When The Beatles stopped touring and progressed to psychedelic rock and Dylan left folk and went electric, Van Morrison hired some of New York’s finest jazz musicians and recorded two of the classic albums of that golden era – “Astral Weeks” and “Moondance”.

Both albums had enormous impact on aspiring musicians and singers around the world. Australian Jazz legend, Vince Jones was one of them. Now, Jones, a remarkable jazz interpreter, has invited a selection of the Australia’s finest jazz/rock musicians to form The Astral Orchestra. His Music Director, Matt McMahon  joins him in this homage to Van’s extraordinary repertoire; his most acclaimed album, the magical “Astral Weeks” – a poetic, mercurial blend of jazz, folk and blues - and most commercially successful, the wonderful soul/jazz influenced “Moondance”.

Sold–out concerts at the Melbourne International Jazz Festival at the Melbourne Recital Centre and Sydney’s City Recital Hall confirmed the demand for Morrison’s repertoire and these iconic masterpieces.

Vince Jones has set the benchmark for Australian jazz vocalist/musicians across a 20 album, international career and his Celtic/jazz/blues influences provide the perfect blend for his reading of two of contemporary rock music’s greatest works.