Versatile

With his soulful, supple delivery and knack for improvisation, Van Morrison has had a way with jazzy tunes since 1968's <i>Astral Weeks</i>. Five decades along, <i>Versatile</i> finds him focusing exclusively on jazz. The album is dominated by Van's versions of jazz-pop standards, and the Celtic crooner brings both a seamless swing and a master jazzman's melodic twists and turns to the dreamy "Let's Get Lost" and the wistful "They Can't Take That Away from Me”. Morrison also tosses in a few originals that stand up admirably alongside their classic neighbours.