Jools Holland and His Rhythm and Blues Orchestra

Jools Holland brings his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra to The Hexagon in Reading on 5 November 2026. Pianist, bandleader and founding member of Squeeze, Holland has spent decades honing a sound rooted in boogie-woogie, blues, swing and early rock’n’roll. His playing balances rolling left-hand patterns and rapid-fire phrases with tight horn responses, supported by a rhythm section built for groove. The orchestra draws on the big band tradition, giving space to brass punches, call-and-response lines and spotlight solos that push the arrangements forward.

On stage, Holland’s piano sits at the core while the band moves between jump blues, New Orleans flavours, shuffles and soulful slow burns. The set typically revisits cornerstones of the rhythm and blues songbook alongside his own material, shaped by arrangements that favour clarity, momentum and room for improvisation. For listeners who know him from Squeeze or discovered him through his long-running TV work, this concert shows the through line of his music: a conversation between piano, horns and rhythm, played by a seasoned touring ensemble.