Big band sound met big venue on Friday when Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra played at Waddesdon Manor near Aylesbury.

Always an eye-popping demonstration of piano expertise Holland’s playing leaves spectators breathless as his hands skim seemingly effortlessly at speed across the keys as he goes from number to number interspersed with guest appearances – when he must be getting his breath back!

First of his guests was Louise Marshall with two songs, Valentine Moon and Spread Joy to the Maximum, melodic, but sometimes a little lost beneath the power of the brass section.

Roland Gift of Fine Young Cannibals fame was guest number two, his ‘anthems’ of She Drives Me Crazy and Suspicious Minds in his immediately recognisable voice. He is set to continue touring with the Jools Holland band and is a must see for soul/jazz lovers. He was a big draw as the audience crowded as close to the stage as they could get firing cameras and dancing to the music quite obviously enthralled.

Back to Jools for some more numbers, his honky-tonk style coming through with sophisticated rills and cadences which don’t seem physically possible for the time the pieces take. In all a roistering programme from him held together by the relaxed presentation people will know from his well-loved BBC programme.

And then onto his last guest, Ruby Turner, who is actually now a full member of Jools’ band playing about 100 concerts a year. As Jools would say, “marvellous” .

The band next plays at the Love Supreme Festival at Glynde Place at Lewes in the Sussex Downs on Sunday.