Customer Reviews

Jools Holland's Big Band Rhythm & Blues

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

For me, the big reason to buy this CD was the George Harrison contribution, "Horse to Water". It is a GREAT song, and a brilliant Harrison song at that. George sounds weak, and I am not sure if Clapton has stepped in on some of the guitar parts, but what a brilliant and fun piece of music, worthy to be held in the highest esteem among its author's ouvre. IT is reason enough to buy the CD.

As to the rest, the music is uniformly terrific and quite a dance record! There are some weak spots, notably Sting, who is turning into Rod Stewart, and unfortunately he misses all the bravado a Blues Singer would have brought to "Seventh Son". I am sure Willie Dixon is turning in his grave. Later on Steve Winwood gives a demonstration on just how well a white guy can sing Dixon if he wants to. Van Morrison continues to annoint himself Ireland's standard bearer for delivering songs from America's jazz and R & B catalog. On this one, he essays Louis Armstrong. Van tends to get all the notes right, but there is something missing. It is all quite reverently treated, but it is not the same, nor an effective redirection. You get the impression that Van is still covering past heroes until inspiration returns. As to the rest of the CD, most of it is truly amazing. The pairing of Micah Paris and David Gilmore is genius. Clapton redeems his reputation ("Reptile" is a horror)with his contribution, Stereophonic, Marc Almond, and all the others have made Holland's vision spectacular, especially John Cale, of all people.
At the end of the disc, though, you are brought back to Harrison. It is a sentimental farewell to an often underated (yeah, underated, inspite of The Beatles) artist who could turn out sheer genius when you were not looking. Maybe that was it with George. So long as you were not zeroing in on him, he could blow the doors off everyone in his quiet and unassuming way. The spotlight didn't work. Beware of Darkness, though, because George was there in the shadows crafting gems that will live on brilliantly for a very long time. "Horse to Water" is the latest and one of the brightest.

Yeah, Jools Holland used to be in Squeeze, but to me he's always been the affable host of the BBC's Later..., one of the best music programs on television today. His new cd, featuring a whopping twenty-three guest artists, is like one big episode of Later..., each guest stepping in with their own variation on R & B (with either covers or originals), with Hooland's piano work the centrepiece throughout. It all works: sometimes rather blandly, like the way-out-of-his-element Sting singing a Willie Dixon song (give the stale crooner credit for trying), or spectaularly, like the last song ever recorded by the late George Harrison.

Come on, reader, fess up: you're looking at this web page because you're drawn by Harrison's song, and you have every reason to. 'Horse To The Water' is a towering piece of work, made all the more bittersweet by Harrison's passing. Co-written with his son Dhani, Harrison ruminates on life, in a very similar way as Bob Dylan's 'Things Have Changed', singing in his startlingly weakened voice (recorded less than two months before he died), "You can have it all staked out in front of you/but it still don't make you think." Harrison's trademark dry wit emerges in the last verse, where he tells the story of his challenging a bible-beating preacher about God's realisation, but is rebuked by the preacher, who says "We ain't got time for that/First you must hear the evils of fornication." It's like 'Think For Yourself' some thirty-odd years later, a fitting final message from George to the world.

'Horse To The Water' is the brightest highlight on Holland's cd, but everything else is good, too. The best songs, by Sam Brown, the inimitable Dr. John, Stereophonics (who pump some funky energy into 'Revolution', easily blowing away the Stone Temple Pilots' recent version), the still-cheeky Suggs, Mark Knopfler, the always-great Van Morrison, the surprisingly schmaltzy John Cale, Taj Mahal, a reggae-fied Jay Kay, an Eric Clapton who sounds like he's actually putting in an effort for a change, and Marc Almond (who contributes an original tune that's utterly gorgeous), all make Holland's album all the more worthwhile. Harrison's song may have led you to this cd like the proverbial horse to water, but don't be swayed. Just sit back, and drink it all in.

I purchased this CD for one reason. I had seen the DVD
Concert for George and loved it. Among the best offerings on
the DVD was the Sam Brown/Jools HOlland rendition of Horse to
Water by George. Except for the words, I would never have
guessed that it was a Harrison song. It was too R&B. So I was
curious to see how he handled it. Well, he does not have the
powerhouse voice of Sam Brown, but I was in fact really
surprised at how well he did, helped greatly by the
superb backup band. I would not have recognized his voice.
I am sure his throat cancer was behind that. Another
reviewer suggested that Eric Clapton helped him out on the
guitar. I couldn't say, but the credits do say that his son
Dhani was involved with the recording and I assume that he was
a guitarist. Sam Brown is clearly recognizable as the back
up vocalist. And Jools' piano is rockin', as it is all over this
CD.

Except for Sting, Mark Knopfler, Van Morrison, Eric Clapton, and
Steve Winwood, I had never heard of any of the other performers
before and that goes for Sam Brown and Jools himself before
the Concert for George DVD. But I am listening to it now as I
am writing and I find that it is really growing on me. The
piano is uniformly marvelous; my favorite performances so far are
Horse to Water, Valentine Moon, I'm Ready, I Put a Spell on You,
and Mark Knopfler sounding like Elvis on Mademoiselle Will
Decide. I am sure that after listening to it a few more
times, others will be added to the list. As I said, it grows
on you.

