Jools Holland and His Rhythm and Blues Orchestra

Jools Holland brings his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra to Cambridge Corn Exchange in Cambridge on 1 November 2026. Pianist, bandleader and founding member of Squeeze, Holland has long championed a piano‑driven blend of rhythm and blues and boogie‑woogie. His quick right‑hand runs and rolling left‑hand lines s’alignent avec une section de cuivres percutante et une rythmique taillée pour le swing, le shuffle et le rock’n’roll. On stage he leads from the keys, cueing the band, trading solos and sliding from jump blues to slow‑burn ballads. The set ranges across his own catalogue alongside staples of the classic R&B songbook, reworked for a big‑band setup that favours tight riffs, call‑and‑response and space for improvisation. The Orchestra brings brass, reeds, drums, bass, guitar and voices, giving the music weight without losing its bounce. Known to many from Later… with Jools Holland, he treats the concert like a live session, spotlighting each section while keeping the groove at the centre.