Jon Cleary (musician)

Last updated
Jon Cleary
JonClearyLMF2008.jpg
Cleary in 2008
Background information
Born (1962-08-11) August 11, 1962 (age 61)
Cranbrook, Kent, England
Genres Funk, R&B, soul
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Piano
Years active1980–present
LabelsFHQ, Single Lock, Basin Street, Virgin/Point Blank, Ace
Website joncleary.com

Jon Cleary (born August 11, 1962) [1] is a British-born, American funk and R&B musician, based in New Orleans, Louisiana. [2] Cleary is an accomplished pianist as well as being a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and songwriter. [3]

Contents

Cleary has performed with a number of prolific musicians including Eric Clapton, Bonnie Raitt, [4] Taj Mahal, [5] B.B. King, [6] Ryan Adams, [7] and Eric Burdon. [8] Compositions by Cleary have been recorded by such notable musicians as Taj Mahal, Bonnie Raitt, and John Scofield on his 2009 album Piety Street . [9] [10]

Cleary's current band is Jon Cleary & The Absolute Monster Gentlemen, who have released six albums. [11] Their album Go Go Juice won the Grammy Award for Best Regional Roots Music Album in the 58th Annual Grammy Awards. [12] [13]

Early life

Cleary is originally from Cranbrook, Kent, in the south-east of England. He attended Colliers Green Primary School, Angley Secondary and then Cranbrook School. [14] His father played guitar but it was his uncle, returning from trips to America bringing recordings of Professor Longhair and others, who inspired his love for R&B. Cleary's focus was always more on art and music and everything that goes with it, than academic pursuits, and he soon left schooling behind to develop a life in music. [14] [15]

Career

Jon Cleary & The Absolute Monster Gentlemen

Jon Cleary, Cornell Williams (b) & A.J. Hall (dr) at INNtone Jazzfestival, Austria 2016 Jon Cleary & The Absolute Monster Gentlemen 08.jpg
Jon Cleary, Cornell Williams (b) & A.J. Hall (dr) at INNtöne Jazzfestival, Austria 2016

Jon Cleary & the Absolute Monster Gentlemen consist of Cleary on keyboard and vocals, Cornell C. Williams on bass and backup vocals, and A.J. Hall on drums. All of the band members, except for Cleary, were born in New Orleans. The Absolute Monster Gentlemen can swell to an 8-piece band, often including musicians like Nigel Hall on keyboards, Pedro Segundo on percussion, Xavier Lynn on guitar, and the Absolute Monster Horns. [16]

The band tours worldwide and regularly performs at classic New Orleans venues like Tipitina's and the Maple Leaf Bar. They are also a mainstay at the annual Jazz and Heritage Festival and have played at Bonnaroo as well as other music festivals. [17] Rolling Stone's David Fricke wrote of the Pin Your Spin album: "Cleary can be an absolute monster on his own, but Cleary’s full combo R&B is as broad, deep and roiling as the Mississippi river, the combined swinging product of local keyboard tradition, Cleary’s vocal-songwriting flair for moody Seventies soul and the spunky-meters roll of his Gentlemen". [18]

Other

Cleary is interviewed on screen and appears in performance footage in the 2005 documentary film Make It Funky! , which presents a history of New Orleans music and its influence on rhythm and blues, rock and roll, funk and jazz. [19] In the film, Cleary performs a piano duo of "Tipitina" with Allen Toussaint. [20]

Cleary played piano on Annika Chambers' 2016 album, Wild & Free. [21]

Cleary was featured frequently on HBO's Treme . [22]

Discography

Albums
Appearances

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bonnie Raitt</span> American musician (born 1949)

Bonnie Lynn Raitt is an American blues singer, guitarist, and songwriter. In 1971, Raitt released her self-titled debut album. Following this, she released a series of critically acclaimed roots-influenced albums that incorporated elements of blues, rock, folk, and country. She was also a frequent session player and collaborator with other artists, including Warren Zevon, Little Feat, Jackson Browne, the Pointer Sisters, John Prine, and Leon Russell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Scofield</span> American jazz guitarist and composer (born 1951)

John Scofield is an American guitarist and composer whose music over a long career has blended jazz, jazz fusion, funk, blues, soul and rock. He first came to mainstream attention in the band of Miles Davis, and has toured and recorded with many prominent jazz artists, including saxophonists Eddie Harris, Dave Liebman, Joe Henderson and Joe Lovano; keyboardists George Duke, Joey DeFrancesco, Herbie Hancock, Larry Goldings and Robert Glasper; fellow guitarists Pat Metheny, John Abercrombie, Pat Martino and Bill Frisell; bassists Marc Johnson and Jaco Pastorius; and drummers Billy Cobham and Dennis Chambers. Outside the world of jazz, he has collaborated with Phil Lesh, Mavis Staples, John Mayer, Medeski Martin & Wood, and Gov't Mule.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taj Mahal (musician)</span> American blues musician

