Artist: Van Morrison
Album: The Prophet Speaks
Label: Caroline International
Release Date: 12.7.2018
Long gone are the days of innovation and experimentation. He’s been there, done that and doesn’t need to prove anything. Van Morrison knows what he likes and especially when he finds players like those in Joey DeFrancesco’s band, he can’t wait to do what he does best : vocal jazz, blues and R&B. This is a reprise of this past April’ effort, You’re Driving Me Crazy, not only one of Van’s best in the past five years or so but one of this year’s stronger albums. The Prophet Speaks marks his 40th studio album and may even be a tad better because of a couple of strong originals that carry that trademark infectious Morrison style.
We see again the rare side of Morrison, laughing after a couple of tracks while in a few other places his “Oh Yeah” prods other soloists. The bristling energy is palpable. As he said in some videos, the chemistry between him and Joey DeFrancesco was immediately strong and they recorded enough material live in the studio for three albums (Might we see yet another?). As Van says, “It was important for me to get back to recording new music as well as doing some of the blues material that has inspired me from the beginning. Writing songs and making music is what I do, and working with great musicians make all the more enjoyable.”
DeFrancesco’s band includes Dan Wilson (guitar), Michael Ode (drums), and Troy Roberts on tenor and soprano sax. DeFrancesco, who also plays trumpet, signed his first deal with Columbia at the age of 16. He has performed with Miles Davis, John McLaughlin, Grover Washington Jr., and a staggering list of many more. He is an inaugural inductee into the Hammond Hall of Fame. He has released more than 30 albums and has won the Downbeat Readers poll for organ every year since 2005. His feel for the music is a great dynamic match for Morrison. Arguably this may be the best backing unit Morrison has had since early in his career.
Like his recent albums like You’re Driving Me Crazy, Roll With the Punches this is a mix of classic blues and R&B with originals. He covers Eddie ‘Cleanhead” Vinson (“Gonna Send You Back To Where I Got You”), John Lee Hooker (‘Dimples”), Sam Cooke (“Laughin’ and Clownin’”), Willie Dixon (“I Love the Life’) and Gene Barge (“Love Is a Five Letter Word,” most often associated with Morrison fave Jimmy Witherspoon). He also does a pair from bluesman J.D. Harris (aka Shakey Jake) – “Teardrops” with amazing blues piano from DeFrancesco and “Worried Blues,” the latter of which he bookends in a medley with Muddy’s “Rollin’ and Tumblin’.” Also, on these blues tunes you’ll hear some of the best harmonica (not typically Van’s strong suit) he’s ever put on record, likely spurred to new heights by the exceptional soloing from DeFrancesco, Wilson, and Roberts.
Two of the six originals have already been released as singles, the infectious poppy “Got to Go Where The Love Is” and “Spirit Will Provide.” Some like “5 AM Greenwich Mean Time,’’ “Ain’t Gonna Moan No More” and “Love Is Hard Work” follow standard blues structures and for the untrained ear could easily be a cover. On the other hand, “Spirit Will Provide” with DeFrancesco on gospel piano and his daughter Shana on background vocals sounds like a tune from Morrison’s 1989 Avalon Sunset. The title track, imbued by DeFrancesco’s muted trumpet and Wilson’s stellar acoustic picking begins as a more jazz- influenced tune, not unlike those heard on 2012’s Born to Sing: No Plan B before morphing into a bluesy groove.
Van brings his energetic A-game, delivering yet another lively album backed by tremendous players.
—Jim Hynes
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