Interviews with Jools Holland, Alison Moyet and Macy Gray ahead of the 9th Dubai Jazz Festival.

1. If It’s Too
Loud,
You’re Too
OLD! As music fans across the United Arab Emirates
eagerly await the ninth Skywards Dubai
International Jazz Festival, Nick Rice speaks to
three of the headlining stars: Mr. Music himself:
Jools Holland, the acclaimed Alison Moyet and
the unmistakeable Macy Gray.
28 Open Skies

2. Inspiration
Jools Holland and His Rhythm & Blues
Orchestra will be entertaining music fans
in Dubai on 16 February.
January 2011 29

3. Profile
If you’re a big music fan you might
agree that Jools Holland possibly
has the world’s best job.
He meets, interviews and often performs with the So when he has to talk and not just play, how
best musicians. From fresh new talent to globally does he approach questioning the world’s greatest
admired legends, Holland has interviewed a never- musicians?
ending list of great performers since the 80s. But he “One technique I use is that of Commander Burt.
still prefers to let the music do the talking. Speaking He’d been the head of the Special Branch during
on the phone from his home in London, upbeat and WWII and he interviewed war criminals. He was
amiable as ever, Holland explains: “In my interviews very successful with his technique of interviewing
I’m trying to find out about the person and where people and when asked what he did he said, ‘Well
they’re coming from with their music. If I’m at the it’s quite simple, I get the person in a room, then I
piano with them, it’s sometimes easier to play what’s gain their confidence… so I’ll say something like
going on rather than talk. After all words are a very that’s a nice tie you have on or offer them a cigarette
blunt instrument, so rather than bashing guests – and then I won’t say anything else. Nine times
over the head with them, if you can use music it’s a out of 10 the person is so desperate to unbridle
lot better. You can understand 10 times more what themselves of whatever it is they’re holding in, it all
a person is about by playing something and them comes out.’ So basically, if you don’t say anything
singing to it.” the other person feels obliged to blather on.”
So says the voice of experience. Holland has been This technique rings true with Holland’s musical
in the music business for nearly 35 years, enjoying sensibilities; if you leave a gap, more often than not
huge success both as a pianist and a presenter. He one of the other musicians will fill it. It certainly
has the impressive accolade of having played with works for him as evidenced by his BBC 2 show,
successful musicians from every decade of the Later… with Jools Holland, which celebrated its
20th Century and he’s made more music 250th show last year. Now into its 37th series it
programmes than any other television broadcaster. is one of the longest running, as well as the most
Right: Despite his
hugely successful
television career
Holland remains
a musician first
and foremost.
His latest album
Rockinghorse
features 19 tracks
of original material,
interpretations and
covers. Naturally,
it also features
some famous
collaborators.
30 Open Skies

4. Profile
respected, live music shows in TV history. Since the interesting thing was that the three of them were
first show in 1992, Later has showcased musical all telling me different things and it goes to show
legends such as Sir Paul McCartney, Johnny Cash, you that history is really so vague. I’d ask them a
Al Green, David Bowie and Joe Strummer and been question about a previous event and they all had a
the first place on TV to introduce acts such as Arctic slightly different recollection of it. Like when they
Monkeys, The White Stripes, Kings Of Leon and met Elvis’ wife. Ringo said she was dressed in a red
Ray Lamontagne. and white gingham dress, very lovely. Then Paul
Holland began his successful career in television said ‘Yeah I remember she was in a black dress
in the ’80s when he co-presented Channel Four’s looking like a real Spanish beauty,’ and then George
mould-breaking music programme, The Tube. He said, ‘Well we were a bit disappointed because
also made a celebrated TV history of the piano his wife wasn’t there and we wanted to meet her’.
where he interviewed personal heroes such as Dr Completely different! The great thing about talking
John, Little Richard and Ray Charles. The latter had to them though was that they, more than anybody,
a lasting effect on him. changed the course of 20th Century music.”
“One of the most memorable things from my Holland’s television work is distinguished by its
interviews is what Ray Charles said to me. I met him quality and longevity, but it all comes second for him.
in the ’80s and I said to him ‘Well Ray, if anybody is Above left: Holland is a musician who happens to be a presenter,
Holland has
going to write something on your grave, what would worked with Paul not the other way around. A sensational pianist and a
it be?’ And he replied, ‘Well I’d say they can dislike McCartney a master of the boogie-woogie style, Holland has been
number of times.
my music, like my music, they can like Ray Charles, He interviewed
lauded by the best. The great BB King once said, “I
they can dislike Ray Charles… so long as they know Paul, George didn’t think anybody could play like that. Jools has
I told the truth.’ I thought that was a pretty good and Ringo for the got that left hand that never stops.”
acclaimed Beatles
thing and that stuck with me.” Anthology. Discovering music as a young boy, Holland had
Holland was also the man approached to conduct Above right: the endearingly innocent notion that all the different
the interviews with George, Paul and Ringo in the Holland is an genres he was listening to, from Blues and Motown
acclaimed piano
acclaimed Beatles Anthology documentary series. player, so it is no
to the burgeoning sound of Rock and Roll, was all
Being a Beatles fan since he was a boy, Holland surprise that his being made at the same time somewhere. “I was
relished this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. interview with born in 1958 so in 1968 I was young and I had
Ray Charles left
“I think they wanted someone whom they knew a lasting impression Beatles, Rolling Stones and Motown records. But I
and trusted, and I’d worked with them before. The on him. was listening to all these records and at the same
January 2011 31