Henry St. Claire Fredericks Jr., better known by his stage name Taj Mahal, is an American blues musician. He plays the guitar, piano, banjo, harmonica, and many other instruments, often incorporating elements of world music into his work. Mahal has done much to reshape the definition and scope of blues music over the course of his more than 50-year career by fusing it with nontraditional forms, including sounds from the Caribbean, Africa, India, Hawaii, and the South Pacific.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keb' Mo'</span> American blues singer, guitarist, and songwriter

Kevin Roosevelt Moore, known as Keb' Mo', is an American blues musician. He is a singer, guitarist and songwriter, living in Nashville, Tennessee. He has been described as "a living link to the seminal Delta blues that travelled up the Mississippi River and across the expanse of America." His post-modern blues style is influenced by many eras and genres, including folk, rock, jazz, pop and country. The moniker "Keb Mo" was coined by his original drummer, Quentin Dennard, and picked up by his record label as a "street talk" abbreviation of his given name.

John Porter is an English musician and record producer.

<i>Takin My Time</i> 1973 studio album by Bonnie Raitt

Takin' My Time is the third studio album by American musician Bonnie Raitt. It was released in 1973 by Warner Bros. Records. The album is an amalgamation of several different genres, including blues, folk, jazz, New Orleans rhythm and blues, and calypso. The 10 tracks on the album are covers, ranging from soft sentimental ballads to upbeat, rhythmic-heavy tracks. Lowell George was originally hired to handle the production, but was ultimately replaced by John Hall when Raitt became unhappy with his production.

<i>Señor Blues</i> (Taj Mahal album) 1997 studio album by Taj Mahal

Señor Blues is a 1997 studio album by the blues musician Taj Mahal. It contains a cover of James Brown's "Think". It won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album at the 40th Grammy Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ivan Neville</span> American R&B musician and singer

Ivan Neville is an American multi-instrumentalist musician, singer, and songwriter. He is the son of Aaron Neville and nephew to the other members of The Neville Brothers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tipitina</span> Single by Professor Longhair

"Tipitina" is a song written and made famous by Professor Longhair. The song has been widely covered and the Professor Longhair version was recorded in 1953 for Atlantic Records. "Tipitina" was first released in 1953. A previously unreleased alternate take was released on the album New Orleans Piano in 1972. Although the nature of his contributions are unknown, recording engineer Cosimo Matassa is listed as the song's co-writer along with Roy Byrd, Professor Longhair's legal name.

<i>Phantom Blues</i> 1996 studio album by Taj Mahal

Phantom Blues is a studio album by American blues artist Taj Mahal.

<i>Piety Street</i> (album) 2009 studio album by John Scofield

Piety Street is a 2009 studio album by jazz guitarist John Scofield. It was recorded in New Orleans with Meters bassist George Porter Jr. and keyboardist/vocalist Jon Cleary. The album features gospel music with Cleary singing most of the songs. John Boutte is the guest vocalist on three tracks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Hutchinson (musician)</span> American session bassist (born 1953)

James "Hutch" Hutchinson (born January 24, 1953)is an American session bassist best known for his work with Bonnie Raitt.Though his work takes him nearly everywhere he primarily resides in Studio City, Los Angeles, CA and Haiku-Pauwela, Hawaii.

<i>Goin Home: A Tribute to Fats Domino</i> 2007 compilation album by Various artists

Goin' Home: A Tribute to Fats Domino is a 2007 tribute album by various artists to Fats Domino, issued by Vanguard Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Paquette</span> American jazz pianist

David Paquette is an American jazz pianist. He has recorded more than 53 albums. Highlights of his career include touring the European jazz circuit, establishing and directing a seventeen-year running annual Jazz Festival on New Zealand’s Waiheke Island, and years as the Musical Director for Sydney Australia's Four Seasons Hotel.

Tony Braunagel is an American drummer, producer, and songwriter from Houston, Texas, United States, who is based in Los Angeles, California. Braunagel has played on many film scores and television shows as well as numerous albums as a musician, composer and producer. He is best known as a session drummer and/or percussionist of over 200 albums including those of Otis Rush, Eric Burdon, Johnny Nash, Coco Montoya, Lucky Peterson, as well as Grammy winning albums of Bonnie Raitt, Taj Mahal, Buddy Guy (percussion) and for performing live with dozens of music icons including Bonnie Raitt, Rickie Lee Jones, BB King, Lightnin’ Hopkins, John Lee Hooker, Robert Cray, Bette Midler, Lyle Lovett, and Taj Mahal to name just a few.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles Neville (musician)</span> American musician

Charles Neville was an American R&B and jazz musician best known as part of The Neville Brothers. Known onstage as "Charlie the horn man", his saxophone playing helped earn the group a Grammy Award for best pop instrumental performance.

