Van Morrison is gearing up to release his 37th studio album, Roll With The Punches, due out September 22 on Exile/Caroline. Ahead of a lengthy tour around the album’s release, the band has shared the first single “Transformation,” which features 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 Morrison’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 in a press release.

“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. Watch the video below, and purchase it on iTunes.

Transformation by Van Morrison on VEVO.

Van Morrison Tour Dates

U.S. DATES:
Sun Sept 10 Hersheypark Stadium @ “Outlaw Music Festival”
Thu Sept 14 Ascend Amphitheater
Fri Oct 13 The Show At Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa
Sat Oct 14 The Show At Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa
Fri Oct 20 Fox Theater (Oakland, CA)
Sat Oct 21 Fox Theater (Oakland, CA)
UK DATES:
Mon Nov 6 Edinburgh Playhouse
Tues Nov 7 Glasgow Royal Court
Sun Nov 12 London Eventim Apollo
Mon Nov 13 Birmingham Symphony Hall
Wed Nov 15 Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
Mon Nov 20 Cardiff St. David’s Hall
Tues Nov 21 Bristol Colston Hall
Fri Nov 24 Torquay Princess Theatre
Sat Nov 25 Plymouth Pavilions
Mon Dec 4 Belfast Europa Hotel
Tues Dec 5 Belfast Europa Hotel