CityLife

Jools Holland

Apollo, Manchester

November 19, 2011

THE Prince of Wales recently described Jools Holland as a “full-blown national treasure” – and he should know, as his family business owns a few.

The occasion was the conferring of a Music Industry Trust Award to the former Squeeze keyboards man, television presenter, big band leader, boogie-oogie man and all-round good egg.

Anyone who goes to one of his gigs is left in no doubt that he is a worthy recipient of the award.

No one has done more, in this country to keep alive the heart-pounding sound of the big band, as well as showcasing talent, old and new, and giving everyone a foot-tapping, hip-swinging, hand-clapping good time along the way.

Holland is perhaps best-known to TV audiences as the babbling, almost manic front man of The Tube, his own Hootenanny show on New Year’s Eve and, of course, his current Later with Jools Holland.

And he does like a good babble. But from the moment those fingers touch the piano, the magic soars – and the man is quite simply a genius keyboards player.

He has also surrounded himself with talented musicians. This is no old-fashioned backing band – they are all supreme turns and stars of the show themselves, ripping through a catalogue of big band, blues, soul, ska, R and B, and boogie-woogie numbers.

Holland also has a tendency towards boldness in his choice of guest stars, something which backfired this year when Pogues front man Shane McGowan pulled out of the tour citing health reasons.

To fill the gap, in Manchester, Holland persuaded Sixties pop icon Sandie Shaw to perform for the first time in 25 years.

Now 64 and still barefooted, she made a shaky start – understandable after so long away from the stage. But she settled into a downbeat version of her Eurovision Song Contest winner Puppet on a String, the audience willing her on, and warmed to the task.

Still, it was Jools’ bewitching fingers, Ruby Turner’s powerhouse gospel voice and the stunning assembly of talent in his orchestra which carried the show.

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