Author: Breffni Banks

The Oh Yeah Music Centre has announced further details for this year’s Women’s Work Festival taking place from 5^th – 10^th June 2018.

Now in its third year Women’s Work is a unique event for Belfast that highlights the important contribution that women make to music. Inspired by a growing global movement across the music industry towards a more even playing field, the programme has become an annual celebration and promotion of not only new and existing female talent, but also for diversity and change.

The festival will take place across six days and nights and includes a range of activities that are open to all genders and include showcases, gigs, special events, panels, talks, and exhibitions.

2018 is a significant year for women. It marks the centenary of the Representation of The People Act 1918, an event that became a milestone in the fight for democratic equality, which is still being fought today. The festival will coincide with Processions, a mass participation artwork event that will take place on Sunday 10^th June and there are events within the programme that will reflect and tie into this event.

Charlotte Dryden of Oh Yeah said: “There is no doubt that the talent, determination and visibility of women across many sectors has been much more prevalent in recent years. This has been through a concerted movement of change across the world, and in terms of music and the wider creative and cultural landscape Women’s Work has worked hard to be part of that change in Belfast. It’s encouraging also that we can depend on supporters that share the vision, that’s why it’s with great pleasure we can welcome Help Musicians NI as our principal partner this year. We’re also delighted that our existing Live Music Partner, Blue Moon, with support from the Arts & Business Investment Programme has extended its commitment to supporting local music for our showcase event.”

The Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Nuala McAllister who officially launched the festival said:

“Women’s Work festival is making an important contribution to the overall celebration of Belfast as a great music city. We exceed expectation due to the sheer amount of successful artists that come from our city and from the region. Singers such as Ruby Murray, who still holds the record for the most number of singles in the UK Top 20 at the same time, to the more modern and diverse artists like Kaz Hawkins, Roe, Soak and Ursula Burns show we have a wealth of female talent to share.”

“The Women’s Work campaign is global and forward thinking, and Belfast is delighted to be part of this international celebration. Particularly in this centenary year of the Representation of the People Act when women’s voices were successfully heard for the first time on the political stage – opening opportunities for women like me and others to make our voices sing across a wider audience.”

Keith Millar of Help Musician NI said: “Help Musicians NI is delighted to be principal partner with the Oh Yeah Music Centre for Women’s Work this year. In a year marking the centenary of the female vote in the UK, women have a more important role than ever at the core of activism and meaningful political change, with music as the backdrop for this change making. It is this positive social change which Help Musicians continues to contribute to, through our partnerships and our vital work to help and support those in need within the music industry.”

Members of the public can look forward to a number of events, including:

• What’s The Score – Exclusive Composition and Arrangement workshop with highly sought after musician and collaborator Charlotte Hatherley (Ash, Bat For Lashes, KT Tunstall, Bryan Ferry)
• Women’s Work showcase in Association with Blue Moon Craft Beer – with Bad Bones, Hiva Oa, Pillow Queens, Strange New Places, Cherym, Gaze is Ghost, Sister Ghost and special guest DJ Charlotte Hatherley.
• Exclusive rooftop performance from Irish singer songwriter and multi instrumentalist Brigid Mae Power.
• Open House Presents Sóley at The Strand Arts Centre – A welcome return to Belfast for the Icelandic artist whose last appearance was in support of John Grant at the Mandela Hall in 2016.
• Soundtrack of Our Lives – Five of Northern Ireland’s prominent female politicians in conversation about music and more with BBC’s Marie-Louise Muir. With Naomi Long, Claire Hanna, Carál Ní Chuilín, Clare Bailey and Paula Bradley.
• Suffragette for Sound – Julie McLarnon (Analogue Catalogue) and guest Caro C lead a unique workshop that incorporates the genius of electronic music pioneer Delia Derbyshire (creator of original Dr Who theme) Evening will follow with DJ set from Belfast Club Queens and defenders of the dance floor
• Joni’s Story – a celebration of Joni Mitchell, a musical icon and major influence on singer songwriters across the world. Festival closing event presented by Bird & Bramble with music from DANI, Amy Montgomery, Lauren Bird, Amanda St John and more.
• Panel discussions and workshops with Olga Fitzroy (producer Coldplay), Emma Edgar (Tour Manager, Placebo, Everything Everything, Wolf Alice), Claire Southwick (Primitive Management), Angela Dorgan (First Music Contact), Susan Breen (Film Producer, Requiem – BBC and Netflix).
• Belfast premiere of Here To Be Heard: The Story of the Slits at QFT in association with Girls Rock School NI and Belfast Film Festival.
• Music Is Dialogue with Luna Abu Nassar and Gani Tamir at Duncairn Arts centre.
• Launch of Fem-anarchy in NI – addition of the female punk story to the NI Music Exhibition at Oh Yeah.

