Van Morrison Alumni Band
07-December-2023
London Coliseum
 London, England

Brendan Hynes checked out Leo Greene and his Van Morrison Alumni Band 

The pre- show publicity promised a night of celebration of the words and music of Van Morrison but few could have expected the quality of performance delivered on the night. The show ran for the best part of three hours including a short interval (there was definitely no count down clock at stage side!). 

Leo Green(saxophone) set the tone from the outset as he individually introduced the core members of the band(Matt Holland on trumpet, Robin Aspland on piano, Ralph Salmins on drums and Alec Dankworth on bass) to the joyful sound of And The Healing Has Begun featuring beautiful violin playing. The core band was augmented by a further four musicians and four backing singers, two of whom took lead vocals on s number of songs. There were four guest lead vocalists, namely Mim Grey,Wayne Hernandez, Jill Marie Cooper and Emma Smith. All four did each song they performed more than justice with Emma Smith who is an upcoming jazz vocalist of great promise delivering particularly powerful renditions of Moondance and I Will Be There. 

On a night when just about every song was a highlight it is difficult to choose particular ones but there are a few notable for particular attention. Saint Dominick's Preview immediately followed the opening number And The Healing Has Begun and was performed meticulously. Caravan was a particularly welcome inclusion although Van's high kicks of 1970's vintage were obviously missed but it is unlikely than anyone else could emulate such acrobatics anyway. The final two numbers of the opening half featured an outstanding Tupelo Honey and a really magnificent Philosopher' Stone with Leo Green very much to the forefront on saxophone. 

The second half of the show followed the tone set in the opening half with classic after classic following in quick succession. Dweller On The Threshold featured some great brass interplay between Matt Holland and Leo Green while they were both also prominent on You Make Me Feel So Free. An incredible The Healing Game brought the show towards it's conclusion with Leo Green stealing the show on saxophone. It seemed to go on forever and quite honestly I wanted it to. Following an ecstatic audience response all the lead vocalists joined the band for a resounding version of In The Garden to bring proceedings to a close. 

This concert exemplified the wealth of brilliant songs written by Van Morrison that are sadly neglected by him when choosing his own setlists. He has reportedly endorsed the Alumni Band and is quoted as saying that these songs are meant to be sung and heard which to me begs the obvious question as to why he doesn't sing them himself in his own shows! Judging by the audience response tonight his fans would certainly be quite ecstatic if he did.

-Brendan Hynes

Setlist 

And The Healing Has Begun 

Saint Dominic's Preview 

Days Like This 

Wild Night 

Sometimes We Cry 

Queen of The Slipstream 

Have I Told You Lately 

Into The Mystic Caravan 

And It Stoned Me 

I've Been Working 

I Forgot That Love Existed 

Brown Eyed Girl 

Tupelo Honey 

Philosophers Stone 

Real Real Gone 

Domino 

Bright Side Of The Road

Moondance 

I Will Be There 

Someone Like You 

Carrying A Torch 

Crazy Love 

Wonderful Remark 

Dweller On The Threshold 

Jackie Wilson Said 

You Make Me Feel So Free 

Warm Love 

The Healing Game 

In the Garden

12-September-2023
SFJazz
 San Francisco, USA

Setlist

I'm Moving On

Sail Away Ladies

Streamlined Cannonball

Wish I Was An Apple On A Tree

Come On In

This Lovin' Light of Mine

Greenback Dollar

The Gypsy Davy

No Other Baby

I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry

Cotton Fields

Cold Cold Heart

Green Green Rocky Road

Worried Man Blues

Precious Time

Magic Time

Have I Told You Lately

Traveling Light

Think Twice Before You Go 

Gloria

Big Hand for The Band!