5. Profile
and his ongoing television commitments, Holland
still manages to tour with his band, playing 100
days of the year to over 500,000 fans at home and
abroad. They are currently touring in the UK, and
by coincidence, Holland’s fellow headline act at
the Dubai Jazz Festival – the remarkable vocalist,
performer and songwriter Alison Moyet – is a
regular guest performer for the entire tour. The
two have been friends since Moyet appeared on
The Tube in the ’80s and Holland remains a big fan.
“Her voice is truly unique and has a blues and soul
quality that fits perfectly into the Rhythm & Blues
Orchestra party.”
Talking to Moyet ahead of her visit to Dubai next
month, the mutual appreciation is clear.
“I’ve been touring with Jools for most of 2010.
He’s a great bloke, he’s not beset by ego and I’ve
never seen any rubbish with him. I’ve never seen
him in a bad mood or being rude or unpleasant to
anyone, he’s really easy going, lovely.”
Above: Moyet
fans can catch Moyet has had an enduring career since forming
her live in Dubai the electropop duo Yazoo in 1982 with former
on February 16.
Last year she
Depeche Mode member, Vince Clarke. Although the
released The group had instant success and a string of hits they
Best Of Alison disbanded after less than two years together and
Moyet and this
time my mother had 78s of Bessie Smith and Jelly year there’s a Moyet began her solo career in 1984.
Roll Morton. So I was getting it all at the same time. new album in Much like her friend and collaborator Holland,
the works.
And at that age I didn’t understand that there was a Moyet was exposed to a variety of different musical
time and place difference. I just thought they were genres at a young age. “Being the youngest in my
all together making records somewhere. But that family I had no control over the record player. My
innocence is okay really. When you just accept the brother was into prog rock, my sister was a soul
music then it just all sounded like stuff that brings girl, my father played French music and my mother
you joy.” classical, so it was all of these kinds of influences
His Uncle Dave taught Holland the rudiments being pushed on you. I think that was one of the nice
of the piano at eight and as a young lad he began things about growing up in the ’70s, music radio was
playing in dockside pubs in the East End of so varied. Not like it is now, all set to a demographic.
London. In 1974 at the tender age of 16, Holland In those days you were just getting every kind of
formed the band Squeeze with Glenn Tilbrook, influence without even being aware of it.”
Chris Difford and later Gilson Lavis. They enjoyed Surrounded by a range of music that steadily
massive success at home and in the US scoring huge In those seeped into her, Moyet knew by the time she was
hits with smart and catchy tracks such as ‘Cool For days you a teenager that she was destined to sing and write
Cats’, ‘Up The Junction’, ‘Black Coffee In Bed’ and songs. “I told myself it was going to happen when
were just
‘Pulling Mussels From A Shell’. I was 16. I hadn’t been in the school choir or
Holland played with Squeeze and also released
getting anything like that, I’d done a bit of music, I was a
some solo work up until 1987 when he formed The every wind instrument player, but at 16 I joined a punk
Jools Holland Big Band, which consisted of himself kind of band and I was never in any doubt that I was going
and drummer Gilson Lavis, who he’s now worked influence to do this. That was a bit of a surprise to everyone
with for 25 years. This initial pairing has gradually because I wasn’t a natural contender. My parents
without
evolved into today’s 20-piece Jools Holland and His where thinking ‘this is very odd’ because they’d
Rhythm & Blues Orchestra.
even being never heard me singing around the house. But I had
As well as his award-winning and eclectic BBC 2 aware no doubts that it would come right for me.”
Radio show he’s been making for the last 10 years of it.” Yet although Moyet’s conviction was solid and her
34 Open Skies

