishing is the fact that he is a musician who easily mixes
styles and attitudes from simple Pop music to Hip Hop to complicated Jazz songs. Is this the new
face of classical crooning? An accomplished singer, songwriter and pianist, he presents maturity well
beyond his years. His recent tour through Europe has seen him play to sell out audiences, and a
new PA system has eased his transition into larger venues as his reputation
grows.
"That said I have been pushing the boundaries in some venues, or at least I thought I was," Sound
Engineer and Tour Manager Daniel White (to the right) expressing some initial reservations. "When I first bought
the d&b audiotechnik Q system I knew this was a safe investment for the theatre circuit where Jamie
generally plays. We played Hammersmith Apollo and my thoughts were confirmed; I've done a lot of
shows at the Apollo over the years, and with a variety of PA systems, I can say with conviction
that the Q-Series loudspeakers produced the best sound I have ever heard." Daniel continued "In Europe we have
been moved up to some much bigger venues, almost arena size, eight or nine thousand capacity. I was
carrying a system of just eight boxes a side and admit I was worried until I heard the first beat
of the kick drum during sound check. My desk had to be positioned right at the back of the hall and
even from there I could hear there would be no compromise."
White runs and manages his own PA Company called CHAPs; besides having Jamie Cullum as a star
client, CHAPs also works the corporate and events market. "That was a consideration for my purchase
decision, I needed a PA system that could work in concert theatres, and still be usable stacked up
in the corner of a small room. I recently did a wedding party for just fifty people with two boxes
a side in a tiny room and it's been fantastic. Coverage and level were not an issue in such a small
room, it's the quality that stands out, and the physical size and weight of the system. It didn't
look cumbersome and out of place in such a small environment."
In fact White finds the system so small and convenient to handle he is seriously contemplating
shipping it to the US for the next leg of Cullum's tour. "Part of that is its size and weight, I
can easily defray the costs of shipping even on a tour of just five weeks; plus I''ve done other
difficult venues besides those we have already discussed, like the Royal Albert Hall for example.
Not an easy room by anyone's measure, but with my systems tech Liam Halpin, who has done an
excellent job all tour, the Q loudspeaker system sounded excellent. Knowing it can handle difficult and
challenging venues makes deciding to ship a lot easier."
On the tour Daniel White is assisted by monitor engineer John Underhay; Underhay like White, wears
two hats, being the tour's Production Manager as well. Seems as though from Cullum down, everyone is
multi-talented.
Photographs courtesy of Liam Halpin.
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