Back on top, back in Ronnie Scott's and back in black - Van Morrison's return to the world of record promotion was all three and more. A rainy Tuesday night in Soho saw the Belfast cowboy and his men-in-black backing band showcase tracks from his new Back On Top album to a select gathering. The album, the first in a new deal with Virgin's Point Blank label, is a far more R&B affair than any of his recent albums and certainly, he couldn't have picked a better place to show us what he's got than the intimate confines of this legendary jazz club.
Indeed, Van was in cracking form. Aside from some terse comments about certain reviewers getting the wrong end of the stick which provoked nervous laughter from the Mojo magazine table, there was plenty of cheerful banter about Cliff Richard and Van's new status in the UK Top 40 chart. Good humour at a Van Morrison gig? Never. The music industry big-wigs and assorted Vanmen (including Bob Geldof, who just about managed to put away his mobile phone for the duration) made the most of it and chuckled along.
As is by now the norm, Brian Kennedy was Van's onstage foil. More cheerleader than backing vocalist on this outing, the Belfast singer-songwriter was earnestly discussing his ongoing collaborations with Boyzone's Ronan Keating afterwards. A single, co-written by the pair, is scheduled for release in May.
But all the attention was on the man in the humbug hat centre-stage. Between peering at the lyrics on a music-stand in front of him to aid his recall of tracks like Goin' Down Gen- eva and conducting the various solos from his band, Van Morrison seemed to be really enjoying himself. Who knows, this could be the beginning of a whole new Van. Live dates are promised for later in the year, so here's hoping the jocular mood continues.