John Platania (Guitar)
David Hayes (Bass)
John Allair (Keyboards)
Alan 'Sticky' Wicket (Percussion)
Robert Ruggeiro (Drums)

Jeff Taylor (Sax, Guitar, Vocals, Clarinet)
Omega Rae Brooks (Vocals)
Lucia Evans (Vocals)
Dave Keary (Guitar)

06-September-2023
Bakkt Theatre
 Las Vegas, USA

Dan Murray on Night 1 in Vegas 

Last night's first-of-three Las Vegas shows was very well done. Van flew in Dave Keary from Ireland to take over lead guitar duties because John Platania is not that familiar with the material. He was relegated to rhythm guitar. Keary has been playing the skiffle stuff all year. Which raises the question of why Van put together a new band to do primarily skiffle when he had a band in place that has been playing it all year? Apparently, the delayed blues album was to be the foundation for the current tour, but Van had to fall back on his most recent release. It was 65 minutes from the new skiffle album. Van is singing hard, but some of these songs seem insubstantial to me. The final 25 minutes are 5 of his own tunes. I am starting to hear some of the skiffle material as if it was written by Van. It has Van's improvisatory vocal stamp all over most of the tunes. Keary played a very dominant role in last night's gig and Van seemed quite pleased with it. The multi-instrumentalist Jeff Taylor is also playing a key role. The rhythm section of Hayes, Ruggiero and WIcket is rock solid. The Rocky Road was gorgeous as always, with Taylor playing a wonderful flute than rode atop the song. Van pulled out for the first time Symphony SId and a full-throttle In the Afternoon that went everywhere it was supposed to, on a golden autumn day along the coastline. The workshop we need. And really should get every gig evening. Van has been unstoppable on this tour. 

-Dan Murray

Big Hand for The Band!

John Platania (Guitar)

Dave Keary (Guitar)
David Hayes (Bass)
John Allair (Keyboards)
Alan 'Sticky' Wicket (Percussion)
Robert Ruggeiro (Drums)

Jeff Taylor (Sax, Guitar, Vocals, Clarinet)
Omega Rae Brooks (Vocals)
Lucia Evans (Vocals)

04-September-2023
The Rady shell
 San Diego, USA<

Setlist

Streamline Train

Sail Away Ladies

Yonder Comes a Sucker

Wish I Was An Apple On A Tree

Take This Hammer

Oh Lonesome Me

No Other Baby

The Gypsy Davy

Come On In

This Lovin' Light of Mine

Cold Cold Heart

Green Green Rocky Road

Cotton Fields

Worried Man Blues

Into The Mystic

Have I Told You Lately

Help Me

Gloria

Big Hand for The Band!

John Platania (Guitar)
David Hayes (Bass)
John Allair (Keyboards)
Alan 'Sticky' Wicket (Percussion)
Robert Ruggeiro (Drums)

Jeff Taylor (Sax, Guitar, Vocals, Clarinet)
Omega Rae Brooks (Vocals)
Lucia Evans (Vocals)

03-September-2023
Saban Theatre
 Beverly Hills, USA<

Setlist
Down To Joy
This Loving Light of Mine/Amen

01-September-2023
Shubert Theatre
 Boston, USA

Dan Murray shares his thoughts on gig: 

The sound in the theater was deep, pure and all enveloping. The audience rapture during Mystic was palpable. The rest of the show also seemed to go over well. Some guys around me were head bopping to an alarming extent. Nice to see Van enjoying himself. Whether the band members are enjoying themselves, who knows. Van is a tough taskmaster, and was providing much instruction to them. I thought they sounded even better on Night 2, and Platania's leads were much more lyrical to my ears. It was all skiffle again, except for Mystic and Down to Joy, which sounded like the band was playing it for the first time. We did get a quote from Did Ye Get Healed with every day in every way, it's getting better and better. After Mystic, Van was close to hitting the 90-minute mark and a promisingly beautiful Green, Green Rocky Road was cut cruelly short, and Van was barely on stage for a minute before abruptly exiting with no fanfare to Worried Man, as the band bashed on beautifully for another 15 minutes while Van made his getaway for Los Angeles and tomorrow's Agape show. John Showboat Allair was terrific last night and Van at one point looked at him and said You stole the show! Where do we go next!? Van broke the set list ice last night, and let's hope more original songs make it to the stage. With 12 shows to go, he is not conserving energy or holding back a thing. I underwent some self-induced conversion therapy and have been opening up my heart to whatever Van gives me, even a heaping helping of the music of his youth which he deeply loves.
-Dan Murray

Setlist

Streamline Train

Sail Away Ladies

Yonder Comes a Sucker

Wish I Was An Apple On A Tree

Travellin' Blues

Come On In

This Lovin' Light of Mine

Streamlined Cannonball

Gov Don't Allow

Greenback Dollar

No Other Baby

I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry

Careless Love

The Gypsy Davy

Cotton Fields

Down To Joy
Into The Mystic

Green Green Rocky Road

Worried Man Blues

Big Hand for The Band!

