Van Morrison

There are musicians who are a continent unto themselves, giants who simply defy labels. One of them is, without a doubt, Van Morrison, who will finally make his debut at the Festival de Jazz de Barcelona just shy of his 81st birthday, after more than 60 years on stage.

Born in 1945, the so-called Lion of Belfast grew up listening to his father’s record collection, steeped in blues, country and gospel. Names like Hank Williams, Jimmie Rodgers, Muddy Waters, Mahalia Jackson and Lead Belly shaped the soundtrack of his childhood before he formed his first band, Them, in 1964. He quickly became a star of the British R&B scene, with albums such as Astral Weeks (1968) and timeless classics like Gloria and Here Comes the Night.

Today, Van Morrison continues to lead his band, delivering spellbinding performances that capture every shade of blues, soul and jazz. His latest album, the deeply moving Somebody Tried to Sell Me a Bridge, proves that he remains at the height of his powers. His love of the blues, with tributes to legends such as B.B. King and appearances by Taj Mahal and Buddy Guy, is as strong as ever, just as it was when he first listened to his father’s records at home.

Van Morrison, for the first time at the Barcelona Jazz Festival. History in the making.

Organized by: The Project