The king of boogie-woogie rolled back into town tonight and rocked the hall to the rafters.

Right from the first moment, Jools Holland and his mighty band had St George’s swinging to the rhythm... and the subsequent welter of rhythms that just kept on coming.

This was party time big style, with as much bubbly as any of his now-regular New Year’s Eve musical celebrations, and his regular Bradford audience loved it.

As leader of the band – a 12-piece wind section, four in the pulsating rhythm section, two backing vocalists who took turns up front, and Jools himself – he is never far out of the limelight. But for me his great skill is in letting everyone take their turn in showing their brilliant musical skills.

All styles of music, from big band, boogie-woogie, New Orleans jazz, ska, rhythm and blues, slow and melodic, get a top class airing.

And then there were the guests. First, the ’70s star Dave Edmunds joined the fun with a dizzying display of his guitar skills amid raunchy versions of his hits including I Hear You Knockin’ and I Knew The Bride... and a rocking rendition of Roadrunner.

And then came Jools’ regular star guest, Ruby Turner, belting out a series of boogie and gospel numbers that had us all on our feet and begging for more.

It came with two encores and a brilliant rendition of the song Joe Cocker made his, You Are So Beautiful.

“How many of you have seen me before?” he had asked during his occasional inter-song patter. And, it seemed, all of us had. And, for sure, we’ll all be back next year.

Same time, same place please Jools.