Jools Holland in Newport

Jools Holland is a British pianist, bandleader, singer and composer, born in London in 1958. He first became known as an original member and keyboard player of Squeeze, whose early work included Cool for Cats and Up the Junction. He later formed Jools Holland and His Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, recorded the Small World Big Band albums and became the host of Later... with Jools Holland and the annual Hootenanny. Jools Holland and His Rhythm & Blues Orchestra have toured Britain on annual autumn and winter runs for decades. Their London engagements have included multi-night appearances at Royal Albert Hall, while the summer calendar has featured performances at Hampton Court Palace Festival. The concert is led by Jools Holland at the piano, backed by a large ensemble of brass, rhythm players and vocalists. Ruby Turner and Louise Marshall have long taken featured vocal parts, while former Squeeze bandmate Gilson Lavis has served as the orchestra’s drummer. He has led the orchestra at Symphony Hall in Birmingham and the O2 Apollo Manchester. Scottish dates have also taken the ensemble to Glasgow’s SEC Armadillo.

Jools Holland & His Rhythm & Blues Orchestra is a British big band led by pianist and bandleader Jools Holland, who formed the ensemble in 1987 after his work with Squeeze. It plays boogie-woogie, swing, rhythm and blues and ska, and is known for the Small World Big Band albums and a long series of recordings with guest singers and musicians. The orchestra’s annual autumn and winter tours have taken it through British theatres and concert halls for decades. Those runs have included repeated performances at the Royal Albert Hall. Jools Holland leads the full ensemble from the piano, supported by a rhythm section, a horn section and featured vocalists. Long-standing performers in the show have included drummer Gilson Lavis and singers Louise Marshall and Ruby Turner.