:: Jools Holland & His Rhythm & Blues Orchestra - Moving Out To The Country

Jools Holland & His Rhythm & Blues Orchestra

I know very little of Jools Holland but judging by this fine collection of acts he‘s brought together, it's pretty clear he is a man of exceptional taste. Artists like KT Tunstall, Lulu, Bob Geldof, India Arie (who sings a great rendition of 'Georgia On My Mind’), along with other equally talented performers like Paul Carrack, Mark Knopfler, Tom Jones and Sam Brown, all make an appearance here. Covering past classics and a few more obscure gems, ‘Moving Out To The Country’ is a mighty smooth ride. Some of the best tunes range from the fabulous version of ‘Dreaming My Dreams With You’ by Brian Eno, which is a haunting ballad to arguably the best song here in the exceptional cover ‘Misty Blue’ by David McAlmont, which is every bit as good as the original. These are truly memorable songs and well worth the price of admission alone. The rest of the album rises and falls in equal parts, from real quality to a few lesser enjoyable tracks filling out the remainder. I've no idea what the real purpose of bringing these acts onto one album is all for (if indeed there is one) but my ears know what they like and they like Jools Holland & His Rhythm & Blues Orchestra very much. Seek this album out for a completely different but thoroughly rewarding listen.