John Platania (Guitar)
David Hayes (Bass)
John Allair (Keyboards)
Alan 'Sticky' Wicket (Percussion)
Robert Ruggeiro (Drums)

Jeff Taylor (Sax, Guitar, Vocals, Clarinet)
Omega Rae Brooks (Vocals)
Lucia Evans (Vocals)

31-August-2023
Shubert Theatre
 Boston, USA 

Mike Fishman review Bost 2023, night 1
Not what I was expecting but I knew the recent set lists so I was not surprised. The crowd attempted Happy Birthday twice but either Van didn’t hear it or chose to ignore it and the band, ever at The Maestro’s command, were unlikely to improvise the best wishes themselves. With John Allair, David Hayes and John Platania present, one could not be faulted for hoping for a few classics from the days of old but Van was in skiffle mode/mood and the only greatly stretched-out song came during a powerful Green Rocky Road into Northern Muse. But Van Morrison, even in a four-minute song, can do something interesting; take the dynamics way down then up, sing into the harmonica, throw in a yodel, or just hum and moan. And no one can hum and moan like Van Morrison (the title track to his latest release Beyond Words being a fine example). So, little treasures and sudden large moments were to be found Thursday night. Enough to be reminded to be grateful for. Shana opened with an upbeat set that included an evocative And It Stoned Me. Friday. The power, the power. And, conversely, peace, peace, peace. I get that someone seeing Van with visions of their vinyl records or partying times uplifted by one of his hits could be disappointed in the song selection. But Van has always been about exploring various genres and styles of music even as his own improvisational manner of singing remained constant. For those who can follow the river however it winds and curves, there are stunning moments in unexpected ways and a very personal yet also universal alchemy can occur if you can, as Van often suggests, let yourself go. When Van bears down hard on a line or word or expands unexpected flourishes, a song that was about one specific thing becomes about a much larger and deeper thing. How are you living your life? Are you aware of the moment, even as it passes by like water? As the eloquent Dan Murray has put it, it is not WHAT Van sings but HOW he sings. It all came together in an Into The Mystic that moved into the meditative territory Van has explored so uniquely, repeating the word “peace” from a yell to a whisper, even as he had to quiet the audience on the path. Earlier, Gypsy Davy had a touch of the pastoral reminiscent of one of Van’s master works, Veedon Fleece, which has an anniversary next year; how amazing it would be if Van were to re-visit that masterpiece as he did with Astral Weeks.

-Michael Fishman 

Setlist

Streamline Train

Sail Away Ladies

Yonder Comes a Sucker

Wish I Was An Apple On A Tree

Travellin' Blues

Come On In

Streamlined Cannonball

Gov Don't Allow

Greenback Dollar

No Other Baby

I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry

Careless Love

This Lovin' Light of Mine

In The Evening (When The Sun Goes Down)

The Gypsy Davy

Take This Hammer

Cotton Fields

Green Green Rocky Road

Worried Man Blues

Big Hand for The Band!

John Platania (Guitar)
David Hayes (Bass)
John Allair (Keyboards)
Alan 'Sticky' Wicket (Percussion)
Robert Ruggeiro (Drums)

Jeff Taylor (Sax, Guitar, Vocals, Clarinet)
Omega Rae Brooks (Vocals)
Lucia Evans (Vocals)

26-August-2023
The New Irish Centre
 Birmingham, England

Setlist

Streamline Train

Sail Away Ladies

Careless Love

I Wish I Was An Apple On A Tree

Yonder Comes a Sucker

This Lovin' Light of Mine

In The Evening (When The Sun Goes Down)

Stormy Monday

I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry

Gov Don't Allow

Greenback Dollar

The Gypsy Davy

Come On In

No Other Baby

Cotton Fields

Precious Time

Cold, Cold Heart

It's All Over Now, Baby Blue

Green Green Rocky Road/Northern Muse

Stand By Me

Gloria

Big Hand for The Band!

