Jools Holland

Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra Hampton Court June 9^th

This rocking Rhythm and Blues Band with some fabulous guests and plenty of Boogie piano from Jools warmed a packed audience and created an atmosphere of bonhomie and excitement for the appreciative crowd, marked by a range of ages from young children to the very old.

Jools is a marvellous pianist and an outstanding host, his band is tight and swinging – on this showing better perhaps as group musicians rather than as soloists in the main. Jools is adept in several styles but a Wallerish solo was my favourite and to my ears almost up to the original lacking, only, some of Waller’s delicacy. A small group from the orchestra recreating some of Waller’s numbers would be a fine addition to the show.

The Band had something of Cab Calloway, quite a bit of Basie influenced musicl, a reggae feel for a lovely ‘What a Wonderful World’ and even a Glenn Miller sound on one number. From the guest vocalists we had something of Sinatra from Roger Cicero, something of a Blues roar from Ruby Turner spurred by the Band behind her and some young singers of great potential: Gilson Lavis and Louise Marshall. There was a surprise with Pop idol of yesteryear: Sandie Shaw who came on shoeless flaunting her lovely long legs and with some jazzy arrangements almost left her fluffy past to become something close to a jazz singer. Paradoxically it was her rendition of the catchy ‘Puppet on a String’ that freed her most when she got closest to jazz feeling. A charming section was when Sandie sat on the stage enthralling a group of dancing children at the front of the audience. One wonders what a witty Fats Waller would have made of ‘Puppet on a String’.

I heard Ruby Turner a year ago with a small group and she impressed but with a Big Band behind her she thrived, bringing the entire audience to its feet with something more than blues shouting, more blues roaring at times with a sound like an aroused lioness.

The whole show was a bit like one of Jools Holland’s TV programmes with all the showmanship and professionalism. Similarly every moment contained something of interest.

Jerry Westall