Van Morrison’s Masterpieces
t will be a marvellous night for a moondance on 24 November at Arts Centre Melbourne’s Playhouse when jazz extraordinaire Vince Jones and The Astral Orchestra pay homage to Van Morrison’s mercurial masterpieces in this one-off performance.
When The Beatles stopped touring and progressed to psychedelic rock and Dylan left folk and went electric, Van Morrison hired some of New York’s finest jazz musicians and recorded two of the classic albums of that golden era – Astral Weeks and Moondance. Both albums had enormous impact on aspiring musicians and singers around the world. Australian Jazz legend, Vince Jones was one of them.
Effortlessly blending genres from jazz to Celtic-rock, Morrison is beloved the world over for enduring classics such as Gloria, Brown-Eyed Girl and Have I Told You Lately.
Since the release of his acclaimed debut album Watch What Happens (1981) Glasgow-born, Wollongong-raised Vince Jones has set the benchmark for Australian jazz vocalists and musicians over an international career which has produced 20 albums.
Vince’s varied musical influences including Celtic, Jazz and Blues provide the perfect blend for his reading of two of contemporary rock music’s greatest works, including the acclaimed Astral Weeks – the second studio album released by a 22 year old Van Morrison, regarded by the Rolling Stone as “one of the rare albums for which the word timeless is not only appropriate but inescapable.”
To take on the task of performing such momentous albums, Vince has assembled some of the country’s finest musicians to form The Astral Orchestra, led by Musical Director Matt McMahon.
Sold–out concerts during the 2016 Melbourne International Jazz Festival at the Melbourne Recital Centre and, more recently, Sydney’s City Recital Hall and theatres across the country have confirmed the demand for Morrison’s repertoire and these iconic masterpieces.
“…only one in a hundred actually makes the grade [as a jazz singer]. In this country, Jones remains the benchmark.” – Sydney Morning Herald
“Vince Jones is living proof that independence is not about genres …. He’s a soulful survivor, with a voice as cool as a long G&T and a repertoire that balances jazz, rock and soul.” – Beat Magazine
Arts Centre Melbourne
Van Morrison’s Masterpieces
24 November
Arts Centre Melbourne, Playhouse
Book: artscentremelbourne.com.au or 1300 182 183
TICKETS ON SALE 9:00AM, MONDAY 27 AUGUST
For more information about Arts Centre Melbourne visit www.artscentremelbourne.com.au or phone 1300 182 183. Become a fan of Arts Centre Melbourne on facebook or follow @artscentremelb on Twitter / Instagram.
Related Posts
Casey Donovan to star as Deloris Van Cartier in Sister Act musical →
2024 Melbourne Winter Masterpieces exhibition Pharaoh →
Marvel Universe Live Review (Melbourne Australia 2024) @MarvelOnTour @FeldEnt →
