Jack Leigh visits the Emerald Theatre on London’s Embankment to see the Van Morrison Alumni Band.
Being a great Van Morrison fan from way back when, I was excited to get an opportunity to see his music performed live by the Van Morrison Alumni Band. A tribute band to the great man I hear you thinking to yourself? Yes and no is the answer. It is a tribute band, no doubt about that, but the band is made up entirely of musicians who have performed and recorded classic tracks with Van Morrison over the decades.
Fronted by Leo Green, a master sax player and son of the great Benny Green, the legendary saxophonist and broadcaster, the Van Morrison Alumni has been given the seal of approval by Morrison to play all his songs, an extraordinary body of work numbering over a thousand compositions. As he is quoted as saying “These songs are meant to be sung… I’m really happy that Leo is carrying the torch”
Among the regular Alumni is Matt Holland, trumpet and flugelhorn, who played over a thousand concerts with Van and appeared on many of his greatest albums.
Also appearing that night was Robin Aspland on keyboards, who recorded and played with Van Morrison on the album ¨How Long Has This Been Going On? ¨ He played over two hundred concerts and over fifty recordings.
Geoff Dunn on drums has also been a veteran, having played over three hundred concerts with Morrison and over seventy recording credits including The Healing Game and Days Like This.
The musical lineup often chops and changes from week to week due to availability but with Morrison’s penchant for using so many talented session players, the Alumni is never short of available players to choose from.
Leo Green is the lynchpin, a talented frontman with bundles of energy who regales the audience with the stories behind the songs and keeps the magic tunes coming relentlessly.
But it’s not all just about the back line. The band’s five singers play their part in delivering Van Morrison’s iconic lyrics with heartfelt intent while their luscious harmonies add meaning to his masterful arrangements.
This was a Morrison fest no doubt about that. Everything from “the best of Van Morrison” but also some of his lesser-known numbers, equally beautiful tunes that spanned his varying musical influences over his career. The band even took live requests from the audience before some playful wind-ups with each other about who could remember the right chords to the intros. Of course, they knew every key and note.
Cleaning Windows, about one of Van´s early manual jobs in Belfast, was a perfect example. Some puzzled looks to each other as Robin played around with his keyboard before launching full tilt into the song adding in all the fabulous brass arrangements that make it so special.
It was a great night, the audience really getting into the music, singing along and getting up to dance whenever one of their favourites were played.
To cap the night off they played two of my favourites… Brown Eyed Girl and Gloria, two bangers that had finale written all over them.
So many great numbers performed as they appeared on recordings and live concerts by the musicians who helped create them. I´d forgotten how many of Van´s songs have been a part of the soundtrack of my life.
What a privilege too after the show. The band stayed at the bar for a drink or two and a chat with anyone who want to join them. Worth buying them a drink to hear some tales don’t you think?
As Van says in one of his songs ¨More days like this¨…. Yes please.
Highly recommended.
Tell me more about the Van Morrison Alumni Band
The Van Morrison Alumni Band, Emerald Theatre, 8 Victoria Embankment, London WC2R 2AB T: 020 8165 9933 E: info@vmab.com
Tickets range from £20-60 depending on seating and time of booking.
Full bar available.
The Van Morrison Alumni Band residency is every Tuesday night at the Emerald Theatre.
