Van Morrison
Into The Music

THE REVIEW

Van Morrison has been moving on the music scene for more than 40 years, with a quality and a desire for change that very few can boast. His music is rooted in Blues, Jazz, and especially Rhythm and Blues.

Always reluctant to give interviews, reasonably, he has always let his music (especially live performances) speak for him. This small Irishman transplanted overseas, in love with Rhythm and Blues, has represented this sound (equally) as well as the best Black singers, because rhythm, the feeling, is a peculiarity that has no color, and Van has it in his DNA. For many, the first encounter with Morrison was in Scorsese's film "The Last Waltz" where, totally captivated, almost pervaded by a mystical tension, during the sequences of "Caravan", he throws himself in vigorously, giving the beat to his band, letting the music flow, flow, rich in brass and choirs. Van has swing in his soul, and it's clear when, ecstatic, he murmurs dozens of times, dum dum diddy da da, yeah yeah yeah yeah. Personally, I believe that even in his most celebrated album "Astral Weeks" some compositions are Rhythm and Blues. Just listen to "Sweet Thing" where he managed to reconcile jazz with a minimalist and rhythmic arrangement... a very personal, enjoyable, all-his-own, enchanting sound! In the same way, I think that with Bob Dylan, Morrison is one of the most important songwriters of all time, the others you can place at your discretion. Today, this is recognized by almost all critics, even though he has never achieved true chart success neither here, nor in the United States. (Except for Brown Eyed Girl)

"Into The Music" of '79 is an album marked by a beautiful sound, which possesses the depth of the best days, almost on par with his masterpiece "Moondance" "Bright Side Of The Road" "Full Force Gale" "Steppin' Out Queen" "You Make Me Feel So Free" "Rolling Hills"... and more. All worth listening to.