Quite right too, considering he's been involved in it, in one way or another, since his late teens when he and his friends formed Squeeze.

Fast forward 25 years and he's now both the host of one of Britain's longest-running music shows, Later... With Jools Holland, and leader of one of the world's only touring big bands.

"Some people think I might not want to talk about music, or read about it because it's what I do for a living, but it's all part of it," he says.

After leaving Squeeze for the first time in 1980, Jools embarked on a solo career and also branched out into TV presenting, co-hosting The Tube with Paula Yates between 1982 and 1987.

As the show came to an end, Jools put together a big band with fellow ex-Squeeze member Gilson Lavis on drums. This soon evolved into the Rhythm and Blues Orchestra, which has now become one of the most popular big bands in the world.

"We're a big band and that's rare," he says proudly.

"Often we'll have arrangements written out, and sometimes we'll just do it from our heads, which is quite unusual for a band with 20 people in it. Only a band of that size can give you the dynamics you need, to go from being very quiet right up to the full-on sound we can produce."

Over the years, Jools and his outfit have recorded numerous albums with a stellar list of musicians appearing as guests. George Harrison made his last recording with the band, while other big names include Sting, Eric Clapton, BB King, Lulu, Norah Jones, Bono and Edwin Starr.

Anyone who goes to see Jools between now and the end of the year will get to see the band performing with a trio of singers – Marc Almond, Ruby Turner and Louise Marshall. Naturally, Jools has nothing but praise for all three.

"They all have a completely different role," he says. "Marc is a wonderful icon of British popular music, and his voice is just fantastic. Like anyone who's good, he's getting better as he gets older. He's got great songs that people know, such as Say Hello Wave Goodbye and Tainted Love, which we can bring a new big band arrangement to.

"I think there's something very romantic about Marc, he's like an English Jacques Brel. Ruby Turner is such a contrast to Marc.
She's the perfect person to come on and belt over the top of the orchestra. Ruby's like someone from another age. Years ago we used to get these singers, like Bessie Smith, Dinah Washington and other greats, and everything they did was tinged with the blues, but they could also switch and sing a gospel number and make everyone weep.

"It's very rare that people can do that these days, but Ruby can do it. She delivers boogie music with such amazing intensity.

"Last, but not least, there's Louise, who has a brilliant voice.

"She can sing anything – songs from our catalogue that other people have done, songs I've written, anything at all."

Jools hits the road again in October and his UK tour takes in Bradford's St George's Hall, Harrogate's International Centre and Sheffield City Hall.

In between performing, Jools and his band are busy recording another album while a new series of Later... is due out in the autumn.

Little wonder, then, that he hasn't joined the Squeeze reunion.

"The band was part of my heritage and I'm proud of that, but I've got so many things I do now I haven't got time to go back."