Review in Jazzwise Magazine by Stephen Graham:
"Van Morrison (v, p, el g, as), Paul Moran
(Hammond Org, kys p, t), Alistair White (tb), Christopher White (ts,
ct), Dave Keary (g), Paul Moore (b) and Jeff Lardner (d). Rec. date not
stated
Van Morrison has jazz in his blood,
only a fool would think otherwise, and Born to Sing is the latest
proof although none is needed. His second for Blue Note, the first
What’s Wrong With This Picture? was notable for the poignant ‘Little
Village’, a song his fans immediately took to their hearts. Chances are
the title track ‘Born to Sing’ will be joining the pantheon of his
best songs of the last 25 years, up there with the wondrous ‘Fast
Train’, ‘Only a Dream’, and ‘Celtic New Year’. On this, his first
studio album since Keep it Simple, this time recorded unusually in his
home town of Belfast, Morrison has come up with the goods once again
after the commercial and critical success of Keep It Simple and the
huge interest shown when he followed it by releasing a live album based
on his great 1960s masterpiece, Astral Weeks.
Why
he delivers here is mainly because of the anthemic title track, with
its showband feel and rousing lyrics, although other tunes such as the
bluesy ‘Pagan Heart’ are among a string of strong songs. ‘Close Enough
For Jazz’, which adds words to an older instrumental version of the
song, is a grower, with some deep-down low singing from Morrison, who
turned 67 at the end of August, and a melody that recalls some of his
playful work with Georgie Fame on albums such as How Long Has This Been
Going On? ‘Educating Archie’ is the joker in the pack, recalling in its
title, but not in its lyrics, an old radio show, later on TV,
featuring a self willed ventriloquist’s dummy eventually ruling the
roost. The album, which also tackles issues facing society including
the relentless pursuit of money whatever the cost on the song ‘If In
Money We Trust’, has a stripped down small band backing with fine
trombone, good horn unisons and a stand-out electric guitar intro
cutting the air like a razor on ‘Pagan Heart’."
No comments:
Post a Comment