New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Celebrated musician, bandleader and television host
Jools Holland has amassed an almighty line-up of musicians, each a master of their individual instrument, for his new album PIANOLA. PIANO & FRIENDS. A loving tribute to the black and white keys that have become synonymous with Holland and his show-stopping stylings. PIANOLA. PIANO & FRIENDS, available for pre-order now, is set for release on Friday 19 November via Warner
Music on CD, double LP and all major streaming services.
Jools Holland's forthcoming PIANOLA. PIANO & FRIENDS celebrates the community and conviviality that the piano inspires. At the core of the album is the eponymous pianola that was once owned by his grandmother Rosie. A sturdy self-playing stand-up, Grandmother Rosie's war-torn pianola once entertained guests in her little front room before a young Holland began learning learn to play on it, sparking his love of music and this very album. A constant champion of musicians around the world, Holland has brought together a truly unique line-up of some of the world's greatest artists in their field, from unrivalled concert pianist Lang Lang to guitar master
David Gilmour as well as the vocal talents of Ruby Turner and Gregory Porter, for this expansive album, showcasing the vibrant versatility and virtuosity of the piano.
With seven tracks written by Holland himself, the album has been produced by multi-instrumentalist Nitin Sawhney, who received the Ivor Novello's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017 and whose distinctive creative vision profoundly shaped the album, as well as Jools' longtime producer Laurie Latham with one track co-written and produced by Mousse T.
After a brief introduction by Jools himself, the inimitable Trombone Shorty, together with the Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, get into full swing on 'Morris Dance' while Holland jams alongside the effortless charm of Booker T. in 'Rockin' Lock-in'. Two true musical titans also make an appearance on PIANOLA. PIANO & FRIENDS with
Tom Jones giving a beautiful, heart-wrenching performance on 'Forgive Me', backed by the London Contemporary Voices choir and The Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, while
David Gilmour showcases his guitar prowess on the soaring 'Blues For The End Of Time', framed by
Dhani Harrison's interesting sonic touches.
Mercury Prize nominee Moses Boyd makes two appearances, firstly alongside YolanDa Brown on the reggae inflected 'Surfin' and then with certified legend
Herbie Hancock on 'St Louis Blues'. Another piano maestro, Lang Lang, flexes his fingers on the perfectly poised 'Love Letter to Groningen' while
Gregory Porter gives a powerful performance of the classic song 'Mona Lisa', recorded at The Royal Albert Hall for Later with…Jools Holland's 25th Anniversary show in
September 2017.
Alongside regular star collaborators such as Ruby Turner, who Holland accompanies on Grandma Rosie's original pianola,
Jamie Cullum and Nitin Sawhney, other musical stars featured on PIANOLA. PIANO & FRIENDS include blues maestro Joe Bonamassa, German house pioneer and producer Mousse T., YES' Rick Wakeman and towering talent
Ayanna Witter-Johnson. In a very special moment in the album, Holland plays tribute to his dear friend
Dr. John with the posthumous release of 'Boogie Woogie Twins'. A fiendishly difficult duet written by Jools and Dr. John, the pair astonished the studio audience in New York, in October 1988, as they performed the piece live for US TV show Night Music.
PIANOLA. PIANO & FRIENDS has been principally recorded at Helicon Mountain, Greenwich, and The Dairy Studios, Brixton, with additional recording at Buckjump Studio, New Orleans, USA, Shanghai Vocational School of Contemporary Music, China, and Peppermint Pavillon, Hannover, Germany.
Commenting on the release of PIANOLA. PIANO & FRIENDS,
Jools Holland said, 'I'm humbled to have made this record with the greatest instrumental and vocal artists of our day. And so grateful to my lifelong friend the piano for making it possible.'
Nitin Sawhney added: 'It was such an honour and privilege to be asked by Jools to come on board as a producer for his new album 'PIANOLA.PIANO & FRIENDS'. Jools and I have met many times over the years whether through jamming together on Later and for his radio show, for the Proms at the Royal Albert Hall or via mutual friends. We share a common love for the piano and the rich variety of sounds, possibilities and artistry that can be reached by the frequencies and vibrations of its keys and strings. Watching Jools' thought processes and total commitment to his art has been particularly poignant during this crazy lock down period. We were constantly looking for new ways in which we could continue to optimise Jools' collaborations via the use of working with technologies and traditions both new and old. It has been a joy from start to finish and I feel the sonic journey of the album perfectly encapsulates the pleasure we took in its creation.'
