Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra

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Jools Holland at the WAC. Photo courtesy of Antony Hopker.

Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra, Warwick Arts Centre, 13 June.

Review by Hilary Hopker.

I know Jools Holland well - he’s always in my front room on New Year’s Eve. I am of course referring to years of having watched Hootenanny and Later…with Jools Holland. This was the first time I’ve seen him live.

The show opened with support act Will Brown, who is a pop and soul newcomer. He started his set with his latest song, ‘Welcome to Brownsville’ but the highlight was a cover version of Amy Winehouse’s ‘Back to Black’. He admits his passion for Amy’s music is what has brought him to the UK.

Then it’s time for Jools. He springs onto stage, standing a little shorter than I expected for a man who has such great presence. It’s a high energy start and the crowd can feel it and are soon clapping along. Most of the crowd were born in the 60’s so I’m a good decade younger than his regular audience, which surprises me.

Jools plays his particular flavour of rhythm and blues with his extremely talented band. Then he duets with his brother, Christopher Holland on harpsicord, calling their mash-up ‘Baroque and Roll’.

Jools Holland. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Jools invites a series of talented guests onto stage to sing with the band, including Louise Marshall. Then he invites Andrew Roachford onto stage, and you can feel the excitement in the crowd shift as people stand to dance along to ‘Feel for me Baby’.

The show is at a crescendo, but it ends on a high with the predictable appearance of Ruby Turner, who belts out familiar songs as the audience are up and on their feet dancing.

Jools tells us that music is one of the most powerful forces in the world. I’m left feeling that particular kind of awe you feel when you witness someone at the top of their musical ability with years of confident playing behind them. Jools isn’t playing just to put on a great gig, he’s playing because he lives and breathes his music and it’s a privilege to witness.

See what's coming up next at Warwick Arts Centre: https://www.warwickartscentre.co.uk/