This Saturday will start a weekend of worthy benefits with JC playing solo on May 15 at the ReFest, a festival completely dedicated to raising awareness about reuse options put on by the Green Project in New Orleans Bywater Neighborhood. Then on Sunday, May 16 an all star benefit for Gulf Aid.

This Sunday, musicians will unite at Gulf Aid, a benefit concert to raise funds to assist Gulf Coast fisherman presented by WWOZ, Mardi Gras World, SDT Waste and Debris, Rehage Entertainment and others. Lenny Kravitz, Mos Def, John Legend and Ani DiFranco join Allen Toussaint, The Voice of the Wetlands Allstars, Beausoleil, Steve Riley and The Mamou Playboys, Jon Cleary, Marcia Ball, Zachary Richard, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk, Soul Rebels, Irvin Mayfield's Playhouse Revue, Kermit Ruffins and the BBQ Swingers, Jeremy Davenport, Rebirth Brass Band, Big Sam's Funky Nation, Shamarr Allen and MyNameIsJohnMichael, with more artists to be announced. Funds will be distributed with a focus on two key elements of recovery: coastal environmental issues and the well-being of fishermen and the regional seafood industry. Tickets are $50 and are available exclusively at Elevate Tickets; youth 10 and under are free. The concert will be held this Sunday from 12-10 p.m. at Mardi Gras World's River City Plaza and will be broadcast live on WWOZ.

Donate to Gulf Aid

On Friday, April 23, JC will be debuting his new group, Piano, Bass & Drums at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Other dates include The Jazz Festival Foundation Gala tribute to Dr. John on April 22, The House of Blues with Trombone Shorty on April 23, and a midnight gig at DBA on Frenchman Street on April 30. Cleary will perform on solo piano as part of a Piano Tribute at the Fairgrounds on Saturday, April 24 featuring Dr. John and Davell Crawford and at DBA on April 29. Check the shows page for all the dates. Don't miss the 41st New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival!

Cleary and the PBD band head down to Mississippi for Art Remix, a premier after-hours event celebrating The Mississippi Museum of Modern Art, in Downtown Jackson offering an intriguing mix of food, music, drinks and, of course, ART!

JC keeps the flame burning on the New Orleans piano tradition Thursday, April 15 at DBA on Frenchman Street. Come see Cleary tickle the ivories.

April 17 JC and The Monster Gents bring the super funk to the annual Tulane Crawfest.  Big D, Cornell C. Williams, and Terence "Swamp Grease" HIggins will lay down the steamy grooves on the Tulane Quad.

On Monday, April 12th, Jon will do an intimate solo piano performance and interview with WWOZ personality & famous documentarian, David Kunian, for the "Professors" Piano Night Series at the Louisiana Humanities Center.

The CBD will be grooving to the funk of Piano, Bass & Drums on April 14 for the 2010 Wednesdays at the Square Concert Series. This is a great time to get outside after the workday with a drink and shake your money maker.

Australian fans are in store for a new treat this March when Nathan Farrell Entertainment brings Jon Cleary down under for the world premiere his new lineup Piano, Bass & Drums featuring James Singleton and Doug Belotes. This national tour will culminate at the 21st Anniversary of the Byron Bay Bluesfest April 3 and 4 and include a string of club dates in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Newcastle and one very intimate solo show in Sydney. See full tour on the Shows Page.

JC is bringing PBD up to mid-city for the first time at Chickie Wah Wah's. This will be the last local date before the Australia Tour.Come on down and pass a funky good time at Chickie's!

After a series of electrifying shows last Fall at DBA, Piano, Bass & Drums return to DBA on Saturday, February 27 with James Singleton on upright and Doug Belote on the skins for some Saturday Night Funk on Frenchman.

The year 2010 might be the year of the piano. To culminate the first decade of the 21st century, JC will be doing a Thursday Night Solo Piano Series at the cozy DBA nightclub on Frenchman Street. Each night will be a rendezvous with new and classic Cleary material, Caribbean ramblings, New Orleans inspired ivory tickling, and much more. Dates include January 7, 14, 21, 28 and February 4 and 25.

Cleary brings Piano, Bass & Drums back to Acadiana for a return visit to the down-home Blue Moon Saloon in Lafayette. The illustrious Matt Perrine will be on sousaphone and upright with hometown boy Doug Belote on the drums. Come pass a good time down Lafayette way with PBD.

Check out this in-depth interview with Mr. Harry Shearer on his Le Show, right online with no delay.

Introducing the new Jon Cleary Facebook Page.  Check it out and share with your friends on Facebook.

On Dec. 18 and 19, JC will be performing on solo piano at the annual fundraiser known as Judith Owen and Harry Shearer Annual Holiday Singalong at the Contemporary Arts Center in New Orleans. Proceeds will benefit the New Orleans Musician's Clinic and Tipitina's Foundation. Other performers include The Pfister Sisters, Matt Perrine, Tom McDermott, Leah Chase, Phillip Manuel, and David Torkanowsky. Come out and support a great cause with Harry and Judith.