Image: Charlotte Dryden (Oh Yeah Music Centre CEO) & Charlene Hegarty (Oh Yeah Music Centre) launch Women’s Work Festival 2018.

The third in her series of live video recordings, SÍOMHA’s ‘Cover Me’ comes live from the singer’s home studio in the aptly named Craic Cottage. ‘Cover Me’ is a bright and breezy ode to the early, heady days of love, with SÍOMHA’s soulful vocals perfectly capturing the euphoric feelings of that new, all consuming love. Her band are on top of their game, and you can hear their joy in playing together in their sublime grooves and intricate/playful breakdowns, all serving to further elevate SÍOMHA’s dulcet tones and sweet/melodic vocals.

Fresh from her recent tour tour opening for Irish music legend Paul Brady, SÍOMHA is set for a busy summer schedule including a main stage slot at Doolin Folk Festival on June 17th. Her last track ‘July Red Sky’, filmed live in The Burren gained over 1.7 million views online.

SÍOMHA and her band are on tour:

April 29th -The Gallery, Gort

May 3rd – Dolans, Limerick

May 11th – Connolly’s of Leap

June 3rd – King John’s Castle, Limerick (w/ Hermitage Green)

June 17th – Doolin Folk Festival

www.facebook.com/siomhamusic

www.twitter.com/siomhamusic

www.instagram.com/siomhamusic

Homebeat are delighted to announce the launch for renowned stalwart of the Irish electronic world Somadrone’s stunning new album ‘Wellpark Avenue’ in the very atmospheric and unique surrounds of The Dublin Conservative Club on Thursday 3rd May.

‘Wellpark Avenue’ is a game changer for Dublin Producer, Somadrone.

Gone are the drum machines and heavy synthesizer use from ‘Oracle’ (2015) and ‘The First Wave’ (2013) and now sees a return to traditional song and instruments akin to ‘Depth of Field’ (2010) – piano, drums, harpsichords and electronics. Dystopia, Psychedelia, LSD, Timothy Leary and TV Music of the 1970’s all contribute to the sound of ‘Wellpark Avenue’, a sound that references the likes of seminal British band Broadcast.

Dunk Murphy’s debut LP as Minced Oath ‘Supersede’ was released through Countersunk in August 2017.
The album was written, performed and recorded over two weeks in the summer of 2017 consisting of 15 tracks of ambient soundscapes. Using a collection of analogue synthesizers, vintage outboard effects and a simple mixing desk, each track was improvised and recorded straight to two track with no edits or composites. Sometimes serene, sometimes malevolent, ‘Supersede’ weaves through dense sonic peaks and troughs where the hum of electricity meets the texture of organic matter.

More recently, Dunk has been composing new Minced Oath work focusing on gentle resonant filter rhythms and harmonic drones.

DOORS 8pm
DJ set also on the night from Vital Signs
DOORS 8pm | FULL BAR ONSITE | €15 On Door.

IMRO support ‘Film Music in Focus’ at Fastnet Film Festival in their 10^th year.

This year at Fastnet Film Festival, which will run from the 23^rd to the 27^th of May, Film Music in Focus Curator Maurice Seezer has put together a very special programme for visitors to Schull to enjoy. The partnership with IMRO will help facilitate some very ambitious and collaborative performances this year, details of which have just been announced.

