Jools Holland
High-octane boogie-woogie piano and brass-heavy swing. It is the sound of a crowded room, a cold drink, and a band that refuses to let the energy drop.
High-octane boogie-woogie piano and brass-heavy swing. It is the sound of a crowded room, a cold drink, and a band that refuses to let the energy drop.
Jools Holland brings the spirit of a rowdy, mid-century jazz club into the modern era with a relentless sense of joy. His music is defined by his virtuosic, percussive piano style, which serves as the engine for his massive Rhythm & Blues Orchestra. It is big, brassy, and unashamedly celebratory, leaning heavily into the shuffle rhythms of boogie-woogie and the sophisticated arrangements of classic big band swing.
What makes Holland truly distinctive is his role as a musical curator. His albums are often collaborative tapestries, weaving his signature piano work through performances by legendary vocalists across every genre. The production is almost always live-feeling and organic, capturing the kinetic energy of a dozen musicians locked into a groove. It is music that feels physically incapable of sitting still.
Start with 'Swing Fever' for a high-energy collaboration with Rod Stewart that showcases his ability to modernize classic standards. If you want to hear his pure technical skill, his 'Solo Piano' work reveals the intricate, bluesy foundations of his style. It is the perfect soundtrack for any moment that requires a shot of pure, unadulterated musical adrenaline.
Julian Miles Holland (born 24 January 1958) is an English pianist, bandleader, singer, composer and television presenter. He was an original member of the rock band Squeeze. From 1982 until 1987, he co-presented the Channel 4 music programme The Tube. Since 1992, he has hosted Later... with Jools Holland, a music show aired on BBC2, on which his annual show Hootenanny is based. Holland is a published author and appears on television shows besides his own. He regularly hosted the programme Jools Holland on BBC Radio 2. In 2004, Holland collaborated with the Welsh singer Tom Jones on an album of traditional R&B music. He achieved his first UK number one album in 2024 with Swing Fever, a collaboration with Rod Stewart. He has worked with many other artists including Marc Almond, Jayne County, José Feliciano, Sting, Eric Clapton, Mark Knopfler, George Harrison, David Gilmour, Ringo Starr, Dr. John, Bono, The The, Ruby Turner, and Amy Winehouse.
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