Dave Keary (Guitar)
Paul Moore (Bass)
John McCullough (Keyboards)
Alan 'Sticky' Wicket (Percussion)
Tony Fitzgibbon (Fiddle)
Colin Griffin (Drums)
Chris Farlowe (Vocals)
Ronnie Wood (Guitar)
Lucia Evans (Vocals)

25-August-2023
Royal Sandringham Estate
 Sandringham, England

Setlist

Streamline Train

Sail Away Ladies

Yonder Comes a Sucker

I Wish I Was An Apple On A Tree

Travellin' Blues

No Other Baby

The Gypsy Davy

This Lovin' Light of Mine

In The Evening (When The Sun Goes Down)

Greenback Dollar

Gov Don't Allow

Come On In

Cold, Cold Heart

Cotton Fields

Green Green Rocky Road

Days Like This

Precious Time

Baby, Please Don't Go

It's All Over Now, Baby Blue

Worried Man Blues

Stand By Me

Gloria

Big Hand for The Band!

Dave Keary (Guitar)
Paul Moore (Bass)
John McCullough (Keyboards)
Alan 'Sticky' Wicket (Percussion)

Tony Fitzgibbon (Fiddle)
Colin Griffin (Drums)
Chris Farlowe (Vocals)
Lucia Evans (Vocals)

22-May-2023
Falkoner Center
 Copenhagen, Denmark

                                        

Setlist

Streamline Train

Sail Away Ladies

Yonder Comes a Sucker

Travellin' Blues

Take This Hammer

I Wish I Was An Apple On A Tree

I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry

Careless Love

Freight Train

In The Evening (When The Sun Goes Down)

The Streamlined Cannonball

Cold, Cold Heart

Greenback Dollar

Come On In

Gov Don't Allow

Cotton Fields

No Other Baby

The Gypsy Davy

Green Green Rocky Road

Worried Man Blues

21-May-2023
Falkoner Center
 Copenhagen, Denmark

                    

Setlist

Streamline Train

Sail Away Ladies

Yonder Comes a Sucker

Travellin' Blues

Take This Hammer

I Wish I Was An Apple On A Tree

Careless Love

I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry

Greenback Dollar

Come On In

No Other Baby

Gov Don't Allow

Cold, Cold Heart

Cotton Fields

The Gypsy Davy

I'm Movin' Onn

Freight Train

Oh Lonesome Me

Freight Train

Green Green Rocky Road

Worried Man Blues

13-March-2023
Stables Theatre
 Wavendon, England

Photo: Mathew Jeffrey

                                              

Setlist

Freight Train

I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
Sail Away Ladies

In the Evening (When the Sun Goes Down) 

Oh Lonesome Me

Take This Hammer

Careless Love

Streamline Train
Gov Don't Allow
No Other Baby

Yonder Comes a Sucker

Come On In

The Gypsy Davy
Cold, Cold Heart

Travellin' Blues

Cotton Fields

Green Green Rocky Road

Worried Man Blues

Big Hand for The Band!

Dave Keary (Guitar)
Paul Moore (Bass)
Stuart McIlroy (Keyboards)
Alan 'Sticky' Wicket (Percussion)
Colin Griffin (Drums)
Crawford Bell (Guitar, Trumpet & Vocals)
Jolene O'Hara (Vocals)

28-February-2023
3Olympia Theatre
 Dublin, Ireland

Setlist

Freight Train
Sail Away Ladies

In the Evening (When the Sun Goes Down) 

I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
Mama Don't Allow
Take This Hammer
Cindy, Cindy
Careless Love
Oh Lonesome Me
Streamline Train
Come On In
No Other Baby
I'm Movin' On
Travellin' Blues
Yonder Comes a Sucker
The Gypsy Davy
Cold, Cold Heart
This Little Light of Mine
Cotton Fields
Green Green Rocky Road
Worried Man Blues

27-February-2023
3Olympia Theatre
 Dublin, Ireland

Setlist
Freight Train
Sail Away Ladies
In the Evening (When the Sun Goes Down) 