6. Profile
success a just reward, her self-belief wavered and she
“I really Name: Macy Gray
distrusted the limelight, discovering early on that she Born: Natalie Mclntyre in 1970, Ohio, USA
was very much a reluctant celebrity.
don’t
Biggest hit “I wrote ‘I Try’ for my boyfriend at
“In the ’80s it was a successful time but I wasn’t a believe the time and it was just a little ditty, so when people
comfortable pop star. It was more about sending out there’s grabbed onto it and learned the words and go crazy
for it when I sing it live… well it was a huge surprise
tendrils. Then the ’90s was a lot angrier for me because any for me. I had no idea that that song would be so
of the frustration of being pinned down. For someone
shame important to people. I love it.”
like me who is very eclectic, your success can become Influences “I’m a huge Prince fan, and lots of
your burden. You become known for a specific type of
in failing, Sly Stone and Stevie Wonder, Bob Marley and lots
music. If that music is what you were making in your only of hip hop. I grew up in a great time for music when
it was a lot more diverse. So I was exposed to a lot
early 20s, before you’re even defined as a person, that shame of music, but I was an obsessive Prince fan.”
can be frustrating.” in not Inspiration “I get inspired all the time. Mostly it
The vexation she felt eventually manifested itself
trying.” is what I’m going through at the time, where I’m at
as an outright rejection of many aspects of the music in my love life or with my career. I could write a song
business, and retreating behind closed doors Moyet every day.”
became incredibly guarded. Currently enjoying “I like the new Kanye
“A sadness for me is that I had some issues with West record”
agoraphobia and I’ve been antisocial in the past. So Desirable collaborator “Bob Marley or
Frank Sinatra… but they’re not around.”
I’ve missed out on interesting collaborations that have
If I wasn’t a singer “I’d just be a hippy or a
been put my way but because I was in a frame of mind gypsy, travel around in a van and go from city to city,
where I couldn’t answer the telephone that particular just live like that, hang out for the rest of my life”
month. I wish I’d had the head on me that I’ve had
this last 10 years. But in not having the headspace to
make the most of your career, in leaving gaps, it has
meant that odd things have come up that you wouldn’t
otherwise expect to do. Like I had a couple of stints in
the theatre, which was something I didn’t expect.”
Moyet’s theatre experience, including playing Matron
‘Mama’ Morton in the West End production of Chicago,
helped her overcome some long held and inhibiting
neuroses. “It was incredibly cathartic, because in doing
the theatre I lost my stage fright. It may sound a little
trite but I learned a great technique, which is when you
are facing something really scary, you project yourself
and imagine yourself the next day breathing a sigh of
relief. And that’s something that has really worked for
me. I really don’t believe there’s any shame in failing,
only shame in not trying.”
It’s clear from chatting with Moyet that she’s
enjoying working now more than ever and is content
with her choices.
“The interesting thing and what you get to understand
is the things you like to listen to are not necessarily the
sounds you should be making. I think this is a mistake
that many young musicians make in that they are so led
by their influences they forget the instrument that they
are – they may be a cello trying to make a flute sound.
What I listen to is mainly male voices or instrumentals, The Skywards Dubai International
or it might be Elbow or PJ Harvey, things that are quite Jazz Festival runs from 1-18
different to the stuff I sing myself. Above all it’s about February. Visit dubaijazzfest.com
making music that moves you, and the things that move
for details.
you are going to change.” ❖
January 2011 35