Tickets are also on sale for Jools Holland's Autumn / Winter tour. Spanning 33 dates including two nights at the iconic Royal Albert Hall, Holland will be joined by his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, celebrating their 25th anniversary together. Other guests include Lulu, chart-topping pop star and comedian Vic Reeves and Holland's
Squeeze bandmate Chris Difford.
PRE-ORDER PIANOLA. PIANO & FRIENDS NOW: https://amzn.to/3AdZQKn
OUT FRIDAY 19 NOVEMBER
TRACKLISTING
CD
1. Instructions*
2.
Jools Holland 'Morris Dance' feat. Trombone Shorty and The Rhythm & Blues Orchestra*
3. Booker T. 'Rockin' Lock-in' feat.
George Latham*
4.
Tom Jones 'Forgive Me' feat. London Contemporary Voices and The Rhythm & Blues Orchestra*
5.
David Gilmour 'Blues For The End Of Time' feat. sonic space design by
Dhani Harrison*
6.
Jools Holland 'Hard Times' feat.
David Sanborn and The Rhythm & Blues Orchestra
7. YolanDa Brown 'Surfin' feat. Moses Boyd and The Rhythm & Blues Orchestra Horn Section
8. Lang Lang 'Love Letter To Groningen'
9.
Herbie Hancock 'St. Louis Blues' feat. Moses Boyd
10.
Gregory Porter 'Mona Lisa'
11.
Joe Bonamassa 'Requiem' feat. Gilson Lavis and Pino Palladino
12.
Dr. John 'Boogie Woogie Twins' feat. Omar Hakim and Marcus Miller
12.
Jools Holland 'Prelude No 1 in C Major' feat. The Rhythm & Blues Orchestra
14.
Jamie Cullum 'Ghost In The Piano'
15.
Ayanna Witter-Johnson 'To Whom It May Concern'
16.
Jools Holland 'Etude 53'*
17.
Mousse T. 'Do The Boogie' feat. The Rhythm & Blues Orchestra Horn Section
18. Moses Boyd 'Abide With Me'
19. Rick Wakeman 'Rockin' The Boogie' feat. The Rhythm & Blues Orchestra
20. Nitin Sawhney 'Worst Man In London' feat. Anna Phoebe and London Contemporary Voices
21. Ruby Turner 'The Piano' feat. Nan's pianola*
*Written by Jools Holland
2LP
SIDE A
1.Instructions
2.
Jools Holland 'Morris Dance' feat. Trombone Shorty and The Rhythm & Blues Orchestra
3. Booker T. 'Rockin' Lock-in' feat.
George Latham
4.
Tom Jones 'Forgive Me' feat. London Contemporary Voices and The Rhythm & Blues Orchestra
5.
David Gilmour 'Blues For The End Of Time' feat. sonic space design by
Dhani Harrison
SIDE B
6.
Jools Holland 'Hard Times' feat.
David Sanborn and The Rhythm & Blues Orchestra
7. YolanDa Brown 'Surfin' feat. Moses Boyd and The Rhythm & Blues Orchestra Horn Section
8. Lang Lang 'Love Letter To Groningen'
9.
Herbie Hancock 'St. Louis' Blues' feat. Moses Boyd
10.
Gregory Porter 'Mona Lisa'
SIDE C
11.
Joe Bonamassa 'Requiem' feat. Gilson Lavis & Pino Palladino
12.
Dr. John 'Boogie Woogie Twins' feat. Omar Hakim & Marcus Miller
13.
Jools Holland 'Prelude No 1 in C Major' feat. The Rhythm & Blues Orchestra
14.
Jamie Cullum 'Ghost In The Piano'
15.
Ayanna Witter-Johnson 'To Whom It May Concern'
SIDE D
16.
Jools Holland 'Etude 53'
17.
Mousse T. 'Do The Boogie' feat. The Rhythm & Blues Orchestra Horn Section
18. Moses Boyd 'Abide With Me'
19. Rick Wakeman 'Rockin' The Boogie' feat. The Rhythm & Blues Orchestra
20. Nitin Sawhney 'Worst Man In London' feat. Anna Phoebe & London Contemporary Voices
21. Ruby Turner 'The Piano' feat. Nan's pianola
Pre-order 'Pianola. Piano & Friends' here: https://amzn.to/3AdZQKn
joolsholland.lnk.to/DoTheBoogie
amzn.to/3AdZQKn