I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
Mama Don't Allow
Take This Hammer
Cindy, Cindy
Careless Love
Oh Lonesome Me
Streamline Train
Come On In
No Other Baby
I'm Movin' On
Travellin' Blues
Yonder Comes a Sucker
The Gypsy Davy
Cold, Cold Heart
This Little Light of Mine
Cotton Fields
Green Green Rocky Road
Worried Man Blues

23-January-2023
Europa Hotel
 Belfast, Northern Ireland

Setlist 

Freight Train 

Sail Away Ladies 

In The Evening (When The Sun Goes Down) 

I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry 

Mama Don’t Allow (re-worked as Gov Don’t Allow) 

Take This Hammer 

I Wish I Was An Apple On A Tree 

Travellin’ Blues 

Oh Lonesome Me

Come On In 

No Other Baby

I’m Movin’ On 

Cold Cold Heart 

Careless Love

Yonder Comes A Sucker 

This Loving Light Of Mine 

Cotton Fields 

Green Rocky Road 

Streamline Train

Worried Man Blues

Big Hand for The Band!

Dave Keary (Guitar)
Paul Moore (Bass)
Richard Dunn (Keyboards)
Alan 'Sticky' Wicket (Percussion)
Colin Griffin (Drums)
Crawford Bell (Guitar, Trumpet & Vocals)
Jolene O'Hara (Vocals)

22-January-2023
Europa Hotel
 Belfast, Northern Ireland

Setlist 

Freight Train 

Sail Away Ladies 

In The Evening (When The Sun Goes Down) 

I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry 

Mama Don’t Allow (re-worked as Gov Don’t Allow) 

Take This Hammer 

I Wish I Was An Apple On A Tree 

Careless Love 

Streamline Train 

Come On In 

No Other Baby

I’m Movin’ On 

Travellin’ Blues 

Yonder Comes A Sucker 

The Gypsy Davy 

Cold Cold Heart 

This Loving Light Of Mine 

Cotton Fields 

Green Rocky Road 

Worried Man Blues

Big Hand for The Band!

Dave Keary (Guitar)
Paul Moore (Bass)
Richard Dunn (Keyboards)
Alan 'Sticky' Wicket (Percussion)
Colin Griffin (Drums)
Crawford Bell (Guitar, Trumpet & Vocals)
Jolene O'Hara (Vocals)

15-January-2023
Electric Ballroom
 London, England

Setlist (Thanks Pam K.)

Freight Train 

Sail Away Ladies 

In The Evening (When The Sun Goes Down) 

I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry 

Mama Don’t Allow (re-worked as Gov Don’t Allow) 

Take This Hammer 

 I Wish I Was An Apple On A Tree 

Oh, Lonesome Me 

Streamline Train 

Come On In 

No Other Baby

I’m Movin’ On 

Yonder Comes A Sucker 

The Gypsy Davy 

Travellin’ Blues 

Cold Cold Heart 

This Loving Light Of Mine 

Cotton Fields 

Green Rocky Road 

Worried Man Blues

Big Hand for The Band!

Dave Keary (Guitar)
Paul Moore (Bass)
Richard Dunn (Keyboards)
Alan 'Sticky' Wicket (Percussion)
Colin Griffin (Drums)
Crawford Bell (Guitar, Trumpet & Vocals)
Dana Masters (Vocals)

14-January-2023
Electric Ballroom
 London, England

Brighton & Hove News (Source) 

VAN MORRISON – ELECTRIC BALLROOM, LONDON 14.1.23

 

Tonight’s show is no normal Van Morrison gig, and it’s status as not being such has been widely publicised. For tonight’s show at the Electric Ballroom (184 Camden High Street, London, NW1 8QP) is one of a number of intimate low-key launch shows for Van’s new album, ‘Moving On Skiffle’, which is released on 10th March. This album (and indeed tonight’s show) finds Van taking the 1950s skiffle style and interpreting it with a degree of soul and sophistication that it rarely had the first time around. Tonight’s show very much represents Van returning to his musical roots. 

This isn’t just a different kind of gig for Van. As a veteran of many gigs at this venue for over twenty years, I can confirm that this is the first time that I have seen the place configured as a seated venue. I’m not sure how many tickets were available for this sold out show, but it’s considerably less than the venue’s usual 1,500 capacity. The areas around the bars are very sparsely populated. Getting a drink here has never been so easy!!! 