It would take too many words to express how great this disc is. It's the best find I've made in years. I am a big George Harrison fan and bought it because of him. I don't know why everyone says he sounds "weak". I certainly don't think so! He sounds happy and upbeat------makes one think of the music that was yet to come. Wise to the end. Just like John, he left us as he was entering new ventures and directions. R.est I.n P.eace Mr. Leg End.

After listening to the sound clips on Amazon, I knew I would like the rest of the album. I just didn't know how much! It's non stop fun and surprises. By the way Amazon (US), you missed a track on your listing--there are 22 tracks (same as the UK version). You skipped Chris Difford "Town and Country Rhythm and Blues", track # 14. Besides the US version having a tackier cover than the UK's
cover, it appears to be the same.

For a breath of fresh air and full time fun, get this CD.

This is a great collection of R & B classics and original songs performed by Squeeze pianist Jools Holland and some of his famous mates. The initial interest in this CD was the performance of George Harrison singing 'Horse to Water', which was, at the time, his last recording. But, the rest of the album lives up to the hype as well.

It truly has a big band sound and feel, and, since most of the performers are British, is also brings that feeling of Britain discovering rock and roll in the 1950's. Among the famous voices on the disc, besides Harrison, are Sting, Joe Strummer, Mark Knopfler, Steve Winwood and Eric Clapton. I would have to say my favorites include the bouncy, retro treatment of 'I'm in the Mood for Love' with Jamiroquai, the jump and jive of 'Mademoiselle Will Decide' with Mark Knopfler, and the soul of 'I Put a Spell on You' with Mica Paris and David Gilmour.

Still, there isn't really a bad song on the album, and it's a unique listening experience, and a rare combination of huge name talent, and old-fashioned, good time music and fun.

I bought this CD in December when I saw it listed on the UK site. It has become a daily listening pleasure! I smile every time I hear the opening chords to Sting's "Seventh Son". I have driven everyone at work crazy, too, constantly telling them how much I love this CD. Everyone involved must have had such a terrific time, even dear George Harrison, who although sounding weak, still sang with an enthusiastic spirit.
I have been a Jools Holland fan for many years, and would love to say Thanks to him for making this fantastic collaboration! I hope this will be high on everyone's playlist! Enjoy!!

It seems a great shame that many people have only shown interest in this album due to the contribution of the late George Harrison. Certainly there is plenty here that not all will enjoy but there is also a great amount here which surpasses Harrison's work but lack his status in the US. Both Suggs and Paul Weller(vocalists with the biggest bands of the early eighties in Britain, Madness & the Jam)produce excellent and well rounded songs that capture their own styles. Sam Brown, massively underrated everywhere creates a beautiful and touching melody that would possibly stand as the most talked about track if she had the fame of other female pop vocalists and Marc Almond of Soft Cell surpasses his original version of 'Say hello, Wave goodbye' with the help of Jools Holland.

Overall, not an album for everyone but certainly an album to be judged by the music alone and nothing else.

Possibly one of the biggest secrets on the web site. An amazing ensemble of 5-star talent, originality and downright guts. Look at the list of players. Jools Holland (he of BBC America fame) piano mastery is a serious WOW factor. His duet with Eric Clapton makes them sound like old mates, and although I'm not a Sting fan, their rendition of Seventh Son is an astonishing opener to this CD. Certainly driving music and certainly a contender for Chuck Leavell

I listened to this album - circa 2006 - with mixed emotions but without disappointment. Some of the big names have altered their normal styles, but each piece is above average and many are just great interpretations totally in synchrony with the big band and blues sound. It has the last original from Harrison, a Knoffler, Cale and Clapton you wouldn't expect but which pleasantly surprises, a superb Taj Mahal and an amazing Jamiroquai interpretation of 'I'm in the mood for love'. Yes there are the big names, but what most people haven't commented on is the great music from the Jools Holland Band itself. They have taken the big band and blues sounds to the next level and every song in this album has gained because of it. The experiment has worked really well and I don't think there are many like it. This is fortunately NOT your standard 'tribute album with friends'. A very creative album that I enjoy.

When I got this for my birthday I'll admit it just sat on the desk for ages in its wrapping before I finally listened to it. But when I did, it just BLEW ME AWAY! The Sting number, "Seventh Son", Eric Bibb's "All that you are" and the tracks "It's so blue" and "I wanna be around" are the best, with some fantastic big band style and god knows what. This is real "feel good" music and not just that but I think the variety of style is very great, unlike some other commenters's views. You have to really listen to it lots to understand that, and get the real feel of it. This album is a winner and better than all the other Jools Holland discs. What an amazing performance. I think all the artists did a great job but Jool's Holland's piano arrangement in track 15 is so skillful and complex. I can't understand how anyone could not like most of these tracks. Fantastic work.