Opening Gala Performance

On Wednesday the 23rd of May, following the opening party, Carl Davis will conduct the Trio Apachés in a live performance of his musical score, written for Lady Windermere’s Fan (1925) as the film plays out on the screen. A Q&A session with Carl, Kevin Brownlow and Maurice Seezer will follow the show.

Lady Windermere’s Fan is based on Oscar Wilde’s classic play set in London in the 1890s. Lady Windermere suspects her husband may be having an affair. When he invites the other woman, Mrs. Erlynne, to his wife’s birthday ball, his wife is shamed and leaves the party. Mrs. Erlynne attempts to persuade her to return, sacrificing her reputation by explaining that she is her mother, having abandoned her 20 years earlier.

Following his performance at the Festival in 2017, Carl set about writing a new musical score for Lady Windermere’s Fan, specifically for the Trio Apachés to perform at Fastnet 2018. This is a unique opportunity to experience a true masterpiece.

Carl’s 1980 score for Abel Gance’s epic silent film Napoleon (1927), triggered an extraordinary revival of interest in the silent film. His talent composing original music for silent era films, from 1916 to 1927, when film and live orchestral music were in perfect synchronicity is compelling.

Trio Apachés, are three of the UK’s most respected soloists, praised for the infectious joy, virtuosity and innovation of their performances. Definitely the highlight of FFF 2018.

€25pp to include a glass of prosecco.

Wednesday 23rd May, 19.30 – 21.30 at the Schull Harbour Hotel. Tickets available online http://www.fastnetfilmfestival.com/tickets-bookings or from the Box Office on Main Street, Schull, 028 28600.

Round table discussion
That Essential Element

Lenny Abrahamson and Ed Guiney are joined by award-winning score composer Stephen Rennicks for this round table discussion. Stephen is best known for his collaborations with Lenny Abrahamson, making one of Irish cinema’s most successful partnerships – Adam and Paul, Garage, What Richard Did, Frank, and Room.

Best Original Music

€3000 Prize

The addition of a €3,000 Music in Film Prize, sponsored by W. Michael Satke, will be judged by Bill Whelan.

Screening of Song of Granite

After the screening, Colm Seoighe who plays young Joe in the film, will be performing some seannós. Join on Thursday at the Palace Cinema from 19.30 – 22.00, tickets €5.

Screening of Making the Grade

Screening of Ken Wardrop’s Making the Grade, depicting the relationship between piano students and their teachers.

FFFringe Music Around Schull

Various live Music in Film performances around Schull over the weekend, including: Accapellabella and Mick O’Callaghan’s ‘Between Storms’ who will perform at the Opening Party.

Screen Composers Guild of Ireland.
Discussion Forum with Sarah Glennane & Composer Members

The newly formed Screen Composers Guild of Ireland, is a professional association of composers who provide music for film, television and media. The Guild will work to improve and promote the creative element of music for screen, represent and improve the status and rights of composers working in Ireland, both domestically and internationally, and offer advice and resources to anyone seeking to employ and work with a composer.

Sarah Glennane is an independent music supervisor and consultant working in the Irish audio-visual and music industries. In 2017 Sarah authored a report, commissioned by music rights collection organisations IMRO and MCPS Ireland, into the Music for Screen Sector in Ireland. The report is available online at www.imro.ie. Sarah is currently working with some of Ireland’s most notable Composers for Screen to establish a Screen Composers Guild, launching this spring.

http://www.fastnetfilmfestival.com/

From the muddy waters of Ireland’s deep south come One Horse Pony, an alt-roots outfit whose DNA can be traced to the swamp lands of Louisiana, smouldering with earthy Cajun tones and raucous intent.

One Horse Pony have already played with and received plaudits from legends like Blind Boys of Alabama (“we thought we were at church!”) and in a short space of time have racked up festival appearances at Electric Picnic, Guinness Cork Jazz Festival, Indiependence, Kilkenny Roots Festival and more.

