Jools Holland's Big Band Rhythm & Blues

1	Seventh Son by Sting
2	Horse To The Water by George Harrison
3	Will It Go Round In Circles by Paul Weller
4	Valentine Moon by Sam Brown
5	The Return Of The Cowboy Blues by Joe Strummer
6	The Hand That Changed It's Mind by Dr. John
7	Nobody But You by Ruby Turner
8	Revolution by Stereophonics
9	I Put A Spell On You by Mica Paris & David Gilmour
10	Oranges & Lemons Again by Suggs
11	All That You Are by Eric Bibb
12	Madmoiselle Will Decide by Mark Knopfler
13	Back O' Town Blues by Van Morrison
14	I Wanna Be Around by John Cale
15	I'm Ready by Steve Winwood
16	Say Hello, Wave Goodbye by Marc Almond
17	T-Bone Shuffle by Mick Hucknall
18	It's So Blue by Paul Carrack
19	Outskirts Of Town by Taj Mahal
20	I'm In The Mood For Love by Jamiroquai
21	What Would I Do Without You by Eric Clapton

Barnes & Noble

Originally released in England as Small World Big Band, this rollicking 22-song compilation from ex-Squeeze pianist turned British TV host Jools Holland is notable on a number of fronts. First, it contains the last known song ever written and recorded by George Harrison, "Horse to the Water," cut on October 2, 2001 -- just months before his death on November 29th. The song, which Harrison cowrote with his son Dhani, is a swinging shuffle that bemoans our inability to confront difficult but obvious problems. Capturing both Harrison's empathy and his wry wit, the song finds the Beatle observing friends locked in mortal battle and then takes pot shots at a preacher who "acts like he's possessed." The second thing about Holland's disc is the high-wattage star power of his guests: The singers here include Sting (covering Willie Dixon's "Seventh Son"), Mark Knopfler (his own "Mademoiselle Will Decide"), Paul Weller (Billy Preston's "Will It Go Round in Circles"), Eric Clapton (an evocative take on Ray Charles's "What Would I Do Without You"), and other mega talents. There are other less famous names, too, including Sam Brown, who delivers a Dusty Springfield-like turn on her collaboration with Holland, "Valentine Moon"; the Stereophonics, who sass up the Beatles' "Revolution"; and an impressively brassy John Cale on Johnny Mercer's "I Wanna Be Around." "Brassy" is actually the operative word here. Holland likes his piano solos brash and his horns splashy, which makes this an ideal jam session. No matter who is singing, no matter what the song, the music here is loud, loose, and fun. William Pearl

All Music Guide

Although this is nominally credited to Jools Holland & His Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, really this is a 22-track various-artists compilation with Holland's ensemble serving as the house band. The lineup of old and new, superstar and cult talent is impressive, even if many of them are past their prime: Sting, John Cale, Stevie Winwood, Taj Mahal, Jamiroquai, Paul Weller, Joe Strummer, Dr. John, David Gilmour, Mark Knopfler, Van Morrison, Paul Carrack, and Eric Clapton are some of the artists given a track. Holland has described his music as big band blues, and that's an apt description for a good deal of the songs, whether it's Sting's "Seventh Son," Taj Mahal's "Outskirts of Town," or Morrison's "Back o' Town Blues." Actually, though, some of this is soul, AOR rock, or ska. That doesn't necessarily count as a strike against the record, it just makes the groove less consistent. There is a consistent, hepped-up party mood, though one that's unrelenting yet slick enough so that it's rather like a party that tries too hard to succeed and goes on too long. Certainly it will attract the most attention for George Harrison's "Horse to the Water," his last recording (done shortly before his death in late 2001). Harrison was a great musician, but this is not a great or good track; the song isn't much, and his voice, unfortunately, sounds like it's in faltering shape. For the most part it's amiable and unmemorable, hitting its finest note on Steve Winwood's "I'm Ready," in which he (or someone, the part is not detailed in the credits) rips out some organ work straight from the spirit of his Spencer Davis Group days. The ska cuts by Suggs and Jamiroquai actually make for a nice change of pace from the grand blues strutting. There are also some missteps that might have been better left uncontributed, like Paul Weller's cover of Billy Preston's "Will It Go Round in Circles" and Stereophonics' version of the Beatles' "Revolution." Richie Unterberger