"And then there’s Jon Cleary. It’s difficult to discern what’s more remarkable: His voice, with its beautifully worn timbre that fills the room, or his Professor Longhair-inspired piano playing, which reinforces the well-documented theory that British guys have an uncanny aptitude for American roots music. But then he dons a Stratocaster—guitar was his first instrument—and all bets are off." Read more here.

"In the lineage of those who originated and/or perpetuated  New Orleans style piano playing there are greats like Tuts Washington, Professor Longhair, James Booker, Dr. John, Allen Toussaint, Henry Butler, Davell Crawford and then there is Jon Cleary. Unlike the rest, he's not from the city nor even from this country – he was born in England. Through listening, studying, absorbing and loving the style, Cleary got it – has it." Click here for full article.

Introducing the new Jon Cleary Facebook Page.  Check it out and share with your friends on Facebook.

John Scofield will be taking the Piety Street Band back to Europe to raise those hands with spiritual vigor joined by JC on keys and vocals, the great George Porter, Jr. on bass, and the inimitable Shannon Powell on skins. This will be the last tour of 2009 with specific dates listed here.

Cleary's Piano, Bass & Drums will be setting up shop for a weekly residency in the intimate confines of dba on Frenchman Street in the Faubourg Marigny on Thursdays in October on 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29. The trio will feature funky drummer Doug Belote (Larry Carlton, Jerry Douglas), with bassists Matt Perrine on Oct. 1 & 29; James Singleton (Astral Project, James Booker) on Oct. 8, 15, and 22. Come for the weekly hang to check out JC's newest material while sampling dba's amazing selection of whiskey and tequila.

Put on your freakiest costume and head down to the Maple Leaf on Saturday, October 31st for a slamming show with Cleary's new trio featuring the sly funk of drummer Doug Belote, the lyrical bass playing of James Singleton with special guest Donald Harrison on saxophone. It will be a night to remember!

"I start my rainy Sunday stroll catching the last couple of songs from the Jon Cleary Trio’s set on the Market Stage. The group is comprised of Mr. Cleary on keys of course, Doug Belote on drums and James Singleton on stand-up bass. They sound amazing. The trio can be found playing now on Thursday nights at D.B.A. on Frenchman Street. I walk up as a song is ending and it’s drizzling but there is a second line procession happening right outside the stage, the kind that always makes you want to stop what your doing and shake your groove thang." Click here for full article.

Piano, Bass & Drums will hit the road from New Orleans to Lafayette for the first time at The Blue Moon Saloon on Friday, October 16 and Chelsea's Cafe on Saturday, October 17. This will be an amazing weekend of funky music.

JC and his funky trio will be performing on Sunday, October 4 at the Gretna Heritage Festival across the Mississippi from The Crescent City. Playing at on the Market Stage at 4 PM alongside good friends including Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue and Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk. Check out the heritage on the West Bank.

Jon Cleary will performing with his new group, Piano, Bass & Drums at the original Tipitina's Uptown on Saturday, September 26 at 10 PM, with young-gun trumpeter Shamarr Allen and his group The Underdawgs opening the show. The new trio features Lafayette-native Doug Belote (Larry Carlton, Jerry Douglas) on drums, multi-instrumentalist Matt Perrine (Bonerama, Nightcrawler, Stanton Moore), on upright bassist, and JC on acoustic piano. Cleary returns back to Tip's for the first time since 2007. This will be "A Serious Night of Funk!

Tune in to the New Orleans Music Show at 12 Noon on Friday for a little solo piano and catch up with Jon. Those outside The Crescent can listen online at WWOZ.org.

Jon Cleary has been quite busy this year touring with John Scofield & The Piety Street Band from Europe to Asia to Israel and all over the US. The latest lineup includes Crescent City stalwarts Shannon Powell on drums, and accomplished Jazz bassist, Roland Guerin. The group will be performing at the 52nd Annual Monterey Jazz Festival in Northern California on Saturday, September 19. This will be the last date for a while until The Piety Band tours Europe in November. Come check out this year's festival with artists including Chick Corea, Dave Brubeck, Pete Seeger, Susan Tedeschi, and many more.

Cleary, Scofield and the Piety Band will bring their churning funk and gospel grooves from the Red Sea Jazz Festival in Israel August 25-26, to the legendary Hollywood Bowl on Sept. 2, all the way to Asia for the Tokyo Jazz Festival Sept. 5,  and finish at the famed Monterey Jazz Festival on Sept. 19.  Dates and details here.

John Scofield & The Piety Street Band will be spreading the gospel to Europe with a month of dates in July.  Jon Cleary will be on vocals and keys supporting Sco along with funky Donald Ramsey on bass, and dynamic Shannon Powell on the skins.  They will be performing at festivals and venues all over Europe.  Check the tour dates here.

