Van Morrison joins prime jazz label

NEW YORK, Aug. 15 (UPI) -- Veteran Irish singer Van Morrison, no stranger to jazz, has signed a worldwide contract with the Blue Note jazz label.

The Celtic rocker joins Blue Note on the heels of crossover artist Norah Jones' multi-Grammy award-winning label debut. Morrison's label debut, a jazz and blues CD titled "What's Wrong With This Picture," is due in stores October 21.

Morrison released two CDs for the Verve label in 1996. They were "How Long Has This Been Going On" and "Tell Me Something: The Songs of Mose Allison."

Morrison's last CD was 2002's "Down the Road," a project on the Universal label that blended R&B, jazz, folk and country influences.