The original meaning of Corcaigh, the band’s hometown, is a marshy place and maybe there is a deeper connection here between the sounds of America’s Mississippi Delta and Leeside. This is not music with straight sides and sharp corners; it is music born of rough edges, crooked lines, with fire in its belly and alt-roots at its heart.

Their debut single ‘Muddy Waters’ could be taken as a homage to the great man himself, a tribute to where they are from or simply a rhythmic-roots tour de force whose screeching harmonica and foot-stomping drive sets the stall out perfectly for a band intent on capturing their much-heralded live performances.

‘Muddy Waters’ is taken from an EP, ‘Hot One’ (produced by Gavin Glass) due out later this year. In the meantime, enjoy the sounds of Ireland’s freshest, yet simultaneously dirtiest, no-good, shack-in-the-swamps outfit that go by the name of One Horse Pony.

Live Dates:
May 20 – Whelans, Dublin
May 26 – Coughlan’s, Cork
June 1- Ballyvolane House
June 2 – Cronin’s Crosshaven
June 2 – K Fest Kilorglin
June 3 – Vantastival
June 6 – Crane Lane, Cork
June 9 – Kavanagh’s, Portlaoise

RTÉ is delighted to unveil the song and accompanying video that will represent Ireland at the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 entitled ‘Together’ penned by Ryan O’Shaughnessy, Mark Caplice and Laura Elizabeth Hughes.

The video depicts a young couple strolling through the streets of Dublin’s Temple Bar.

Speaking about the video singer- songwriter Ryan said, “It was amazing seeing the video come to life in the way it did, sticking with the original concept that love is universal and there are testing moments in every relationship. I can’t wait for all Eurovision fans to hear the track and check out the video!”

The video was directed by Christian Tierney who has worked with artists including The Weeknd, Macklemore, Demi Lovato, Kendrick Lamar, Drake,The 1975, James Bay as well as for organisations like TIDAL, Universal, Sony and Warner Music.Christian also creates video and photo content for UFC champion Conor McGregor. http://christiantierney.com/about/

The video was choreographed by Ciaran Connolly who has worked with some of the biggest names in the music industry, on television and major arena tours, including Take That, Robbie Williams, Katherine Jenkins, Darcey Bussell, Michael Buble, Will Young, Cheryl Cole, Girls Aloud, Five, Liberty X, Atomic Kitten, Blue, The X Factor, Britain’s Got Talent, Strictly Come Dancing and Royal Variety Performances. Ciaran has worked as assistant choreographer on The Daniel O Donnell Rock and Roll UK Tour and on Sir Cliff Richard’s ‘Soulicious Tour.’

The dancers performing in the video are Alan McGrath (who previously performed as a backing dancer and drummer for Ryan Dolan’s ‘Only Love Survives’ Eurovision performance in Malmo in 2013) and Kevin O’Dwyer.

Ryan also took to Instragram to share photos of his mother’s reaction when she listened to the Eurovision track for the first time in New York this week. In an Instagram post he said: “My number one critic, who just so happens to be my mother listened to my latest single ‘Together’ during breakfast in NYC this week, and it’s the first time I’ve seen her more excited than I am about an up and coming release. My mam is the reason why I started singing, the reason why I love what I do, and the reason why I’m on this planet. So basically don’t blame me, blame my mother (emoji love heart) #IrelandForEuro2018 #Together”

https://www.instagram.com/ryan_acoustic/?hl=en

Singer-songwriter Ryan O’Shaughnessy will perform the ballad in the first Eurovision Semi Final in Lisbon on Tuesday May 8. ‘Together’ was purposefully written for the Eurovision Song Contest by writers working in The Nucleus, a new Irish songwriting team and hub, founded by Hamlet Sweeney, that brings the international model of collaborative songwriting to Ireland.

In August of last year, RTÉ held a Eurovision Song Contest Forum and invited key industry professionals, songwriters and performers to come to RTÉ to gain a deeper insight into the present day contest from international Eurovision experts and key RTÉ decision makers. The forum created debate and fostered new ideas as to the way RTÉ might approach the song contest this year. Over 300 songs were submitted to RTÉ for consideration before the November deadline. The song ‘Together’ was chosen after being selected by a panel of music industry professionals who listened to and judged the shortlisted final entries.