"Jon Cleary, the first in the long line of great New Orleans "piano professors" to have been born in England. He performed as vibrant and clean and swinging a boogie woogie to open his set as I've ever heard. If I ever rub a genie out of a lamp, one of my three wishes will be to play piano like Jon Cleary." Read more

JC will be doing a few gigs on the road in June returning the the famed Rochester International Jazz Festival for 2-days on June 13 and 14, followed by an early evening performance on June 15 at The Ramshead Tavern in Annapolis, MD, always a great gig.  These shows will features a trio called Jon Cleary:  Piano, Bass & Drums featuring the great New Orleans acoustic bassist James Singleton of Astral Project, and the funky Doug Belote on drums, who most recently has toured with dobro-legend Jerry Douglas, and jazz icon Larry Carlton.  For more information visit the tour page.

JC had a great solo piano tour in the UK performing at venues such as The Jazz Cafe and The Southport Festival. During the trip he stopped by music aficionado Paul Jones studio for a one-on-one. The session will be broadcast on the BBC, Monday, June 8th. More info.

JC had a busy year for New Orleans Jazz Fest's 40th Anniversary doing double time on the second Friday performing with Bonnie Raitt and John Scofield & The Piety Street Band, that night HOB Parish with special guests Scofield and Raitt, Maple Leaf on Saturday, and Jazz Fest on Sunday. Check out photos here. Read about the historic festival on NOLA.com.

JC will be doing a rare solo tour performance through his UK homeland starting at the Eastney Cellars on May 26th, Southport Festival May 29th, and his first performance at the famed Jazz Cafe on May 31st.  All the dates on the tour page here.

The November 7, 2008, performance of The Keys to New Orleans featuring Allen Toussaint, JC, and Henry Butler, was captured by NPR and featured on Dee Dee Bridgewater's Jazz Set. Listen to this amazing piano display on NPR.

Once again it is time for the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival celebrating its 40th Anniversary.  Jon Cleary will be making appearances performing twice in the day time on  Friday, May 1st, with the Bonnie Raitt band and the New Orleans premiere of John Scofield & The Piety Street Band. Check the tour page for times and stages.  On Friday, May 1st after Jazz Fest, Cleary will be backed by the exceptional grooves of the Monster Gents featuring Big D on guitar, Cornell C. Williams on bass, and Terence Higgins on the drums, performing 2-sets at the House of Blues Parish in the French Quarter, starting at 9 PM.  Then on Saturday, May 2nd the band heads way Uptown for the annual Funk Party at The Maple Leaf Bar starting at 10:30 PM until late, and finishing on Sunday, May 3rd at The New Orleans Jazz Festival. For more information click here to visit the tour page.

The Scofield & Piety Band have been bringing joy to folks across the US during the April Tour.   Here are some great reviews from the Washington Post, Express Night Out, The Duke Chronicle, and Something Else Reviews!

"Groove has always been an essential element for the jazz guitarist John Scofield, expressing itself in ways either subtle or obvious, depending on the setting. “Piety Street” (Emarcy), released last week, falls in the obvious category, with a fortunate twist: it’s Mr. Scofield’s old-time gospel album, recorded in New Orleans with a band drawn mainly from that city’s robust R&B scene. It’s a basic concept, and it makes all kinds of sense." (excerpt from New York Time Article) READ MORE

Jon Cleary will be on vocals and keys on the new recording and upcoming tour with John Scofield and the Piety Street Band.  The gospel-influenced recording was produced in New Orleans at Piety Street Studios featuring a stellar lineup including John Boutte on vocals, George Porter, Jr. on bass, Rickie Fataar on drums, and Shannon Powell on drums and tambourine.  The album was released on March 31st.  Then Scofield and the band will begin touring from April, June, and July with some select dates in the Fall. To view tour dates follow the link to JC's tour page.  To read more about the new Piety Street Release check out the interviews and reviews in Glide Magazine, Jazz.com, Jambands.com, and All About Jazz.com.

We are proud to announce that Jon Cleary (in his various incarnations) will be booked exclusively by The Rosebud Agency in San Francisco.  Rosebud has been an internationally recognized purveyor of fine music for over 30 years.  Led by Mike Kappus, they have booked legendary artists including John Lee Hooker, JJ Cale, John Hammond, The Blind Boys of Alabama, and more.  Check out their roster here.  We look forward to working together.

The Keys to New Orleans features three Crescent City legends - Allen Toussaint, Henry Butler and Jon Cleary - joining forces for a spectacular tribute to New Orleans music in a limited-run of US Performing Arts Centers including Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts in Cerritos, CA on March 3rd, Campbell Hall in Santa Barbara on March 4th, and The Birch North Park Theater in San Diego on March 6th. READ MORE

We were sad to hear the news today that the great singer/guitarist, and New Orleans legend, Mr. Fird "Snooks" Eaglin, Jr., passed away today at the age of 73. Jon was fortunate to share the stage over the past 25 years with Mr. Eaglin backing him at the New Orleans Jazz Festival and local venues like Mid-city Rock-n-Bowl. He was truly a unique and soulful musician, with a special spirit that could light up any stage. Check out recordings by the great Snooks Eaglin on Black Top Records including Teasin You, Out of Nowhere, his session work on The Wild Magnolias first album, Professor Longhair's House Party album, and many others. For more info see NOLA.com Obit, All Music discography, Wikipedia bio, and YouTube videos. RIP Snooks!

