Jools Holland on walking back to New Orleans, breaking down barriers and one very big bang

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The saying goes that you shouldn’t meet your heroes, but Jools Holland has spent his entire career doing just that. He agrees with the sentiment, but suggests it’s more accurate to say you shouldn’t expect your heroes to be perfect people.

Jools Holland, the popular host of BBC Two’s long-running music show Later…, is reflecting on his career with a new program, New Orleans Jukebox (Sunday, BBC Four). The show centers around a re-edited version of a 40-year-old Channel 4 documentary called Walking to New Orleans, featuring rediscovered performances and insightful commentary from artists connected to the iconic city, all drawn from the BBC’s archives.

Jools was 27 years old when he created the documentary, which grew out of the popular music show The Tube. He’d been co-hosting The Tube for over four years when the network, pleased with its success and having some extra funding, asked him what kind of project he’d like to pursue. He told TopMob he immediately suggested a trip to New Orleans. He explains that the television landscape at that time was unique and doesn’t really exist anymore.

I’ve always been passionate about New Orleans music, and this was a chance to not only learn more about it, but also to connect with the musicians who truly define its spirit.

The initial scouting trip went really well. It was a beautiful, quiet time of year – almost magical – because there were no tourists around. Everything needed for the film just naturally came together, as all the key musicians in New Orleans at the time were available. We didn’t plan things out with a script like they do now; it was more of a ‘go and see what happens’ approach.

The film features a lively road trip from Louisiana to New Orleans in an Oldsmobile, filled with encounters with musical icons. We see Lee Dorsey modifying his car, Allen Toussaint honoring Professor Longhair, and the Gospel Soul Children performing by the side of the road. Even Holland gets to play piano with Fats Domino, whose song “Walking to New Orleans” inspired the film’s title, though he’s best known for the classic “Blueberry Hill.”

Meeting him was a real peak experience for me, though it wasn’t exactly straightforward. It all started when Quint Davis, a producer I admired, brought us together at the artist’s incredible home during one of my visits. Honestly, it was something else – a massive pink mansion overlooking everything, with classic, powder-blue Lincolns getting detailed right out front. But the surprising part? He preferred a tiny, rustic shack on the property – almost like a gatehouse – and that’s where he actually hung out. He cooked for me, and there was a piano tucked away in there, too. It was a truly unforgettable first impression.

I remember Quint telling me to explain my film idea to this guy, Jools. I was young, a bit of a rambling mess, and honestly, pretty nervous. All I really needed to say was how much I admired him and ask if he’d consider being in the movie. But I just kept talking and talking! After about twenty minutes, he turned to his friend and said, completely deadpan, that he couldn’t understand a single word I was saying. It was mortifying!

Quint asked Jools to play something on the piano, so I did. He recognized it and said, ‘Ah, you’re playing my music!’ I told him I loved his work and had listened to it my whole life. He immediately said he wanted to be in the film!

Because the musician was constantly on tour, they couldn’t film the piano duet until he was in London. Despite appearing to be filmed at someone’s home, the scene was actually shot in the Royal Festival Hall’s dressing room. It was a bit of television trickery – something that might not be allowed today – but they were just focused on getting the scene done!

Honestly, it was such a heartwarming TV moment! Seeing Domino really get into it, his face just lit up, and then them sharing that hug after their song… it was beautiful. I almost teared up myself watching it! I kept thinking, ‘Wow, this actually happened!’ It was just incredible to witness.

The film is full of fun appearances by well-known comedians and personalities, showing how popular and well-connected Holland was in the entertainment world. Robbie Coltrane and Stephen Fry both lend their voices as narrators, and Holland’s television co-host Paula Yates also makes an appearance. An extended version of the film even included Rik Mayall and the famously nonsensical Stanley Unwin.

The film ends with a lively song called “Dr. Jazz,” reminiscent of New Orleans, followed by a shocking finale: Holland and drummer Gilson Lavis approach a car that suddenly explodes.

They didn’t activate the device until they’d passed a point of no return – a small branch on the road surrounded by other debris. Apparently, the person who oversaw the operation is no longer working there. He was talented, but very relaxed about procedures. For example, they removed the roof of my car because it was originally intended to be a convertible, but wasn’t when it arrived. He simply said it wasn’t a problem and they’d just take the roof off. That was how he approached everything.

At the very end, we had to detonate a car, and he made my mom actually push the button. He was worried that if he did it and something went wrong, he’d be liable – there’s a lot of lawsuits in America, you know? So Mom did it. He was panicking, shouting instructions at her, and she was completely confused. As we got closer to the moment, we realized we only had one shot and couldn’t hesitate or second-guess ourselves.

The explosion knocked us off our feet and sent us flying. We were incredibly lucky – just a few more steps forward would have been disastrous. I recall Gilson joking that if I made another movie, he’d be working on a different project next time!

New Orleans Jukebox is a tribute to Lavis, a close friend who passed away on November 5th at the age of 74. Holland, who played music with Lavis in the band Squeeze from the start, explains that writing ‘Walking to New Orleans’ was a special way for them to reconnect.

Seeing him again really sparked what became my Big Band. Right after ‘Walking to New Orleans’ was released, I started doing little gigs, just me playing a couple of piano solos. Then I’d announce, ‘Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome my big band!’… and it would just be Gilson walking out! He was the whole band at that point. Eventually, it actually grew into a full big band, and Lavis stuck with me through it all. That band eventually evolved into my Rhythm and Blues Orchestra, with Lavis still playing a key role.

Jukebox doesn’t just showcase Professor Longhair; it also features a wealth of archived performances from other iconic New Orleans musicians like Dr. John, Allen Toussaint, Mahalia Jackson, and Louis Armstrong—many of whom are no longer with us, but whose music lives on. You’ll also find performances by Irma Thomas, the Neville Brothers, and Trombone Shorty.

Holland is keeping the guest list for this year’s Hootenanny a secret. He says he doesn’t have the list right now and isn’t allowed to share it yet, but hinted that a member of the Rolling Stones might be attending. He didn’t offer any further details.

Holland is one of the most enthusiastic music promoters on TV and radio. That’s why he was the perfect choice to interview the Beatles for their 1995 documentary series, the Anthology, which has recently been updated and expanded for Disney+. Holland will be sharing his experiences about this in an interview with TopMob next week!

Holland continues to champion the power of music, as demonstrated by his collaboration with Fats Domino – a testament to its ability to connect people. He beautifully explains that music transcends boundaries, acting as a universal language that needs no words. This allowed a genuine connection with Domino, built on mutual respect and affection.

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2025-11-14 12:08