A RECORDING deal worth £1million with a top record company is a long way from playing at Hullavington Village Hall, but it is a dream come true for Jamie Cullum.

The 23-year-old jazz sensation has just been awarded a four-album deal with Universal, which outbid fellow record giant Sony for his talent.

It is a deal unequalled in British jazz history for the musician brought up in Hullavington with his parents John and Yvonne and his brother Ben, 27.

The new supremo of British jazz, who now lives in London, remains downbeat about his achievements and says he is looking forward to working with a big label.

He said: "It feels incredible, amazing. Recording with a big label is the biggest opportunity you can ever get. I wanted to make my living as a musician, to play as many gigs as possible, not to get a big record contract I just wanted to get better."

Jamie's latest CD, Pointless Nostalgic, has received rave reviews, with pundits comparing his music to greats like Frank Sinatra and Harry Connick Junior.

He cites influences as diverse as Gershwin and Nirvana, but his family, especially his brother, who will help to write his next album, have been big influences.

"My parents both make and love music and like singing," he said.

"My parents' music was always playing in the house. My brother has also been important to me, he is a very good songwriter.

Jamie has already played with some famous names including Paul Weller at a gig at Hyde Park. Most recently he played on Parkinson's show on BBC1 last Saturday. Parkinson himself has tipped him for the top. Jamie said: "It has all happened so quickly. Having a drink with Des O'Connor, Matthew Perry and Michael Parkinson talking about the record deal was a bit strange, especially when they all said they loved my work I thought only really famous people turned up on Parkinson."

For the local boy made good, whose family now lives in Bath, this is a long way from his first performance in Oliver as a youngster at Grittleton House School, which he attended between the ages of four and 16.

Headteacher Kate Whitney said: "We are absolutely delighted for him. He was always a very talented musician and he started here in Oliver and also played Fat Sam in Bugsy Malone."

Jamie attended Sheldon School in Chippenham for his sixth form studies before studying English at Reading University. Tony Cleaver, headteacher at Sheldon, said: "It is wonderful news. He always showed considerable talent and took part in school events. We all wish him every success."

Jamie will be playing at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival today and will be honouring the wedding gigs he is booked for in the summer. Also in the pipeline will be the recording of his new album. And the star is to have yet another dream fulfilled a month-long residency at the The Oak bar at The Algonquin Hotel in New York's 44th Street York, where Harry Connick Junior was discovered.