Japan's Blues and Soul Magazine staff and writers selected Jon Cleary's Live Mo Hippa as #5 of the Top 10 New Releases of 2008!  Also, Australia's Rhythms Magazine voted Cleary's March gig at The Zoo in Brisbane as the best 2008.

Even without his Absolute Monster Gentlemen band, Cleary is a formidable act. Poised at a Roland keyboard, Cleary (in tweed jacket complete with a red pencil in the top pocket) delivered New Orleans standards with an evocative and individual flourish. The rolling beat of “Lonely Nights” lead into Curtis Mayfield’s yearning “Please Send Me Someone to Love”. Fats Domino’s “Blueberry Hill” was made fresh again as Cleary gave a vibrant tour of prominent figures in the New Orleans piano honour roll (no pun). His left hand anchored delightful runs from the right hand as his feet stomped away beneath the keyboard. He included some Professor Longhair and Huey Piano Smith’s infectious “Rockin’ Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie ‘Flu”, before the seductive Cuban feel of his own sparkling, syncopated take on Jelly Roll Morton’s “The Crave”. READ MORE

Mojo Magazine's Fred Dellar gives Cleary and The AMG's latest release four stars, and describes the sound as "breathtaking New Orleans-style piano." Dellar goes on to say " Cleary and his trio excite and enchant, turning up the heat to full power...the band stay tight throughout, providing the perfect surround-sound to Cleary's rugged vocals." Click here for full review.

JC and The Gents head up north for a special performance to celebrate the 4th Annual Blues & Funk Festival at the Massacheusetts College of Liberal Arts on Friday, February 6.  This will be a 2-night festival also featuring soulstress Maya Azucena.  For tickets and more information click here.

Saturday, January 31, the one and only, Offbeat Magazine in New Orleans will present their annual soiree with a night of music honoring the great culture of the Crescent. This year is will feature a tribute to James Booker one of the the city's greatest legends. JC will join Henry Butler, John Gros, and Tom McDermott for this special tribute. There will also be a serious New Orleans party spread throughout the House of Blues with Trombone Shorty, The Bingo Show, Donald Harrison and many others. Come on down and pass a good time.

Jon Cleary was just added as special guest with the great Soul Queen of New Orleans Irma Thomas and her band for the Annual Legendary Blues Cruise January 24-31, 2009.  This voyage will be an exciting, music-filled party on the high seas featuring an amazing lineup including Taj Mahal, John Hammond, Derek Trucks, and Susan Tedeschi.  For more information click here.

Jon Cleary may be better known as Bonnie Raitt's keyboard player these days, but his own band are not exactly slouches when it comes to live performances. Recorded live at the Vanguard Club in Sydney, Australia, "Mo Hippa" is as funky and sweaty as New Orleans R&B gets. READ MORE

Nimble fingers glissando down the keys and launch into New Orleans-flavored funk. This pyrotechnic pianist sings, too, with just the right mix of mellow and sharp in his voice, reinventing King Floyd's 1971 soul classic "Groove Me." While the original bumped along at a mid-tempo pace, Jon Cleary sets it ablaze.

Listen to "Groove Me" here!

Back in 2008, JC was part of an educational seminar at the Loyola University hosted by School of Music Dean John Snyder.  Check out this multi-part video series with interviews and demonstrations by JC about his career, influences, and examples of various musical styles. READ MORE

Jon Cleary will be heading down under again for a special solo tour of Australia, including dates on New Year’s Eve at Peats Ridge Festival plus shows at The Basement, Manchester Lane, The Brass Monkey and many more. Check the tour page for more details.

Jon Cleary just finished recording with the new John Scofield & The Piety Street Band, and will be heading out on the road as vocalist and keyboardist for a tour in Europe in November. The album will be released next Spring with more touring in the Summer of 2009.  The amazing band features John Scofield on guitar, Cleary on keys/vocals, the funky George Porter, Jr. on bass of Meters fame, and the fabulous Ricky Fataar on drums of Bonnie Raitt's band.  Look out for this great new recording and tour with Sco.  Initial tour dates here.

Cleary and The Gents played 4 slamming shows in Japan to sold out crowds for their first time last week. Thanks to Doug Allsop and all the folks at Buffalo Records for their help spreading the funk to our fans in Asia. Check out photos from the live concerts at Thumbs Up and Shibuya Quattro in the photo gallery here.

FHQ Records is proud to announce the upcoming national release of Mo Hippa on Tuesday, September 16, 2008. Jon Cleary and The Absolute Monster Gentlemen have proudly released their first live album recording at The Vanguard in Sydney Australia in October 2007.  This searing live funk concert showcases JC & The AMG at its finest running down originals like When You Get Back, Mo Hippa, and New Orleans classics like Just Kissed My Baby, Tipitina's, much more.  

You can order the CD or download it direct from the web site here!

Don't miss Jon Cleary and The Absolute Monster Gentlemen as they shake things up with a Halloween performance at the Maple Leaf - one of the oldest and most beloved of New Orleans' clubs The Maple Leaf, and November 1st at a Baton Rouge favorite: Chelsea's Cafe.Click here for full schedule.

