Although his sound is a decidedly vintage one, pianist/singer-songwriter Jamie Cullum's own "Sinatra in Sneakers" persona is unique to the neo-hepcat set. Although Harry Connick, Jr., comparisons are inevitable, Cullum's jazz-crossover appeal has as much in common with Joni Mitchell's open-ended explorations of the form as it does with any neo-classicism. In fact, 2005's CATCHING TALES features a collaboration with hip-hop producer Dan the Automator: it's hard to imagine Michael Buble doing that.