When you go to see Jools Holland and his band in the open air, it’s more than a gig, it’s an occasion. There is an etiquette to follow. Get there early to find a nice spot, take a picnic filled with yummy goodies, make sure to remember a cushion for your bum and try not to make it look too obvious you're taking a peep at what other people have brought to nosh!
As the sun disappeared behind the trees to leave a dusky pink sky above the grounds of Sennowe Park, the cooling night air was soon ignited with the warmth and musical passion you're guaranteed from a night out with Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra. Infectious boogie woogie had the crowds near the front jumpin’ off their blankets to happily dance, cheer and most importantly, feel part of Jools’ orchestra for more than 90 minutes of music played by some of the finest musicians in the business. I’ll admit, I was a bit curious as to who the audience would be. Was it the die-hard jazz and boogie woogie fans? Would it be those who've got to know Jools Holland through Later on ´óÏó´«Ã½2? Come to think of it, how old are you supposed to be to enjoy Jools Holland? The answer was pretty clear – I'd arrived in middle England where wicker picnic baskets sat happily alongside supermarket cool bags and age didn't matter. All you needed was a love of the music. People of every generation were there.
 | | Sam Brown |
From the gyrating grannies (worryingly close to where I was standing) to the kids bopping on the shoulders of their dads - most of who were doing that really bad dad-dancing thing. There was also a fair scattering of cool and elegant twenty-somethings trying to look funky in their designer shades - even though it was dark! It was a night of boogie woogie beats blended with hints of reggae, ska and jazz blended to make a big phat wall of sound, so rich in texture and volume you could feel the vibrations washing over, through and all around you. Every so often you could just grasp the elements of a tune you recognised, before it was effortlessly moved on to something else by the 18-piece orchestra. Special guests Guest vocalists of the night were Sam Brown and the great Ruby Turner. Sam’s distinctive and edgy vocals cut through the orchestra's big sound to provide some much needed light and shade to the performance. Boogie woogie has an infectious beat, a feel-good vibe that can't help but make a party go with a swing, but it does all kind of sound the same after a while. Sam's performance added just the right highlights to put a sparkle into the musical mix. Ruby Turner was a massive hit with the crowd. There was great applause as she arrived on stage to perform three numbers, including Count Me In – a collaborative track with Holland featured on the album More Friends.
 | | Ruby Turner |
From the moment she stepped on the stage, Ruby Turner had the crowd in raptures. She could have quite happily performed for the rest of the evening and I'd have been more than happy. She’s big in voice and stature. She knows how to deliver a song with energy and passion. She was on the Sennowe Park stage for nowhere near long enough – maybe we can welcome her back to Norfolk with her own billing next year? I love Jools Holland, he's amazing - but singing isn't his strong point. His vocal delivery is, undeniably, part of his sound and that’s what many people love, but when you're sharing a stage with the vocal talents of Ruby Turner and Sam Brown, maybe it's best to stick to playing the tunes. Jools Holland knows how to work a crowd and he had the Sennowe Park party goers in the palm of his hand, with their voices raised in song to play musical games with Jools and his orchestra. For almost 20 years, Jools Holland has been astounding audiences around the world with performances from his orchestra. I've seen them play a number of times and have never come away disappointed. It’s the first time I've enjoyed the show in the open-air rather than a concert hall and I have to say, the intimacy of the indoor experience was lost amidst the stars twinkling in a big Norfolk sky… and with it went just a little bit of the Jools Holland magic. I couldn't tell you exactly what was played on that summer’s night in north Norfolk – but I didn't care and neither, did it seem, anyone else. It was all about the mood of the evening and the orchestra’s infectious enthusiasm and love for what they do, happily shared with a 4,500 plus audience. If you missed the performance, or want to enjoy it all again in a more intimate surrounding, Jools and the band are back in Norfolk on Friday 29 October, 2004 at the UEA. The latest series of Later returns to ´óÏó´«Ã½2 on Friday 15 October, 2004. Did you go to the Jools Holland gig at Sennowe Park? Add your comments and thoughts about the night to our message board. | 
