Van Morrison's late career tear continues with
You're Driving Me Crazy, his third album in seven months. Following the formula of 2017's
Roll with the Punches and
Versatile -- each offered jazz, blues and R&B standards and redone originals -- this set offers eight tracks from
Morrison's catalog and seven standards. it stands on its own, however, as a collaborative encounter with jazz organist and trumpeter
Joey DeFrancesco's hip quartet. They all holed up in a Sausalito studio and completed the recording in only two days, capturing everything in a take or two.
The loose feel is deceptive as the playing is anchored deep in the pocket; it crackles with live-wire intensity.
Cole Porter's "Miss Otis Regrets" is framed by a gentle swing, with
DeFrancesco's organ and
Troy Roberts' smoky tenor saxophone introducing
Morrison. Though he sings in a lower register now, his voice has lost none of its suppleness. He hovers, glides, and swoops through the lyrics; his vocal is akin to another horn, thus making
DeFrancesco's trumpet solo a virtual duet. The jump swing of "All Saints Day" sounds like
Jimmy McGriff jamming with
Louis Jordan and
James Moody. The new version of "The Way Young Lovers Do," from
Astral Weeks, offers a lilting,
Coltrane-esque soprano saxophone, modal changes, souled-out scatting, and minor swing, revealing just how prescient and timeless the song remains.
Johnny Mercer's "Travelin' Light" is a sweet, sultry blues with muted trumpet, shimmering chords, and
Morrison's improvisations on the changes. The band stretches out on "Goldfish Bowl."
Morrison's fingerpopping delivery touches on everyone from
Ray Charles to
Jimmy Witherspoon; what's more, he adds his alto horn for a twin saxophone attack as
DeFrancesco's tight B-3 solo is appended by guitarist
Dan Wilson's stinging, fleet-fingered break. No tune here signifies the collective musical mind meld like the title track by
Walter Donaldson. It finds
Morrison laughing with delight during the instrumental breaks and outro as the band swings and struts. "Everyday I Have the Blues," with twinned saxes, bassline-heavy B-3, and popping snares becomes the perfect jump jam. The uptempo read of "Have I Told You Lately That I Love You" marks the latter (and best) of two duets between
Morrison and daughter
Shana (the other is
Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson's hard bopping "Hold It Right There"). Its three-saxophone head and sumptuous, soul-drenched organ fills surround the pair's empathic singing. The funky
Titus Turner-penned "Sticks and Stones" offers dazzling electric piano pumping from
DeFrancesco, bell-like cymbals from
Wilson, and
Morrison straddling of the worlds of R&B, jazz, and blues. Closer "Celtic Swing" is the lone instrumental, a stellar showcase for
Morrison's own alto playing and
Wilson's arpeggio-rich soloing with
DeFrancesco keeping the breezy groove even when he embellishes it during his solo.
You're Driving Me Crazy is as energetic as any live show. Of the three successive recordings done in this way, this one stands head and shoulders above for its inspired performances and choices of material. ~ Thom Jurek
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