Jon Cleary and The Absolute Monster Gentlemen will make two stops in Texas this October.  Check out the band performing for the first time at The Parish in Austin on October 24th (for more information visit www.funkybatz.com or http://theparishroom.inticketing.com/evlist.php?events=search&v=1317 for ticketing), and The Charles Brown Music Festival in Texas City on October 25th.  Click here for full schedule.

Jon Cleary and The Absolute Monster Gentlemen are gearing up for their very first tour to Japan this October.  The tour will consist of 4 shows including Thumbs Up in Yokohama on October 14th, Shibuya Quattro in Tokyo on October 15th, the Bottom Line in Nagoya on October 16th, and Osaka's Big Cat on October 17th.  For more information please visit Buffalo Records or the band's Myspace Japan tour page.

Before heading out on his first tour of Japan, Jon Cleary will perform several shows in Northern California.  Jon will be performing as keyboardist with Bonnie Raitt on October 4th at the Ironstone Winery (Murphys,  CA) and October 5th at the Avila Beach Golf Resort (Avila Beach, CA).  Cleary will also join up with The Absolute Monster Gentlemen for performances at Sweetwater Station in Larkspur on October 9th, and the illustrious Boom Boom Room - San Francisco's home to live roots music:  Saturday, October 11.  Click here for full schedule.

Music enthusiast David Blue's recent blog highlights Jon Cleary's latest live release Mo Hippa.  Blue writes " Cleary has a silky voice that just oozes over you and the song is just simply New Orleans summed up in 6 and a half minutes. They step up the funk on People Say and provide ample vocal harmonies at the same time. Jon Cleary is, as we know, an excellent piano player and his tight band helps him to rip it up. "  Click here for full article.

Blues in Britain's Fran Leslie speaks with Cleary on visiting family in Kent, and his beginnings in music.  "Jon Cleary is so highly rated as a piano player in New Orleans that he is widely acknowledged as their next "Professor" in a long line that stretches from Jelly Roll Morton, through Professor Longhair and James Booker, to name a few, and includes today's living exponents of the art, Dr. John and Alan Toussaint".  Click here for full article.

JC will be taking to the road with the amazing, Bonnie Raitt and her band featuring Ricky Fataar on drums, Hutch Hutchinson on bass, George Marinelli on guitar, JC on keys, vocals and whatever else he can strum. Concerts will begin August 9th in Nova Scotia and include dates August 12 Concord, NH, August 16 Interlochen Arts Festival, and culminate on Sept. 4 at the beautiful Mountain Winery in Saratoga, California. Visit the tour dates page for full schedule.

Offbeat's Brett Milano highlights Jon Cleary and The Absolute Monster Gentlemen's new release, and commends the sounds on Go to the Mardi Gras , "instead of charging into the familiar groove, his Absolute Monster Gentlemen dance around it.  Their arrangement is full of spooky open spaces, and Cleary's vocal is more about longing for a celebration than being in the thick of one.  It's no small feat to turn one of the most-covered songs in New Orleans history into a personal statement."  Read full review here.

"Jon Cleary is possessed. At times, the British native and New Orleans transplant will channel the boogie blues piano professors of the Crescent City, then suddenly snap out of the spell and ease into a Stevie Wonder-esque R&B groove, only to change course again, diving into a Latin-influenced jam a la Tito Puente. Along with his stellar backing band, the Absolute Monster Gentlemen, Cleary makes the transitions effortlessly, continuing the New Orleans tradition of blurring the lines between musical genres. "  Read full review here.

Available now - Simply Grand, the highly anticipated new album by Irma Thomas on Rounder Records. Her collaborators include Dr. John, Norah Jones, Jon Cleary, Randy Newman, Ellis Marsalis, Jon Medeski, and many more.  To better showcase Thomas' rich alto, arrangements are stripped down.  Acoustic instruments only on the album, featuring five tracks with Thomas alone with piano.  Read more.

Jon Cleary and The Absolute Monster Gentlemen have proudly released their first live album recording at The Vanguard in Sydney Australia in October 2007.  This searing live funk concert showcases JC & The AMG at its finest running down originals like When You Get Back, Mo Hippa, and New Orleans classics like Just Kissed My Baby, Tipitina's, much more.  

You can order the CD or download it direct from the web site here!

"Transplanted Brit Jon Cleary has proved himsnelf totally fluent in New Orleans as a second language, channeling legends like Booker and Longhair with ease and relish in rollicking live shows around town. Finally, he's released a live album that captures some of that unfettered groove, although it was not recorded at Tip's or on Frenchmen Street " weirdly, it was put on tape in Australia." See the full article.

Once again, Jon Cleary and The Gents are featured on ATT Blue Room's site with many other great performances from the 2008 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.  Check it out.

Check out these two live tracks of "When You Get Back" and "All Right Now"  from the New Orleans Jazz Festival 2007 captured by stalwart producer, Michael Murphy in the video section.

