Not six weeks after one blast from Van Morrison’s recent past, New Arrangements And Duets presented just what the title said. This hodgepodge of big-band remakes, also done in 2014, and some all-star duets of more recent vintage was deemed important enough by his major label to give it a wider release. After all, it had been a decade since Duets: Re-working The Catalogue came out, and the selections here were likely contenders for that album. The first two tracks are both new arrangements as well as duets, both with Kurt Elling, of the recent Van tunes “Ain’t Gonna Moan No More” and “Broken Record”, and they’re just fine until they start scatting at each other. Curtis Stigers does a nice job on “Close Enough For Jazz”, as does Joss Stone on “Someone Like You”. Willie Nelson adds his voice and “Trigger” guitar to “What’s Wrong With This Picture” and “Steal My Heart Away”, both firmly country where they belong.
Some of the new charts simply don’t work. “Avalon Of The Heart” was a lovely piano-based piece, and now it’s in a broken-leg meter that takes all the peace out. Similarly, the mild swing take on “I’ll Be Your Lover, Too” would be fine if the original wasn’t so good. “Only A Dream” is the same arrangement as heard on Versatile, away from the country strum it once was, just like “The Beauty Of The Days Gone By” and “Choppin’ Wood”. That leave a few that aren’t unlistenable; “So Quiet In Here” isn’t too radical, but not exactly quiet, and “So Complicated” is slowed down a hair. “The Master’s Eyes” is taken from gospel R&B to more folky jazz, and “You Gotta Make It Through The World” is more to the point.
While New Arrangements And Duets would appear to be designed for the enjoyment and consumption by Van scholars, chances are they wouldn’t be overly impressed. As with everything else he’s put out this century, you can pick and choose anything that appeals, and then move on.
Van Morrison New Arrangements And Duets (2024)—2½
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