The Eurovision Song Contest semi finals take place in Lisbon, Portugal this summer on Tuesday May 8 and Thursday May 10 with the grand final taking place on Saturday May 12. Ryan will perform ‘Together’ in the first semi final on Tuesday in the Altice Arena which has a capacity of 20,000 and is one of the largest indoor arenas in Europe.

From Skerries, Ryan O’Shaughnessy was born in 1992 into a musical family, and became a student of Billy Barrie at the age of 4. When he was 8 years old an opportunity arose for Ryan to play the character Mark Halpin in RTÉ’s Fair City, a role he played for almost a decade. He matured as Damien Halpin’s younger brother and spent his teen years on the Irish screens. By the age of 17, music had become a priority for the North County Dublin native, and he left Fair City to pursue a career in music.

While studying at BIMM Dublin as a songwriter in 2012, Ryan penned his first collection of songs. Prior to the release of these songs, Ryan appeared on the finals of both The Voice of Ireland and Britain’s Got Talent in the same year. In his opening audition on Britain’s Got Talent, Ryan performed his now well known, self-penned song No Name which has had over 45 million hits on YouTube. He then returned to the semi finals with another self penned song First Kiss. Ryan was signed to Sony UK under Colin Barlow. While there, he worked on his EP which reached No.1 in Ireland for three consecutive weeks and reached No.9 in the UK charts. During this time Ryan toured the length and breadth of the UK and Ireland.

In July 2013, it was announced that Ryan would be one of the artists taking part in the new Irish songwriting competition The Hit, going up against his former The Voice of Ireland coach Brian Kennedy. O’Shaughnessy chose to release Who Do You Love? to enter the chart battle against Kennedy and won the battle with the single charting at No.3 in the Irish single charts.

Being placed on the global songwriting map at a young age, Ryan has had the pleasure of travelling and writing with some of the world’s greatest, including, Julia Fordham, Grammy Award winner Joy Williams, Mark Nevin, and multi platinum selling songwriter Kimmie Rhodes, as well as writing and working for different publishing companies and studios. In the last three years O’Shaughnessy has toured the USA and Canada. His love for songwriting and producing has seen him release music for himself and other artists through his recording label and studio Bayview. His latest album Back to Square One shows a maturity in his songwriting and musical taste. Ryan plays guitar, piano and saxophone.

The ESC is the largest entertainment show in the world and is consistently one of the most popular annual television events both in Ireland and across Europe. Last year’s Eurovision, hosted by Kyiv in Ukraine reached a total of 182 million viewers across 42 markets. The number of people watching the Eurovision Song Contest online more than doubled from 2016. There were 6 million live streaming sessions in 233 territories across the 3 shows on the official ESC YouTube channel and a total of 8.5 million on-demand requests.

Ireland still holds the record for most Eurovision wins with seven songs:

1970 Dana ‘All Kinds of Everything’

1980 Johnny Logan ‘What’s Another Year’

1987 Johnny Logan ‘Hold Me Now’

1992 Linda Martin ‘Why Me?’

1993 Niamh Kavanagh ‘In Your Eyes’

1994 Paul Harrington and Charlie McGettigan ‘Rock n Roll Kids’

1996 Eimear Quinn ‘The Voice’

‘Higher’ is the debut release from True Tides, on Faction Records, home of James Vincent McMorrow, All Tvvins, DAY_S, and Search Party Animal.

The track was produced by Phil Magee (Kodaline, The Script, & Miles Kane) and mixed by Ross Dowling (James Vincent McMorrow, Bellx1, & Talos)

Formed in 2017, True Tides is the intrepid pop project of Cian, Conor and Eoghan McSweeney, three brothers from Cork, now living in Dublin. Through a reasonably simple set-up of drums, guitar, bass, electronics and vocals, they create bold and expressive guitar music that’s at once shamelessly catchy and sneakily complex. Although the brothers have technically been making music together their whole lives , they played their first gig as True Tides in January 2018 at, arts and mental health festival, First Fortnight, on a bill curated by ALL TVVINS.