The band take the stage and begin playing ‘Freight Train’, an Elizabeth Cotton cover that I remember my mother singing when I was small. Van joins the band onstage a minute or two later, after being announced by his guitarist, precisely at 8pm, as advertised. Almost immediately Van demonstrates that he is so much more than just a singer, as he blows a mean harmonica solo. The band is beyond well drilled. Including Van there are eight of them. Van does introduce them later on, but his introductions are drowned out by applause. The only name I catch is Sticky Wicket on percussion. I somehow doubt that is the name his parents gave him. In addition to the band there is also a man who changes the music on Van’s music stand after most songs. 

One of the road crew later tells me that the band don’t have set-lists. They have rehearsed a large number of songs, and Van decides after each song what is going to be played next. This is quite astonishing, and only goes to show how well rehearsed the band are. By and large there is barely breathing space between the songs, with Van keeping the tempo of the show decidedly brisk. At one point after Van has decided on the next song, there is much frenzied changing of instruments onstage. Talk about being kept on your toes! Van seems incredibly relaxed throughout. Well he would be: he’s calling the shots! 

Van clearly has a band of virtuosos here. The guitarist also plays a lap steel on a stand. On ‘Come On In’ the rhythm guitarist plays a trumpet with a mute. This is before we consider what Van plays. As well as harp he plays electric guitar, acoustic guitar (on which he solos), and some really quite incredible saxophone as well. Van is very much the bandleader, and all eyes are on him. On ‘Take This Hammer’, which Van tells us is a Lead Belly cover, he conducts the band at the beginning of the song. However, when the various band members take their solos, Van shuns the spotlight. Well, until it’s time for him to take his harp solo! 

Van’s voice remains a wonderful musical instrument. It’s rich and powerful, but can be tender too. Apart from having become slightly deeper than before, his voice has hardly changed over the decades, which is more than can be said for some of his contemporaries, one of whom I saw recently could now barely carry a tune in a bucket. Van’s vocal cords appear to have many miles left in them yet! 

Tonight’s show has been wonderful. As far as I’m aware the set has been almost made up entirely of covers from sixty or seventy years ago, but they’ve all been played in very much a Van Morrison style. At the end of the show there are some people moaning that there has been no ‘Moondance’, ‘Cleaning Windows’,’ Into The Mystic’ or ‘Gloria’. Well more fool them! They should have done their homework. This has been an absolute masterclass in terms of both singing and playing, and quite frankly, if you can’t enjoy a show like this, then you don’t really enjoy music. 

-Mark Kelly 

The Sunday Times (Source)

Van Morrison review — Van the Man triumphantly returns to his first love Electric Ballroom, NW1 

★★★★★ 

I’m not sure I’ve seen him this happy. OK, he wasn’t smiling — don’t be ridiculous — and he hardly threw himself around. He’s three years off 80 and his days of onstage high-kicking are behind him. Yet there was an undeniable joy in the way Van Morrison attacked this intimate preview of Moving on Skiffle, the covers album he releases in March. Skiffle — that raw, shimmying offshoot of folk that peaked in the UK in the Fifties — is one of his first loves. He first heard it as a child at the Atlantic Records shop in Belfast and formed a skiffle band at school with “a couple of guitars, washboard, tea-chest bass” 

Read on here.

 Setlist (Album Launch For Moving On Skiffle)

Freight Train  

Streamlined Cannonball

In the Evening When the Sun Goes Down 

I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry 

Gov Don't Allow 

Take This Hammer 

I Wish Was an Apple on a Tree 

Careless Love 

Streamline Train 

Come On In 

No Other Baby 

Greenback Dollar 

I’m Movin’ On 

Travellin' Blues

Yonder Comes a Sucker 

Gypsy Davy 

Green Rocky Road 

Cotton Fields 

Worried Man Blues 

This Loving Light of Mine

Big Hand for The Band!

Dave Keary (Guitar)
Paul Moore (Bass)
Richard Dunn (Keyboards)
Alan 'Sticky' Wicket (Percussion)
Colin Griffin (Drums)
Crawford Bell (Guitar, Trumpet & Vocals)
Dana Masters (Vocals)