Entitled, "Rain," it's the first Jackson record since the brilliant and critically acclaimed "Volume 4" was released in 2003. While "Volume 4" and the seven-month tour that followed featured the reunion of the original, iconic Joe Jackson Band, "Rain," was made with three of those four members: Jackson (vocals and keyboards), Graham Maby (bass/vocals) and Dave Houghton (drums/vocals). The record was made in Jackson's newly-adopted city of Berlin in a studio called Planet Roc.

Very much in keeping with the eclecticism of Jackson's wonderful three-decade spanning career, "Rain" continues to extend the boundaries of his craft. Reflecting the title, the record is melancholic in places, but also boasts plenty of humor, swing, sophistication, and barbed social commentary as well as some out and out rockers. The common thread running through the record is its simplicity; where Jackson's distinctive piano and voice, Maby's intricate and melodic bass, and Houghton's tough and tender drums are all you hear.

To flesh out the new sounds live, Jackson will kick off his 24-date North American tour in Toronto, as one of three Canadian dates. This will be the first time Jackson has played Canada in over four years.