Although the quirky Susan Boyle has transformed the ratings busting television show ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ into an international phenomenon, another contender, and this time one with genuine star quality, could well be the next big thing in contemporary jazz.
With a style and a tone evocative of Kenny G, 39 year old Julian Smith from Birmingham, England has been a real surprise package. His performance of the poignant ‘Somewhere (There’s A Place For Us)’ was rapturously received and now, with a place in today’s final assured, literally anything could happen.
Of course, for the majority of the audience, and the judges too, this connection with contemporary jazz will almost certainly be lost. However, if the British public votes in the way it has thus far, Smith may be in line for the kind of exposure that could fast-track him into the lucrative and smooth jazz friendly American market.
Now that would be a fairy story.