Even if singer/songwriter Van Morrison had stopped making music altogether by the time he reached age 30 in 1975, the impressive body of work he had already created at that point would have qualified him one of rock music's true visionaries. His first major mark on the music world came with his gritty British soul act Them, which featured Morrison's gruff vocals on a variety of American R&B covers alongside his own compositions (most notably the garage-rock anthem "Gloria").

Morrison soon split for a solo career that was kicked off by the Top Ten single "Brown-Eyed Girl," but that feel-good hit hardly suggested the complexity and depth the songwriter would achieve with his stunning 1968 Warner Brothers debut, 'Astral Weeks.' Morrison's searching, mystical lyrics and esoteric mix of jazz, blues, folk and Celtic influences helped make his late '60s and early '70s records like 'Moondance,' and 'Saint Dominic's Preview' some of the most unique and consistently satisfying albums of the era. The vocalist also earned a reputation as a powerhouse stage performer, readily apparent in the concert document 'It's Too Late to Stop Now.'

Unlike many of his '60s contemporaries, Morrison continued to reinvent himself over the decades to come, making a diverse range of music that sometimes baffled fans and critics alike but never lacked in the passion and commitment that has become his trademark. The last decade found Morrison delving into jazz, the blues, R&B and even country with equal aplomb.

In November of 2008, Morrison took an uncharacteristic look back by staging two concerts at the Hollywood Bowl where he performed 'Astral Weeks' in its entirety along with a handful of other classic songs. Augemented by a full string section and horns as well as original album guitarist Jay Berliner, Morrison turned in what critics hailed as a triumphant and transcendent reimagining of his greatest work. Fans of the talented troubadour should not miss this chance to see the vocalist deliver a new interpretation of 'Astral Weeks' in addition to a selection of his greatest hits.

Van Morrison
Saturday and Sunday, May 2-3, 7:30 p.m. $50-$350
Greek Theatre