Photograph by Ian D. Hall

Originally published by L.S. Media. July 16th 2010.

If there is anybody who can be guaranteed to get any audience up off their feet, then surely that man is Jools Holland.

From humble beginnings with Wayne County and the Electric Chairs, through to the phenomenal success with Squeeze and a major talent in his own right, he host his own television music show, a bandleader and the man the B.B.C turn to every year when they want to see in the New Year with aplomb and a big dollop of incredible diverse music. There is seemingly nothing this man cannot tackle and achieve. To do all this and still make time to tour is nothing short of impressive.

Arriving on stage promptly, Jools and the band ran through a selection of ‘boogie woogie’ greats that would have had even the stoniest heart tapping along to in glee.

The band was overflowing with talent, from the saxophonists, a guitar, rhythm section and trombones and onto the special guests that Jools wheeled out on stage to huge applause. First up was the magnificent former Yazoo singer, Alison Moyet. Her voice lending itself perfectly to the effect that Jools was succeeding in creating.

The band joined in as Alison recreated a couple of biggest selling hits, including Love Letters and the number two hit Only You before she stunned and wowed the crowd with a cracking version of John Lee Hooker’s Boom Boom.

Jools then introduced the fabulous queen of “boogie woogie”, Ruby Turner herself. This one woman music machine started where Alison Moyet had finished off and by the end of the evening had both the band (Jools included) and the audience eating out of her hand.

Jools Holland is one of those rare musicians who can use the big band experience so effectively that the concert goer forgets that they are playing to crowds of 2000 plus and instead feels as if they are in an audience of one in a smoky, back street jazz and blues cafe. This is where Jools simply lords it over other artists, his timing and enthusiasm are plain to see and it’s going to seem like an eternity till we have anybody who can recreate this type of experience again.

Ian D. Hall