The Perth Festival tested the water with the inclusion of Jools Holland and His Rhythm and Blues Band in its programme, and was rewarded not only with a full house, but - judging by the acclaim which greeted the encore - a well-satisfied audience. If it marked a modest shift in direction for the festival, however, it was very much business as usual for the band.

Jools Holland has proved highly adept at making the most of the talents he possesses, both as a musician and a TV presenter. He is an old-fashioned entertainer at heart, a point underlined by his opening flourish, when he whipped a silky red sheet from his glitter-covered piano and launched into a tumbling boogie-woogie piano figure, the prelude to a typically lively, no-frills set with a high-nostalgia appeal.

His piano playing is easily the most impressive of his attainments, built on a base of boogie-woogie and stride piano with rhythm and blues riffing. Bolstered by the energised drumming of Gilson Lavis, Mark Flanagan's crisp guitar work, and a tight, punchy horn section, he moved out from that base to take in blues, gospel, early rock'n'roll, and even ska, with trombonist Rico Rodrigues adding the Caribbean touch.

Holland is personable rather than really interesting as a singer, and his vocals were very indistinct in the sound mix. His son, Christopher, played organ throughout, but proved no more distinguished in the vocal department, and it was left to Sam Brown to lift the pace with her powerful contributions on four songs, including Dylan's The Times They Are A'Changing.

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