Later with Jools Holland BBC HD review
I first clocked the Later with Jools Holland footage at Sky last Monday and was very impressed by the dynamic picture, the richness of the colour, and of course the superb level of detail. Yep even Elton John scrubs up well in HD.
Taking another peek I discovered that it isn't Elton who is the star - it is in fact Solomon Burke. The every so slightly chubby blues star delivers a wonderful version of Everbody needs somebody to love, you know the song made made famous by The Blues Brothers movie. He's wearing the most amazing sparkly purple jacket - probably something he nicked from Liberace's wardrobe - and you just know that in SD you wouldn't be able to see it sparkle at all.
As I mentioned Elton works well in HD, but I suspect that Jools Holland won't be too chuffed that his previously unseen bald patch is now very visible. Also the lead singer of those bed-wetting indie types Keane, Tom Chaplin, either needs to hit the Clearasil big time or has a bit of a facial mole that up until now TV has masked. I think it is the latter and it kind of suits him.
I can't comment too much on the sound quality as I haven't got the Dolby Digital kit installed. Sounds might impressive in stereo though.
Isn't half a pain to record though. I managed to be at the recording of the show with Solomon Burke (more through luck than judgment), and the producer was all over the place, trying to make the audience stand still and loads of retakes, supposedly because they have to be so much more careful when they shoot in HD cos you get so much more detail.
Sandy
Posted by: Sandy Scott | May 22, 2006 4:58 PM