Garrett Allen
Staff Writer
Although the legendary musician Van Morrison recently turned seventy-three, the release of his fourth album in fifteen months marks the fact that there is no slowing down for “Van the Man.”
Born in North Ireland, Van Morrison grew up performing in various Irish showbands. Now, decades later, Van Morrison is a world-renowned artist with forty studio-produced albums, and is best known for his songs, “Moondance” and “Brown Eyed Girl.”
“The Prophet Speaks” was released on December 7th by Caroline International. Working with multi-instrumentalist Joey DeFrancesco, guitarist Dan Wilson, drummer Michael Ode and Troy Roberts on the saxophone, the band shows their musical mastery throughout the album’s 14 tracks.
The musical stylings of Joey DeFrancesco accompanied with the ever so elusive voice of Van Morrison provide for a classical jazzy-blues experience. Experts in the art, DeFrancesco and Morrison carefully navigate through each piece to deliver a sonically pleasing sound.
The album features an exceptional selection of covers featuring songs by Solomon Burke, John Lee Hooker, and Sam Cooke, among others. Where many song covers fail, Morrison succeeds in making each one uniquely personal to his craft by giving each song his own Van Morrison touch.
Although all of the covers are good, one stands out from the crowd. A prime example of Morrison’s expertise, “Hooker’s Dimples” is the best song in showing his ability to give each cover a Van Morrison twist.
While the album excels in the cover songs, the real magic of the album is captured within the original works. Paying tribute to some of Morrison’s musical inspirations, including Jon Hendricks and Louis Armstrong, “Ain’t Gonna Moan No More” not only showcases Morrison’s respect for those who came before him, but it showcases his respect and passion for the art of creating music.
Another great track, “Got to Go Where the Love Is” fits right into the album’s theme with its loose and relaxed feel. The song captures the essence of what Morrison’s message was in “The Prophet Speaks,” thanks to the sympathetic backing from Joey DeFrancesco and his band.
Another in a long list of Van Morrison classics, this album is a testament to the musical repertoire he has created. Despite Morrison’s incredible performance in “The Prophet Speaks,” it is what listeners have come to expect from him, which is a testament all on its own.
The album is available on all major streaming services including Apple Music and Spotify and is available for purchase on iTunes for $11.99.
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