Jools Holland, Jose Feliciano and the Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, Colston Hall
Posted on: 2017-12-10
Our rating:
This was the perfect music fuelled evening for fans of Jools Holland’s annual New Year’s Hootenanny and celebrating and reliving the musical journey of Jazz, Blues, Gospel, Reggae….. the list goes on. You shouldn’t miss it!
Review of Jools Holland, José Feliciano and the Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, Colston Hall in Bristol - Saturday 9th December 2017
‘Enjoy yourself – it’s later than you think’
Jools Holland and friends are back at Colston Hall with the Rhythm and Blues Orchestra for two nights of heart-warming collaborations and compositions to get you in the Christmas mood.
The show started with an arrangement of old music hall classics but it was clear it would span an immense musical catalogue across the evening. From jazz songs such as ‘When the Saints go Marching In’ to the Specials’ ‘Enjoy yourself’ and it was clear that everyone did.
The show was a real trail through time, celebrating Jools as a maestro pianist and accomplished boogie curator. It also pays testament to a truly diverse and talented selection of musicians in the 11-strong brass section. It was amazing to see original Squeeze member, Gilson Lavis, who expertly performed the tight selection of Fats Waller songs, and who still drums with the veracity of a teenager, with an effortless cool.
Jools and his Orchestra were complemented by an impressive line-up of vocalists including the likes of Louise Marshall and Ruby Turner, whose powerful soulful tones certainly did bring the boogie especially during her rendition of BB King’s ‘Let The Good Times Roll. ’Bristol’s own Beth Rowley was elegant and tenacious in her performance of Bessie Smith’s ‘Gimme a Pigfoot’ emphatically supported by the fantastic Lisa graham on saxophone.
The highlight was the appearance of Puerto Rican singer José Feliciano, known for his 49- year-old hit ‘Light My Fire’ which stayed in the British charts for 16 weeks in 1968. Blind-from-birth Feliciano is an impressive a musician and showman despite looking just a bit frail at 72 years old, but it took only a moment to settle onto his stool to confirm that his music is still superb. We heard tracks from the Recent album with Jools, ‘As You See Me Now’ including the title track amongst others.
Strong Latin guitar picking and powerful tactile vocals really brought Latin America to Bristol for an evening. Plus, the seasonal favourite ‘Feliz Navidad’ was a particularly good performance involving the whole Rhythm & Blues Orchestra.
This was the perfect music fuelled evening for fans of Jools Holland’s annual New Year’s Hootenanny and celebrating and reliving the musical journey of Jazz, Blues, Gospel, Reggae….. the list goes on. You shouldn’t miss it!
You can still get tickets for Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra at Colston Hall tonight!
Sat 9 Dec & Sun 10 Dec 2017
£31.71 to £43.00 incl. booking fee
Colston Hall - 19:30
Article by:
Nina is a journalist and radio broadcaster hailing from Sheffield beyond the wall. She’s been in Bristol for nearly three years and recently completed her masters in Journalism. Nina’s interested in all things food, music and exploring arts and culture.
