Few artists have gained the stature of Van Morrison, the Belfast born troubadour a true legend whose blend of soul, jazz, blues and rock is oft imitated but seldom bettered. Whilst his recorded output has never been less than industrious with over a thousand songs and forty-six solo albums to his name alone, his reputation as a hard task master has caused some to label him difficult to work with.

The truth though appears to be in his search to find the very best people to help him bring his songs to life and the rolling cast of musicians backing him have always been some of the very best in the business.

Bringing together some of this stellar talent, The Van Morrison Alumni Band sees sax master Leo Green joined by Matt Holland on trumpet, pianist Robin Aspland, drummer Geoff Dunn, and Alec Dankworth on bass, along with singers Jo Harman and Natalie May Paris on vocals and Hammond player Gary Baldwin and guitarist Joe Garland.

Whilst the man himself may not be present, this fulsome tribute to his craft and catalogue is nothing but sublime and shot through with both spirit and class. Whilst Van Morrison is not known for being verbose, the effervescent Green brings undoubted bounce to the night, acting as MC, telling stories and playing with showmanship, his praise of the songs and their author a labour of love.

It’s a career spanning set, the hits complemented by deeper cuts that seldom get an airing and runs the gamut of styles that shows that Van the Man is someone passionate about his craft, something that he himself has tellingly dubbed “the Healing Game”.

There’s an undoubted power here and with the punchy and swinging Gospel of ‘St Dominic’s Preview’, the smoky ‘Days Like This’ and ‘Caravan’ weaving its magic spell, the whole is mesmerising. Of course, big numbers like ‘Have I Told You Lately That I Love You’, ‘Into the Mystic’ and ‘Moondance’ score big but the extraordinary ‘Queen of the Slipstream’ and ‘The Philosopher’s Stone’ are breathtaking in their scope and depth of emotion.

At some point in the evening it seems like you’re suddenly struck by just how good these songs sound, not both vocalists have been well chosen, adding their own layers to the sounds but never showboating as the whole takes the spirit of the pieces, the band allowing both to shine in their own ways.

Of the two, Paris brings something of her West End dazzle into play to help sell the numbers and adding a subtle physicality to her performance but Harman uses her ability to inhabit the very bones of the compositions, her ability to bring joy or despair whilst stood there, her eyes closed as she’s utterly lost in the music. The man himself is a master craftsman of tone and intonation but these two certainly breath life into every note, the smiles all round a show of appreciation.

Stories behind the songs are told, Green a natural ringmaster and raconteur and laughs are plenty, the chemistry and respect onstage something that can only come through the laying aside of ego.

Opening the second set with a bubbling ‘Bright Side of the Road’ and Bo Diddley’s arrangement of ‘I’ve Been Working’, there’s an instantly upbeat feel in the air and a new spin on ‘Brown Eyed Girl’ is a surefire winner. Green, Holland and Aspland’s solos throughout add a classy sheen to proceedings and Harman’s performance on the superb and epic ‘Ancient Highways’ is arguably the peak of a night with countless highs.

As with the best of these types of evenings, there’s an overwhelming urge to dig out the originals to play for the rest of the week when the audience have all dispersed to their own homes but there’s a hope that these performances may be released in their own right before too long, such is their quality. Given the weight of the talent onstage, this is so much more than a tribute act or jukebox musical could ever be, instead taking a life of its own and sings with its own angelic voice. We were all well and truly healed.

Review & photos by Paul Monkhouse

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

Next session: Sunday 19 January

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David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 24 November 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 26 November 2024.

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Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)