Jools Holland Exclusive Interview for Pianist, Part 2

Part 2 of Erica Worth’s interview with Jools Holland

A fixture on UK television and radio with his boogie-woogie piano playing, jovial personality, and banter with other musicians, Jools Holland really does love what he plays. Erica Worth meets the high-energy star.
 
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‘The first album I bought was a boogie-woogie album with Pete Johnson and Albert Ammons doing duets, and Jimmy Yancey doing blues. Jimmy had this incredible feel, a real feel for the blues. Johnson and Ammons were great technicians. It’s finding the person that connects the music to you. It could be your aunt playing the “Moonlight” Sonata that you love the best of all. Brendel won’t mean the same to you! It’s finding something that connects. The more you look, the more you will find.’

So far, our conversation has been a lot about ‘feel’ and ‘connection’. What about the more technical theory aspect of music? Did Jools learn to read music? ‘I didn’t really read music. I learned the theory of music, which I found very useful. I learned the chords, ah yes, from dear Mr Pixley in school.’ Jools was the only pupil who opted for music in his school. This was Deptford, South London in the ‘60s, remember… but still. ‘Then there was a jazz pianist called Duke Burrell and he showed me a chord, a great chord. There were pianists along the way that showed me great things, new riffs and so on. They were all useful and helpful.’
 
Read part 3 here