Music maestro Jools Holland has announced a collaborative album with Latin
musician José Feliciano.
‘As You See Me Now’ will be released on 17 November through East West Records with physical pre-orders available from 18 September
and digital pre-orders from 19 September.
Let’s Find Each Other Tonight will be
available on all download and streaming services from 19 September. The album will
be available on CD, vinyl and digital formats.
The 14-track album includes iconic covers from a wide range of artists such as Stevie
Wonder’s Treat Myself, Lead Belly’s Midnight Special and the timeless soul classic,
Percy Mayfield’s Hit The Road Jack. The album also features international hits from
José Feliciano such as Let’s Find Each Other Tonight and One More Drink. Many
of the tracks on the album feature Jools’ renowned Rhythm & Blues Orchestra. José’s
festive favourite Feliz Navidad is given a completely new ska makeover.
Jools says of José, “One of my greatest musical heroes musically for years and
years…you put something in front of him and he just makes it sound better. When I
first heard his music, it had the same effect on me as Ray Charles, The Beatles and
Motown. Hearing José sing and play was like an arrow straight to my heart. The
album has turned out extraordinary, it’s a unique sound.”
José said, “We’ve become brothers, and for as long as I live I’ll never forget this
moment, whether I do another record with him or whether I go on his TV show. The
reason we work so well together is because his style of piano is my way of guitar
playing. There’s no music we can’t play.”
A highlight of the album is the title track, As You See Me Now, which was written by
Jools himself and sung by José. Jools says: “It comes to life and it sounds like it’s his.
I think that’s the great thing about performing: you are trying to illuminate the song.
Whether it’s one of our songs or whether it’s somebody else’s song, you are just trying
to make it come to life.”
Another highlight of ‘As You See Me Now’ is the Django Reinhardt influenced
Honeysuckle Rose. Jools says it took, “one take, that was it. It teared through like
hot club jazz from the 1930s. I’d never heard José playing like that and the band loved
it.”
Also featured is a duet with Rita Wilson called You’re So Cold that she co-wrote with
Jools while they were in the Antarctic last year.
In support of their new album, Jools and José will be heading out on the road this
autumn with a 35-date UK tour. Highlights include two dates at London’s Royal Albert
Hall, as well as arena shows at Cardiff’s Motorpoint Arena and Leeds’ First Direct
Arena. With a vast collection of boogie-woogie tracks from multiple decades, a night at one of the UK’s most popular tours is guaranteed to be a memorable one.
As well as their signature vocals, Jools’ boogie-woogie piano style mixed with José’s
inimitable Latin guitar playing provides a truly engaging listen. ‘As You See Me Now’
will be available on CD, vinyl and digital formats and released on 17 November.
Let’s Find Each Other Tonight will be available on all download and streaming services from 19 September.
