Van Morrison & Joey DeFrancesco- You’re Driving Me Crazy (2LP)

Label: Legacy 20041

Van Morrison Joins Forces with Jazz Organ Virtuoso Joey DeFrancesco on You’re Driving Me Crazy Morrison’s 39th Studio Collection Showcases Electrifying Musical Collaborations, Fresh Interpretations of Blues/Jazz Standards and Deep Cuts from Van’s Songbook You’re Driving Me Crazy is a musical collaboration of Van Morrison with Hammond organ virtuoso and trumpet master Joey DeFrancesco. 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 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. Selections: Side 1: 1. Miss Otis Regrets 2. Hold It Right There 3. All Saints Day 4. The Way Young Lovers Do Side 2: 5. The Things I Used To Do 6. Travellin’ Light 7. Close Enough For Jazz Side 3: 8. Goldfish Bowl 9. Evening Shadows 10. Magic Time 11. You’re Driving Me Crazy Side 4: 12. Every Day I Have The Blues 13. Have I Told You Lately 14. Sticks And Stones 15. Celtic Swing