They play this years Castlepalooza and Indiependence Festivals

True Tides are currently writing their debut album.

www.facebook.com/pg/truetidesband

Strange Attractor have just released the single ‘Ain’t That Strange’ (feat. Clodagh Kearney).

Strange Attractor are a festive Funk/Pop band from Dingle Co. Kerry, who draw influence from artists, such as Bruno Mars, Chic and James Brown. The band consist of Ben Bickerdike on lead vocals, Fionn O’ Neill on vocals/guitar, Mattie Barker on lead guitar, Cian O Sullivan on drums and Ben Janning on bass. Various session musicians often feature with the group including keyboardists, brass sections and guest vocalists.

In their 5 years together Strange Attractor have performed in many venues across Ireland whilst playing the country’s most prestigious festivals, including Electric Picnic, Cork Jazz Festival and Other Voices. The group have toured Germany and played UK festivals, such as Wilderness Festival in Oxfordshire. The bands latest single “Ain’t That Strange” (feat. Clodagh Kearney) released on April 1st 2018 is an impressive example of what the band are capable of musically and has set the tone for the next two singles, which are due later this year.

Strange Attractor have received much praise by media and prominent musicians, having been described as:

“Seriously funky! The kind of band made for outdoors on a sunny Sunday afternoon.” – Jackie Hayden (Hotpress)

“Keepin’ the funk alive!” – Bootsy Collins (James Brown, Parliament/Funkadelic)

“A vibrant blend of soul, jazz and R&B sounds brought to life by on point musicianship and a booming brass section.” – Stephen White (The Last Mixedtape)

Live Dates

The Kino – Cork – April 19th

Feile na Bealtaine – Dingle – May 6th

The Workman’s Club – Dublin – May 14th.

Links

• Website: https://www.strangeattractormusic.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StrangeAttractorOfficial
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/StrangeAttractorBand
• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/SAOfficialMusic
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Strange_Attractor_Official

‘Sand’ is the debut album from singer/songwriter Paul Doran, released on 1st May.

Known for songs like ‘Natives’ (Christy Moore and Paolo Nutini) and ‘Poison Words’ (Mary Black and Mary Coughlan), Paul is joined by some legendary names to record his debut album ‘Sand’. Featuring nine songs written by Paul, including ‘Natives’ and ‘The Gardener’ both recorded by Christy Moore and a cover of Tim Hardin’s ‘The Lady Came From Baltimore’ it brings together quality songs, a unique voice and musicians who have performed with Van Morrison, Rory Gallagher, Chuck Berry, Sinead O Connor, Ron Wood, Paul Brady and The Fleagh Cowboys

‘That Was My Heart’ has received a great reaction with airplay on RTÉ Radio 1, WLR, Ocean FM and KCLR 96FM.

Paul began performing his own material in Dublin venues in the 1980s supporting acts like Moving Hearts, John Martyn and Christy Moore while also working as a session singer for producer Bill Whelan and others mostly singing jingles’ for radio and TV. He co-wrote ‘Make It Work’ for the Self-Aid concert with Christy Moore who first recorded ‘Natives’ in 1987 leading to several other covers of the song. Over the years Paul’s songs have been performed by Christy Moore, Movin’ Hearts, Paolo Nutini, Mary Black, Mary Coughlan, Eleanor Shanley and others. He co-wrote ‘Make It Work’, the for the Seld-Aid Concert as featured on RTE’s National Treasures.

‘Natives has touched listeners round the globe with it’s universal quality’ – Christy Moore

“Paul Doran’s brilliant ‘Poison Words’ will doubtless see The Holy Ground hovering at or around the top of the charts till year’s end” – Hot Press

‘I was dying to sing this song for years but I didn’t have the guts’ – Mary Coughlan

Legacy Recordings, a division of Sony Music Entertainment, have just released Van Morrison’s new 39th studio album, ‘You’re Driving Me Crazy’, a musical collaboration with Hammond organ virtuoso and trumpet master Joey DeFrancesco.