Jon Cleary and his band The Absolute Monster Gentlemen bring their New Orleans' funk across to the pond this summer with live dates in June 25 Lamantin Jazz, June 27 Rapperswil Blues’n’Jazz Fest, July 2-4 Ascona-N.O. Jazz Fest, July 12 Weinheim Summertime, July 18 Ripley Town Hall, July 22 The Cellars , July 25 The Pigalle, July 26 Maryport Blues Festival, July 27 Gloucester Blues Festival, and more.   Read the press release. See full listing on the tour dates page.

Don't ever believe anybody when they say that 'blues' is dead or that 'blues' is all the same or dreary and morose!! Just to prove the point I suggest that anyone with those thoughts in their heads should seek out a copy of this awesome album from Jon Cleary & The Absolute Monster Gentlemen - perhaps they'll change their minds after sampling this vibrant and upliftingly funked-up album. See the full article.

From sideman to centre stage is often a harder journey to make than most imagine. In Jon Cleary’s case it is perhaps all too easy to forget that he paid his dues in the unforgiving bars and clubs of the late 70’s London circuit long before he was reborn as a stellar pianist and authentic New Orleans performer. See the full article.

Check out these photos by George Weiss of the Music Box Magazine in Bradenton, FL from the Aces show May 31st.

Check out the photo collection at Jambase to catch all the excitement of this years Jazz Fest. Among the melange of stellar musicians, Jon Cleary was captured performing on the Acura Stage by Adam McCullough for Jambase and by great local photographer Jerry Moran.  Check out all the pics.

Cleary and The Gents have a slew of slamming shows during The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in support of the new Mo Hippa live album. Starting with an appearance on Saturday, April 26 at The Fairgrounds, that evening a return to Mid-City Lanes Rock-n-Bowl with Sonny Landreth and Kermit Ruffins, and Sunday, April 27 will be JC & AMG's first show at d.b.a. on Frenchman Street. Tuesday, April 29 JC & The AMG make a rare appearance at the Louisiana Music Factory promoting their new release Mo Hippa Live. Friday, May 2, brings JC & The Gents again hit the Rock-n-Bowl on a bill with Bonerama and Kermit Ruffins. Finally, Saturday, May 3 the band will host the Mo Hippa Album Release Party at The Maple Leaf Bar Uptown. Click here for a full list of dates with info.

Celebrating the kick off of this year's Jazz Fest, The Advocate ran a feature on Jon Cleary and the Absolute Monster Gentlemen. The new release of the the live record, garnering much attention, has been long awaited by Cleary's fans. Providing an insight on touring and recording, Cleary talks about the new record, going back to the studio and life on the road. See the full article.

Celebrating Jon Cleary's tour and new album release, the Sydney Morning Herald ran a feature on Jon Cleary and the Gents in their weekly music column. "Pop stardom and its associated froth has never seemed important to Jon Cleary. His fascination has been the musical life and riches of old New Orleans, where big characters and inspired playing swirled with legend during endless late nights in smoky haunts near the Mississippi River." read more->

"Cool is not normally a term used to described a folk festival act, but it most aptly describes last  Friday's featured act at the Port Fairy Folk Festival - Jon Cleary and the Absolute Monster Gentleman. The New Orleans band combined a full-throttle funk feel with Cleary's husky, soul-drenched vocals and  keyboards." Click here for full article.

JC & The Gents take to the road in the end of May and early June for The Panama Beach Concert Series in Florida on May 29 and Twilight Alive in Kingsport, TN for the first time on June 5. Also on this run May 30 Freebird Live, Aces May 31, June 6 Stella Blue, and June 7 Blue Bayou Club. Don't miss the Gents when they take the funk down south.

The Australian roots music magazine, Rhythms ran a feature on JC and the Gents in honor of the upcoming Bluesfest. "It was a tantalising taste for Cleary fans [Cleary's tour with Bonnie Raitt]- he and his Absolute Monster Gentlemen have not been to this country for a good five years. The great news is, we certainly won't be facing another five-year wait. The massive New Orleans musical parties that Cleary threw impressed more than one festival director and Cleary and the Monster Gents are returning this month to play Port Fairy, Bluesfest and more." To read the full article, click here.

On the heels of the tour down under, Cleary and the crew bring funk back to the motherland when the Gents play London's historic 100 Club.  The venue has hosted amazing talent over 50 years from roots artists including Muddy Waters, Brit Rock like The Kinks to punks like The Clash.  On April 6 and the lovely Exeter Theatre on April 5.  Then JC and The Gents return for a 2-night stand at Tobakken in Esbjerg, Denmark and with seminars at the Musical Institute.  Later that week there will be inaugural shows at Pavillonen in Grenaa, and Amager Bio in Denmark.

After a great tour back in October 2007, JC and The Gents return for dates down under including the East Coast Blues & Roots Fest, Port Fairy Folk Fest, The Basement and more.   Presented by Nathan Farrel and Code One Entertainment, the tour will make stops in Sydney, Brisbane, and Byron Bay starting March 7th and running through the 30th.  Click here for a full list of dates with info.