Nigel David Hall is an American vocalist and keyboardist. He is a current member of Lettuce and also fronts his solo project, The Nigel Hall Band.

<i>TajMo</i> 2017 studio album by Taj Mahal and Keb Mo

TajMo is a joint album by the American blues musicians Taj Mahal and Keb' Mo'. It was released May 5, 2017, and won the 2018 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album. TajMo is the twenty-sixth studio album by Taj Mahal and the thirteenth by Keb' Mo'.

<i>Decades Rock Live: Bonnie Raitt and Friends</i> 2006 live album by Bonnie Raitt

Decades Rock Live: Bonnie Raitt and Friends is a DVD/CD combo, recorded live on September 30, 2005, at Trump Taj Majal, Atlantic City, New Jersey. Joining Bonnie Raitt on stage are Norah Jones, Ben Harper, Alison Krauss, Keb' Mo' and Jon Cleary. All of the songs on the CD are repeated on the DVD plus five that are exclusive to the DVD.

<i>Just Like That...</i> 2022 studio album by Bonnie Raitt

Just Like That... is the eighteenth studio album by American singer, songwriter, and guitarist Bonnie Raitt. Released on April 22, 2022, it is her first studio album since 2016's Dig In Deep. The album was nominated for a Grammy award for Best Americana Album in 2023. Its title track won the Grammy Award for Song of the Year and Best American Roots Song and lead single "Made Up Mind" won Best Americana Performance.

References

  1. ↑ "Jon Cleary and the Absolute Monster Gentlemen", BMA. Archived 2008-05-22 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ↑ joncleary.com. Archived 2007-09-29 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ↑ "Jon Cleary". PianoGroove.com. Retrieved 2021-04-23.
  4. ↑ Ramsey, Jan. "Bonnie Raitt & Jon Cleary". OffBeat Magazine. Retrieved 2021-04-23.
  5. ↑ "Taj Mahal and Phantom Blues Band with Special Guest Jon Cleary | Soka University of America". Soka.edu. Retrieved 2021-04-23.
  6. ↑ "Jon Cleary in Florida, Henry Butler in Maryland. B.B.King". Basin Street Records. 2008-02-29. Retrieved 2021-04-23.
  7. ↑ "Jon Cleary". Whiteoakproductions.com. Retrieved 2021-04-23.
  8. ↑ "Jon Cleary". Music Rising ~ The Musical Cultures of the Gulf South. Retrieved 2021-04-23.
  9. ↑ "New John Scofield album "Piety Street" proves pious". The Mac Weekly. 1970-01-01. Retrieved 2021-04-23.
  10. ↑ "John Scofield and Jon Cleary's Abiding Piety". Jambands. 2015-12-02. Retrieved 2021-04-23.
  11. ↑ "Jon Cleary & the Absolute Monster Gentlemen". NPR.org. Retrieved 2021-04-23.
  12. ↑ Oswell, Paul (2016-02-23). "Grammy winner Jon Cleary: 'Music isn't a choice for me – it's a bodily function'". The Guardian .
  13. ↑ "Jon Cleary". GRAMMY.com. 2020-11-23. Retrieved 2021-04-23.
  14. 1 2 "Cranbrook's Grammy Award winning musician Jon Cleary". Community Ad. 2020-03-18. Retrieved 2021-04-23.
  15. ↑ "JON CLEARY - DYNA-MITE + Concertdata | ConcertMonkey". Concertmonkey.be. Retrieved 2021-04-23.
  16. ↑ "Jon Cleary 10/1/2023 New Orleans, LA" . Retrieved 15 October 2023– via YouTube.
  17. ↑ Keith Spera. "Farmstand Live, a two-day, drive-in music and food fest, is slated for Shrine on Airline". NOLA.com. Retrieved 2021-04-23.
  18. ↑ Fricke, David (2004-04-21). "Jon Cleary: Pin Your Spin". Rolling Stone . Retrieved 2008-12-03.[ dead link ]
  19. ↑ "IAJE What's Going On". Jazz Education Journal. 37 (5). Manhattan, Kansas: International Association of Jazz Educators: 87. April 2005. ISSN   1540-2886. ProQuest   1370090.
  20. ↑ Make It Funky! (DVD). Culver City, California: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. 2005. ISBN   9781404991583. OCLC   61207781. 11952.
  21. ↑ Gunther, Marty. "Annika Chambers – Wild And Free | Album Review". Bluesblastmagazine.com.
  22. ↑ [ dead link ]
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.