Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. The Informer - with Ruby Turner
2. Honey Hush - with Ruby Turner
3. I Went By - with Louise Marshall
4. St. Louis Blues - with Ruby Turner
5. Boring - with Ruby Turner
6. Them That Speak Don't Know
7. L-O-V-E - with Rico Rodriguez
8. Waterloo Bridge - with Louise Marshall
9. Fat Fred
10. Bang And Pop
11. Jumpin' At The Jubilee - with Ruby Turner
12. The Life Of A Man - with Paul Carrack & Ruby Turner
13. Max The Miller
14. I Know Where I Am Going - with Rico Rodriguez
15. Shaking Round The Clock
16. Playboy Life
17. Love Made Them Do That - with Ruby Turner

Disc 2:

1. Rock Me - with Ruby Turner
2. Precious Lord - with Ruby Turner
3. Seven Acts Of Mercy - with Louise Marshall
4. Consider The Source - Instrumental
5. Where In The World - with Beverley Knight
6. A Change Is Gonna Come - with Beverley Knight
7. Peace In The Valley - with Ruby Turner
8. Kyrie * - with Ruby Turner
9. Sanctus*
10. Up Above My Head I Hear Music In The Air*

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3187 in Music
• Released on: 2008-11-17
• Number of discs: 2
• Dimensions: .26 pounds

Amazon.co.uk Review
Britain’s favourite jazz man Jools Holland, along with his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, have been bringing their consistent brand of big band boogie to the masses for a remarkable two decades. Featuring 17 tracks (three quarters of which have been penned by Jools), The Informer is the band’s latest collection of feelgood British soul, rollicking boogie-woogie and sassy swing. Featuring British soul singers Ruby Turner and Louise Marshall as well as famed ska/reggae trombonist Rico Rodriguez, The Informer gets off to a soaring start with opener “The Informer,” which showcases Turner’s fabulous Motown-style vocals. The rousing “St Louis Blues” and “Honey Hush” display the troupe’s blues and boogie-woogie chops respectively, while songs such as “I Went By” (featuring the wonderful up and coming singer Louise Marshall) show the band can tackle ballads with equally splendid results. The Informer also comes with a fantastic live CD, which is more gospel-themed and features potent performances from Turner as well as Beverley Knight. Two decades on, Jools & Co remain very much at the peak of their musical powers. --Danny McKenna

CD Description
Featuring British soul singer Ruby Turner, 'The Informer' by Jools Holland And His Rhythm And Blues Orchestra showcasesBritain's most popular big band. With three quarters of thesongs written by Jools himself, Jools and his orchestra arejoined by various guest vocalists as well as Turner, including Louise Marshall and Rico Rodriguez. 'The Informer' includes a bonus CD with shows at Wells and Rochester Cathedrals.

Customer Reviews

Big Band Back On Top!!!
Jools Holland and his big band had a run of incredibly impressive albums- the 'and friends' series, 'swinging the blues', and the excellent collaboration with Tom Jones. Then came the very disappointing 'Moving out to the country', and last year's greatest hits compilation, and I started to fear that Jools and the gang had started to lose their way and run out of ideas (though live they were still as good as ever). Then along comes this album, blowing away any doubts. They're back, they're on form, they're having a blast. This album does what Jools and co. do best - delivers a set of swinging tunes, designed to get you up and dancing. If you're not even tapping your feet to the music by the end of the last track you need urgent medical help!

The album contains a well selected set of covers and originals, played with decided vim and vigour by the band. Vocals are shared between Jools, the superb Ruby Turner, and Rico Rodriguez (on the standout ska track L-O-V-E). The band are on fiery form, meshing together superbly and delivering a wall of sound that's totally irresistable. The best bit though is that every one sounds like they are really enjoying themselves. This is music as it should be, none of your Miles Davis serious experimentalism here, just a bunch of friends having a load of fun and sharing the joy.

And that's just the first disc! Included in this release is a second album called 'Consider The Source', a selection of recordings taken from live concerts in Cathedrals. The emphasis here is on Gospel, with Ruby Turner really coming into her own. The set is fantastic, and really is how church ought to be! There'd be a lot more people there on a Sunday morning if we had hymns sung like this!

All in all an excellent, swinging album, which marks a return to form for a terrific group of fun loving musicians. Highly recommended to fans of swing, blues, ska, gospel, or just music lovers in general. This really is the next best thing to seeing them live.

Be Informed
This is one of the best CD,s I have ever heard, the mix of ska r&b big band and boogie woogie is fantastic. Ruby Turner has an outstanding voice whether singing upbeat or ballads. It is worth buying for THE INFORMER alone but my favourite is
L-O-V-E a tremendous ska beat.

Brillian Big Band Sound
If you like Jools you will love this, a fantastic collection of songs. The second CD is religious music with a swing, literally. Fantastic.