In the weekly blog, Living With Music, novelist Meghan Daum details her adoration for Jon Cleary's album, "Sometimes I Wonder". Daum, an inherant jazz, blues and classic rock fan lists Jon and the Gents in her top 10. Explaining her first encounter with "Sometimes I Wonder", she goes on to say, "I can't remember how I discovered this eponymously-titled album, but as soon as I got home with it I listened to the fourth track, "Just Kissed My Baby," approximately 65 times in a row and the first track, "Sometimes I Wonder," approximately 107 times in a row". To read the full article, follow this link.

Though New Orleans funk/soul pianist Jon Cleary was in town for last year’s Bluesfest, it was as a member of Bonnie Raitt’s touring band. Then Cleary returned for a whirlwind run of headline dates in October, a number of the dates having to be relocated to meet demand. It was a tantalising taste for Cleary fans - he and his Absolute Monster Gentlemen have not been to this country for a good five years. read more->

Make sure to catch Cleary's song "When You Get Back" airing in the latest episode of ABC's hit show, October Road. For times and information, visit http://abc.go.com/primetime/octoberroad/index?pn=index 

Be sure to catch Jon performing throughout the WWL TV morning show, this Wednesday morning from 7am to 9am Central Time. JC will be promoting his upcoming concerts during Mardi Gras, as well as, the Basin Street Records' Mardi Gras 2008 promotional CD.  WWL TV is broadcast on Cox 15 in the New Orleans area.

JC and The Gents return to Mid-City Lanes Rock-n-Bowl on February 22nd before heading out for a long tour down under and to Europe.  This will be their last show down NOLA way until Jazz Fest.  Come hurl some bowling balls at the pins while you shake your money maker to The Monster Gents.

On March 1st, The Gents take to the south to christen the recently opened BB Kings Blues Club in Orlando.  Leading up to that the band returns to the Bamboo Room in Lake Worth on February 28th and Skipper's Smokehouse on February 27th. Click here for all tour dates.

JC and The Gents get down at one of our favorite clubs, Tipitina's in celebration of their 30th Anniversary.   JC and The Gents will open for the legendary, Allen Toussaint at the Founders' Ball on Saturday, January 19.  This will be one night of New Orleans funky stuff.

"What can we say? This week an interview with the fabulous blues funk maestro from New Orleans hisself - Mr Jon Cleary. If you know Cleary and the Absolute Monster Gentlemen, I don't have to tell ya that they're the funkiest thing on the planet. And if ya don't then grab a listen and you'll be converted. Starts about 30 mins in tone hounds, and heaps of other great tracks to satisfy your need for feed! I'm lovin it and hope ya dig it too, Salty."

New Year's Eve 2008 is a rare chance to see Jon Cleary perform a choice Solo Piano concert opening for the "Night Trippa" Dr. John at the Saengar Theatre in Mobile Alabama put on by the nice folks at Huka Entertainment.  Check it out and get funky for the New Year, y'all.

We are happy to announce that Jon Cleary and The Absolute Monster Gentlemen have signed with Blue Mountain Artists for exclusive booking in North America.  JC is proud to be on the roster with such great artists as Elvin Bishop, Bonerama, Eric Lindell, and Tab Benoit.  If you are looking to book JC and The Gents give Hugh and the crew
a shout.

JC will open for the Night Tripper hisself, Dr. John at the House of Blues, New Orleans on December 29.  On December 30 Jon and The Gents play a benefit for Renew Our Music at The Replublic down home in New Orleans.  Come out and get your last dose of the 2007 funk.

Gianluca Tramontana host of Mule Skinner Blues interviews Jon Cleary on the November 15th edition of Resonance FM. One of the most respected pianists living in the New Orleans is keyboard player Jon Cleary from the deep Southern swamps of….Kent! Mule Skinner Blues visits him at his home in the Crescent City where he has lived for almost thirty years.  Jon sits at the piano and talks about playing with the legends of R&B. Also he demonstrates some styles and sheds light on why the piano is so crucial in New Orleans music. You can listen to the interview here!

This weekend Jon will be playing back in the Crescent City for 2 solo piano gigs.  On December 7 at 11 PM, JC helps the Hard Rock Cafe celebrate their 20th Anniversary in New Orleans with a big home town celebration including Theresa Andersson and Henry Butler.  Also on Sunday, Dec. 9 Jon will play some solo piano at the Crescent City Farmers Market downtown.

Jon Cleary is proud to announce its new publish company, North Star Media.  North Star Media (NSM) is an innovative, broad-based media services company, providing music publishing/administration, project development, and business solutions for the film, television, advertising, videogame, and recording industries.  The North Star Media publishing catalogue includes hits by Rod Stewart, Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Hornsby, and Cher; and NSM's Master Recordings feature legendary and groundbreaking artists including Taj Mahal, Dee Dee Ramone, Wayne Kramer, Coolio, Bobby Womack, Maxi Priest and Shabba Ranks.  We are happy to welcome NSM to the family.

November 29th to December 1st, Jon Cleary will be performing for four nights at Yoshi's in San Francisco with American Blues musician, Taj Mahal as part of The Phantom Blues Band. From movies such as Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya- Sisterhood, to Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey, to The Blues Brothers, Tah Mahal has contributed sonically and visually to a number of great American films, and his live show should not be missed! Tickets go on sale October 29th at 10 a.m. HERE.

