Young Jazz supremo Jamie Cullum's rise to stardom could be topped with a prestigious Brit award.

Speaking from Los Angeles, where he performed on Monday night, the 24-year-old said: "I am enormously pleased to be nominated especially because I never thought my career would take me to the Brits, where I have an opportunity to get my music heard by lots more people. I can't wait to be there on the night."

He has been nominated in the Best British Breakthrough Artist category of the awards, which will be presented at Earls Court in London next month.

His selection in a music event which sets out to celebrate pop, rock, dance and urban music is proof that his mix of jazz and contemporary rock has found a market in the mainstream.

Mr Cullum will have to fight off some tough competition if he is to scoop the prize.

Also nominated in the category are the glam rock phenomenon The Darkness who are also up for three other awards, UK garage and hip-hop star Dizzee Rascal, up for two other awards as are fellow nominees, boyband Busted, and Fame Academy's Lemar, who is up for one other award.

It has been an amazing year for Mr Cullum who was brought up in Hullavington and attended Grittleton House and Sheldon Schools.

Plucked from obscurity by music giants Universal with a record-breaking £1 million deal in May he has been lauded by critics.

His first album after the deal, Twentysomething, reached the top five of the album charts and went platinum in just five weeks.

He also become a well-known face on TV with two appearances on Parkinson and performances on GMTV and CD:UK.

Despite his rapid rise to fame Mr Cullum said he has tried to keep his feet on the ground and even managed to fit in a gig at Crudwell Village Hall with National Youth Jazz Orchestra last summer.

His first single from Twentysomething, a cover of Jimi Hendrix's The Wind Cries Mary, was released last week and Mr Cullum is now on tour in the US.

He has also teamed up with brother Ben, who wrote some of the songs on Twentysomething, to produce music for the theatre.

A production of When Harry Met Sally, featuring Beverly Hills 90210 star Luke Perry opening at the Haymarket Theatre next month, will feature compositions by the Cullum brothers. Mr Cullum returns to the UK in February and then embarks on a month long tour.