WHEN I was young, Jools Holland was Up the Junction with Squeeze and Marc Almonds Tainted Love was the soundtrack to every school disco.
Thirty years on, Hollands keyboard has grown into a baby grand and Almonds trademark black garb matured into an evening suit but, together, on stage at Warwick Arts Centre, they took me back to the good old days, when pressure meant too much homework and a dilemma was whether or not a shiny satin hair-bow would look OK with a gold lame jumper-dress
It might sound shallow, but with the backing of Jools' magnificent Rhythm and Blues Orchestra, their big band versions of Say Hello,Wave Goodbye and the classic Tainted Love were the highlights of my night.
Nostalgia apart, there were other truly emotional high-points in the non-stop, two-hour set, that had the audience literally dancing in the aisles.
Introduced by Jools as the Boogie-Woogie Queen, Ruby Turner's rendition of There will be Peace in the Valley left a lump in my throat - and by the encore, as music-loving strangers mingled, singing and swaying at the front of the stage, ska legend trombonist Rico's softly-sung I Know Where I'm Going brought tears to my eyes, too.
No-one could have left the auditorium unmoved.
The sheer energy, passion and superlative skill of the performers were unmistakable and infectious. There was so much going on, it was difficult to know where to look.
Individual instrumentalists each had their turn in the spotlight and even drummer Gilson Lavis(c) - another former Squeeze man - was given a chance to perform that most curious of percussive rites, the drum solo. (Though it should be noted that all the other musicians had left the stage at this point).
Jools retained a likeable, low-key presence, letting his fingers do the talking, while 'backing' singer Louise Marshall was brought to the front of the stage for a soulful rendition of Georgia on my Mind.
The entire performance was a perfect blend of the highest calibre of musicianship mixed with the most basic of human instincts the desire to make a joyful noise.
If Jools and Co. ever plan to return to Warwick Arts Centre, I know where I'm going.
What's on 
