Editing Jools Holland (section)

===The ''Small World Big Band'' series (2001–2003)===

The orchestra gained its widest commercial recognition through the ''Small World Big Band'' series of collaborative albums, which leveraged Holland's unique position as the host of ''Later... with Jools Holland'' to bring together an extraordinary range of guest artists.

The first volume, ''[[Jools Holland's Big Band Rhythm & Blues]]'' (2001), featured guest appearances by no fewer than 22 significant musical figures, including [[Eric Clapton]], [[Steve Winwood]], [[Van Morrison]], [[Sting (musician)|Sting]], and what is reputed to be the last recording by [[George Harrison]], recorded a little over a month before his death in November 2001. Harrison's contribution, "Horse to the Water" — written with his son [[Dhani Harrison]] — became a poignant coda to the album.

Subsequent volumes followed: ''More Friends: Small World Big Band Volume 2'' (2002) and ''Jack O the Green: Small World Big Band Friends 3'' (2003), each continuing the formula of pairing the orchestra with a diverse array of collaborators ranging from veterans to newer artists.