JOOLS HOLLAND AND HIS RHYTHM AND BLUES ORCHESTRA (PLUS GUESTS), SALISBURY CITY HALL, APRIL 30
IT’S impossible to sit still for long at a Jools Holland concert. Within seconds the infectious rhythms seep into your soul and your body starts to move involuntarily.
It didn’t take long for the audience to find their feet, and the City Hall felt like a big party, which it was a joy to be invited to.
Holland’s incredible array of talented friends includes many of the biggest names in music.
It wasn’t long ago that former Spice Girl Melanie C was one of the most famous faces in the world of pop.
Holland gleefully invited her on to the stage and she performed two of her own songs as well as a number specially composed by Holland for this latest nationwide tour.
It was such a shame she didn’t stay long enough for the encore as her voice would have complemented the other wonderfully talented singers in Holland’s 20-piece Rhythm and Blues Orchestra.
It is hard to find words to describe Holland’s performance on the piano – the speed and skill with which he plays is spellbinding.
He boogies, woogies, sings and chats to the audience, and all the while beams at his band, clearly respecting their own musical prowess.
Holland paid homage to some of the greatest piano players in the business, although the quality of the musicianship on the stage would be hard to beat.
Despite the name of the orchestra, songs like like When You’re Smiling are perfect to banish the blues, and this was simply a pleasure to hear and watch.
JILL HARDING
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