VAN MORRISON has just released "Transformation," the first single from his forthcoming album ROLL WITH THE PUNCHES, across all digital platforms. ROLL WITH THE PUNCHES--MORRISON's 37th studio album--is due out September 22 on Exile/Caroline.  MORRISON will head out for a few U.S. dates around the album's release, to be followed by UK dates before the end of the year.

 

"Transformation" is a sublime piece of soulful music; the kind of gloriously transcendent song that only VAN MORRISON seems to write. The song features regular VAN collaborator Chris Farlowe on additional vocals alongside U.K. jazz great Jason Rebello on piano and legendary guitarist/former Yardbird Jeff Beck.

 

Along with a few self-written tracks, ROLL WITH THE PUNCHES features VAN's interpretations of a selection of rhythm and blues classics, reconnecting him with music he came of age with in the '60s.  "From a very early age, I connected with the blues. The thing about the blues is you don't dissect it--you just do it. I've never over-analysed what I do; I just do it," VAN says.

 

"Music has to be about just doing it and that's the way the blues works--it's an attitude. I was lucky to have met people who were the real thing--people like John Lee Hooker, Jimmy Witherspoon, Bo Diddley, Little Walter & Mose Allison. I got to hang out with them and absorb what they did. They were people with no ego whatsoever and they helped me learn a lot."

 

At the same time, a live performance video for "Transformation" is accompanying the single's release. The video for the song was filmed at VAN's recent gig at London's Porchester Hall. Hear "Transformation" on Spotify or Apple Music; purchase on iTunes and watch the video here.  A pre-order of the album is available now.

 

VAN MORRISON's U.S. and UK tour dates are as follows: