Remembering Now – Van Morrison
*** ½
Remembering Now is the 79-year-old Van Morrison’s 47th studio album, his first of new music since 2022’s What’s It Gonna Take, and his best in many years. The album includes fourteen new songs of soul, jazz, blues, folk and country over sixty-eight minutes. Morrison’s voice is in fine shape on this album that has him singing love songs, looking back to his early years in Belfast, considering spiritual themes and a sense of wonder.
Morrison’s core band has been with him since the Three Chords and the Truth album in 2019. They are Richard Dunn (Hammond organ), Stuart McIlroy (piano), Pete Hurley (bass), and Colin Griffin (drums). Fiachra Trench, whose history with Morrison goes back to 1989’s Avalon Sunset album, does the excellent string arrangements, performed by the Fews Ensemble led by Joanne Quigley. There are also horns, Seth Lakeman’s fiddle, and gospel background vocals by Crawford Bell, Dana Masters, and others. Morrison provides lead vocals, electric and acoustic guitar, saxophone, and production.
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