Oh my god, Jools Holland!

So back when we were planning this trip, I was looking at what was going on in Edinburgh when we were here, and though we were missing the very famous Fringe Festival, there was an R&B festival going on. Looking at the lineup, I saw that Jools Holland and his R&B Band were playing on the Saturday we were here, so I bought tickets.

Honestly, the only things I really knew about Jools Holland were that he was in Squeeze for while and then quit and that he was a British TV personality and "character." What I did not know what that his music style was boogie-woogie and that he had a big band with numerous guest singers in his show.

As soon as he sat down and started playing that boogie-woogie style I was hooked. If I could be gifted a talent overnight I would wish for the ability to play boogie-woogie piano. It's so cool and free and fun-looking. He was clearly enjoying himself, and even though he's the "name" he's a totally generous performer. Eventually he was joined on stage by an organist, bass, guitarist, drummer, 3 trombones, 3 trumpets and 5(!) saxophones. And couple of background singers of course. Everyone got their moments.

They played a bunch of boogie songs and then he got up and announced it was time for some ska. I always loved ska- the Specials, Madness, all those bands. If you don't know ska, it's kind of like very fast reggae. So two new singers, a man and a woman, came out and they were great, to the point of getting an enthusiastic but obviously reluctant-to-stand crowd to its feet. Things kept getting better, because he then brought out someone named Ruby Turner, who turned things up to 11. Big woman, huge voice, great stage presence and terrific rapport with the band. I'd never heard boogie gospel before, but it's pretty great.

Unfortunately, he's not coming to the States this year, at least as far as we can see, but it was one of the best shows I've seen in a long time. But if you ever get the chance to see him, jump at it.