Celebrated musician, bandleader and television host Jools Holland has amassed an almighty line-up of musicians, each a master of their individual instrument, for his new album Pianola. Piano & Friends. A loving tribute to the black and white keys that have become synonymous with Holland and his show-stopping stylings.
Pianola. Piano & Friends celebrates the community and conviviality that the piano inspires. At the core of the album is the eponymous pianola that was once owned by his grandmother Rosie. A sturdy self-playing stand-up, Grandmother Rosie’s war-torn pianola once entertained guests in her little front room before a young Holland began learning learn to play on it, sparking his love of music and this very album. A constant champion of musicians around the world, Holland has brought together a truly unique line-up of some of the world’s greatest artists in their field, from unrivalled concert pianist Lang Lang to guitar master David Gilmour as well as the vocal talents of Ruby Turner and Gregory Porter, for this expansive album, showcasing the vibrant versatility and virtuosity of the piano.
With seven tracks written by Holland himself, the album has been produced by multi-instrumentalist Nitin Sawhney, who received the Ivor Novello's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017 and whose distinctive creative vision profoundly shaped the album, as well as Jools’ long-time producer Laurie Latham with one track co-written and produced by Mousse T.