VAN MORRISON RELEASES ‘NEW ARRANGEMENTS AND DUETS’ – OUT NOW

Van Morrison has released the album ‘New Arrangements and Duets’. The record is the first in what he hopes will be an ongoing series of archive albums compiled from his vast collection of unheard recordings. 

The album is launched alongside the new focus track ‘The Master’s Eyes’. Originally from the 1984 album ‘A Sense of Wonder’ and rarely played live, ‘The Master’s Eyes’ is a deep cut but one that represents the remarkable depth of his rich back catalogue. It’s particularly notable as an example of how Van Morrison applies elements of gospel into his core soul and R&B sound.
 
Like the recent tracks ‘You’ve Got To Make It Through The World’ and ‘Choppin’ Wood’, ‘The Master’s Eyes’ is an alternate big band arrangement which was recorded in 2014. The new arrangements on the album were all chosen by Van Morrison’s musical director / pianist Paul Moran and his former live band saxophonist Chris White.
 
The only duet to preview the album has been ‘Someone Like You’ with Joss Stone. It highlights further collaborations withKurt Elling, Curtis Stigers and Willie Nelson, all of which were recorded in 2018 and 2019. The two Willie Nelson duets –‘What’s Wrong With This Picture’ and ‘Steal My Heart Away’ – also feature guitar courtesy of Lukas Nelson of Promise of the Real.

Van Morrison plays the first of two shows at the Brighton Dome tonight before heading to North America for six headline performances next month plus the special concert event ‘Life In A Carnival: A Musical Celebration of Robbie Robertson’ at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles.