Jools Holland is the face of live music in the U.K. As unlikely a statement as that might have been back in his days playing the keyboards in New Wavers Squeeze, nowadays it’s pretty much unquestionable, as much a part of the TV furniture as Doctor Who or The News at Ten. However, while we’ve seen him play some impressive piano on his deathless TV show, for most part it’s been featured on songs that have had no real need for it. If you want to see where his boogie-woogie piano style really shines it’s in his shows with his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra. He and singer Ruby Turner front a twenty piece backing band and together they do what they do best, tear roofs off venues at twenty paces with the power of Old school rhythm and blues, Turner’s vocal mastery and absolutely exquisite musicianship. It might be an underrated quality when it comes to the blues but every single member of the orchestra is an absolute virtuoso, and when paired up with twenty years of experience they really do earn the title of the “world’s greatest big band”. I mean, if they’re good enough to be fronted by singers like Adele, Florence Welch, Paloma Faith, Gregory Porter and Annie Lennox then they’re definitely good enough for anyone to see as soon as possible.
Paul Heaton
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