The successor to ‘Versatile’, Van’s chart-topping jazz album from 2017, ‘You’re Driving Me Crazy’ will be available in 1CD/2LP physical configurations. A limited edition 7″ single–featuring Van Morrison’s ‘Close Enough For Jazz’ b/w Morrison’s stunning rendition of Guitar Slim’s ‘The Things I Used To Do’–will be available for Record Store Day 2018 (celebrated at independent record stores nationwide on Saturday, April 21).

A new milestone in Van Morrison’s ever-expanding catalog of essential recordings, ‘You’re Driving Me Crazy’ finds the iconic Irish singer-songwriter-performer exploring a variety of jazz and blues standards and classics (‘Miss Otis Regrets’, ‘The Things I Used to Do’, ‘Every Day I Have the Blues’) alongside fresh interpretations of songs from Van’s own catalog (‘Have I Told You Lately’, ‘The Way Young Lovers Do’, ‘Magic Time’).

‘You’re Driving Me Crazy’ finds Morrison collaborating in the studio with DeFrancesco and his band–including Dan Wilson (guitar), Michael Ode (drums) and Troy Roberts (tenor saxophone). DeFrancesco, who signed his first deal with Columbia Records at the age of 16, has performed with Miles Davis, John McLaughlin, Grover Washington, Jr. and many more while leading his own band, and is responsible for bringing the classic Hammond organ sound back to the world of jazz in the late 1980s.

The release of ‘You’re Driving Me Crazy’ caps more than a year of non-stop activity for Van Morrison, who released his 37^th and 38^th studio albums (‘Roll with the Punches’ and ‘Versatile’) in quick succession in the fall and winter of 2017. ‘Roll With The Punches’ became his 13^th album to reach the Top 10 of the U.K. charts, while ‘Versatile’ topped Billboard’s jazz chart.

The world of jazz has provided a vital ongoing influence on the music of Van Morrison, whose acclaimed 1968 studio masterpiece, ‘Astral Weeks’, showcased jazz musicians Connie Kay, Jay Berliner, and Richard Davis.  Inspired by the spontaneity, soul and sound of jazz, Morrison has performed on stage and/or in the studio with a variety of jazz and blues musicians including John Lee Hooker, Ray Charles, Mose Allison, Bobby Bland, Solomon Burke, Jeff Beck, Georgie Fame, Robbie Robertson, Freddie Hubbard, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Maceo Parker, Candy Dulfer and others.

Joey DeFrancesco is a prolific American jazz organist, trumpeter, and vocalist and Grammy-nominee who signed his first record deal (with Columbia Records) at the age of 16 and has gone on to release more than 30 albums. He has performed on stage and in the studio with a wide variety of artists including Miles Davis, Jimmy Smith, Ray Charles, Bette Midler, David Sanborn, Arturo Sandoval, Larry Coryell, Frank Wess, John McLaughlin, Danny Gatton, Elvin Jones, and many more. DeFrancesco is a nine-time winner of the Down Beat Critics Poll (organ) and has won the Down Beat Readers Poll every year since 2005. He has won a number of JazzTimes Awards and is an inaugural member of the Hammond Hall of Fame.

YOU’RE DRIVING ME CRAZY 

1. Miss Otis Regrets (Cole Porter)
2. Hold It Right There (Terry, Grey, Vinson)
3. All Saints Day (Van Morrison)
4. The Way Young Lovers Do (Van Morrison)
5. The Things I Used To Do (Eddie Jones)
6. Travellin’ Light (John Mercer, James Mundy, James Young)
7. Close Enough For Jazz (Van Morrison)
8. Goldfish Bowl (Van Morrison)
9. Evening Shadows (Van Morrison / Acker Bilk)
10. Magic Time (Van Morrison)
11. You’re Driving Me Crazy (Walter Donaldson)
12. Every Day I Have The Blues (Peter Chatman)
13. Have I Told You Lately (Van Morrison)
14. Sticks and Stones (Titus Turner)
15. Celtic Swing (Van Morrison)