Jools Holland's Big Band Rhythm & Blues

by Jools Holland

Overview

Although this is nominally credited to Jools Holland & His Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, really this is a 22-track various-artists compilation with Holland's ensemble serving as the house band. The lineup of old and new, superstar and cult talent is impressive, even if many of them are past their prime: Sting, John Cale, Stevie Winwood, Taj Mahal, Jamiroquai, Paul Weller, Joe Strummer, Dr. John, David Gilmour, Mark Knopfler, Van Morrison, Paul Carrack, and Eric Clapton are some of the artists given a track. Holland has described his music as big band blues, and that's an apt description for a good deal of the songs, whether it's Sting's "Seventh Son," Taj Mahal's "Outskirts of Town," or Morrison's "Back o' Town Blues." Actually, though, some of this is soul, AOR rock, or ska. That doesn't necessarily count as a strike against the record, it just makes the groove less consistent. There is a consistent, hepped-up party mood, though one that's unrelenting yet slick enough so that it's rather like a party that tries too hard to succeed and goes on too long. Certainly it will attract the most attention for George Harrison's "Horse to the Water," his last recording (done shortly before his death in late 2001). Harrison was a great musician, but this is not a great or good track; the song isn't much, and his voice, unfortunately, sounds like it's in faltering shape. For the most part it's amiable and unmemorable, hitting its finest note on Steve Winwood's "I'm Ready," in which he (or someone, the part is not detailed in the credits) rips out some organ work straight from the spirit of his Spencer Davis Group days. The ska cuts by Suggs and Jamiroquai actually make for a nice change of pace from the grand blues strutting. There are also some missteps that might have been better left uncontributed, like Paul Weller's cover of Billy Preston's "Will It Go Round in Circles" and Stereophonics' version of the Beatles' "Revolution." ~ Richie Unterberger

Product Details

Release Date:	01/08/2002
Label:	Warner Bros. / Rhino
UPC:	0081227826420
Rank:	90085

Tracks

1. Seventh Son
2. Horse to the Water
3. Will It Go Round in Circles
4. Valentine Moon
5. The Return of the Blues Cowboy
6. The Hand That Changed It's Mind
7. Nobody But You
8. Revolution
9. I Put a Spell on You
10. Oranges and Lemons Again
11. All That You Are
12. Mademoiselle Will Decide
13. Back O' Town Blues
14. Town and Country Rhythm and Blues
15. I Wanna Be Around
16. I'm Ready
17. Say Hello, Wave Goodbye
18. T-Bone Shuffle
19. It's So Blue
20. Outskirts of Town
21. I'm in the Mood for Love
22. What Would I Do Without You

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Jools Holland   Primary Artist
Suggs   Primary Artist
Jools Holland Big Band   Primary Artist
John Cale   Primary Artist
Mica Paris   Primary Artist
Sting   Primary Artist,Guest Artist
Marc Almond   Primary Artist
David Gilmour   Primary Artist,Guest Artist
Sam Brown   Primary Artist,Vocals
Paul Carrack   Primary Artist
Stereophonics   Primary Artist
Taj Mahal   Primary Artist
Mark Knopfler   Primary Artist
Mick Hucknall   Primary Artist
Graham "Suggs" McPherson   Primary Artist
Ruby Turner   Primary Artist
Van Morrison   Primary Artist,Guest Artist
Paul Weller   Primary Artist
Steve Winwood   Primary Artist,Guest Artist
Chris Difford   Primary Artist
Joe Strummer   Primary Artist
Jamiroquai   Primary Artist,Guest Artist
Eric Bibb   Primary Artist
Eric Clapton   Primary Artist,Guest Artist
Dr. John   Primary Artist,Guest Artist
George Harrison   Primary Artist,Guest Artist
Nick Cooper   Cello
Leo Green   Saxophone
Adrian Revell   Saxophone
Chris Storr   Trumpet
Mick Ball   Trumpet
Phil Veacock   Horn,Saxophone
John Jezzard   Viola
Paul Bartholomew   Horn
Ellen Blair   Viola
Fenella Barton   Violin
Trevor Burley   Cello
Gina Ball   Violin
Pete Long   Horn,Clarinet,Sax (Baritone)
Anna Hemery   Violin
David Swift   Bass
Julia Singleton   Violin
Ian Jennings   Double Bass
Claudia Fontaine   Vocals (Background)
Emily Burridge   Cello
Winston Rollins   Trombone
Barnaby Dickinson   Trombone
Roger Goslyn   Trombone
Abigail Trundle   Cello
Jayne Spencer   Violin
Dave Peers   Trumpet
Jon Scott   Horn,Trumpet
Marina Solarek   Violin
Jacqueline Norrie   Violin
Jason McDermid   Horn,Trumpet
Brian G. Wright   Violin
Steve White   Percussion
Claire Orsler   Viola
Jeff Moore   Violin
Rico Rodriguez   Trombone
Sally Herbert   Violin
Ray Gelato   Saxophone
Guy Barker   Trumpet
Chris Holland   Organ
Howard Gott   Violin
Gilson Lavis   Drums
Dinah Beamish   Cello
Anne Stephenson   Violin
Laurie Latham   Percussion
Anne Wood   Violin

Technical Credits

Mark Knopfler   Performer,Composer
Mick Hucknall   Performer
Brian Rasic   Photography
Phil Veacock   String Arrangements
Johnny Mercer   Composer
Jools Holland   Composer,Engineer
Sadie Vimmerstadt   Composer
Ruby Turner   Performer
Van Morrison   Performer
Screamin' Jay Hawkins   Composer
Luis Russell   Composer
Roy Jacobs   Composer
Bruce Fisher   Composer
Willie Dixon   Composer
Pete Long   String Arrangements
Andre Csillag   Photography
Graham "Suggs" McPherson   Performer
T-Bone Walker   Composer
Paul Weller   Performer
Paul McCartney   Composer
Steve Winwood   Performer
Ray Charles   Composer
Chris Difford   Composer,Performer
D. Harrison   Composer
Cynthia Weil   Composer
Joe Strummer   Composer,Performer
Jamiroquai   Performer
Eric Bibb   Composer,Performer
Eric Clapton   Performer
Dr. John   Performer
George Harrison   Composer,Performer
Paul Bartholomew   String Arrangements
Christabel McEwen   Design,Photography
Albert Watson   Photography
Kevin Harper   Layout Concept
Ron Burrow   Engineer
Jon Scott   String Arrangements
Mary McCartney Donald   Cover Photo,Photography
Olivia Harrison   Photography
Jason McDermid   String Arrangements
John Cale   Performer
John Lennon   Composer
Louis Armstrong   Composer
Mica Paris   Performer
Sting   Performer
Marc Almond   Composer,Performer
David Gilmour   Performer
Billy Preston   Composer
David Ball   Composer
Will Weldon   Composer
Paul Carrack   Performer
Stereophonics   Performer
Jimmy McHugh   Composer
Laurie Latham   Mixing,Engineer,Producer
Barry Mann   Composer
Taj Mahal   Performer
Dorothy Fields   Composer
Jay Reynolds   Mixing
Leon Russell   Composer
Jon Astley   Mastering