While JC and the AMG were on tour in London they stopped off for a special studio session with noted BBC luminary Paul Jones. Every Monday evening Paul Jones administers a weekly dose of Rhythm and Blues, combining classics, new releases, specially recorded sessions, and the occasional interview. Monday October 22nd at 7 pm UK time, you can hear the live online interview with Jon Cleary or catch it anytime for the following week by clicking the 'Listen Again' button on the Paul Jones webpage HERE. You can also listen to exlusive online tracks and view pictures from the sessions HERE.

Jon Cleary spoke with BluesWax from his home in the Upper Ninth Ward of New Orleans. Read part one of the interview HERE.

The quarters were close, the energy was high, and the music was hot at the Water Rats Theatre in London, September 9th 2007. Darrall Parsons of the BluesinLondon.com reviews the JC & AMG live show and looks forward to their next return, which he writes, "can’t be too soon in my book." Read the show review HERE.

Joel Selvin of the San Francisco Chronicle praises Jon Cleary and this year's Hardly Strictly Blue Grass Festival in beautiful Golden Gate Park. This free annual event harbors great traditional acts such as Gillian Welch and Steve Earle, and wild cards such as Boz Scaggs and our own Jon Cleary, whom Mr. Selvin calls "amazing". Read more about the recent event HERE.

Cleary's track "Got to be More Careful" is featured on the official House M.D. Soundtrack in stores now. The album is also available now from iTunes and Amazon. The soundtrack includes tracks from Elvis Costello, Lucinda Williams, Ben Harper, and Josh Ritter. For more information please visit www.myspace.com/housesoundtrack.

Internationally acclaimed Jon Cleary and the Absolute Monster Gentlemen, all the way from New Orleans, are the latest big names in a long-and-ever-growing list of music industry notables booked to perform at the Caloundra Music Festival, October 19-21... Festival Director Richie Eyles said that Jon Cleary is an "awesome talent" and an "absolute monster." Don't we know it. Read what else the Australian Press, Sunshine Coast Daily, has to say HERE.

Saturday, September 29th, Jon Cleary joined a string of special guests at Tipitina's in New Orleans, for the Record Release Party of "Goin Home: A Tribute To Fats Domino". You can support the cause by buying a CD online, or reading more about the album HERE. The album features Jon Cleary on track number 10 of Disc 1 with Bonnie Raitt in: I'm in Love Again/All By Myself.

George Winston gives much of the credit for his successful recording career to New Orleans piano legends. He paid them back by making a tribute CD that's raising money for the recovery. In the liner notes, Winston cites not only Longhair, Dr. John, Allen Toussaint, Jon Cleary and others with a national reputation, but lesser-known pianists such as Tom McDermott, David Torkanowsky, Amasa Miller, Joe Krown and Josh Paxton. For the full article, click here.

As Jon Cleary and his band, the Absolute Monster Gentlemen, continue to mine the rich vein of New Orleans funk and soul, they are becoming one of the funkiest bands on the planet. To read the full article, click here.

"The artistic challenge really is to generate all of your energies into taking from the traditional and making something new, rather than rehash it. I think it's good to pay tribute to those stars who have gone before, but what I try and do is both really. When we play a show, we play some old traditional New Orleans music to our own tilt that ends up sounding a little bit different than others do. But the challenge is to play some new songs and new arrangements, to stretch all the musicians."
Read Part One | Part Two

Listen to an interview with Jon by CreativeLoafing.com's Arts and Entertainment editor David Lee Simmons.

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST HERE

In New Orleans, the funk always comes hard and heavy. But at the 2007 edition of the city's Jazz and Heritage Festival, local soul men hit the classic-rock and heavy-metal songbooks with a vengeance. Singer-pianist Jon Cleary, a British native long resident in the Crescent City, salted his mix of Meters and Professor Longhair covers with vintage U.K. blues rock: Free's 'All Right Now,' rearranged as if Allen Toussaint had written it for Lee Dorsey. ''You can hear Cleary's take on that Free number on his new demos EP, Hotel Room Ruffs (FHQ).

READ THE ARTICLE HERE

Jon and the Absolute Monster Gentlemen's set from this year's New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival is now available as a digital download.

CLICK HERE

In between, touring with Bonnie Raitt, The Monster Gents, and working on his castle in swampurbia Jon made some recordings in hotel rooms along the way and fashioned them into a tasty new morsel called Do Not Disturb, a 4 song EP featuring a couple choice covers and a couple original numbers. Released during the 2007 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, the CD and digital download are now exclusively available here. Click below for a taste of the classic track "All Right Now."

JC brings the funk back home to the Crescent on January 31st at Tipitina's for Papa Mali's 1st Annual Supernatural Ball along with other special guests including Anders Osborne, Stanton Moore, and Big Chief Monk Boudreaux.   On February 3rd, Cleary plays a special solo piano show down in the Marigny at Snug Harbor with 2 shows at 8 and 10 PM.  Rounding out the weekend, JC and his Monster Trio featuring Cornell C. Williams on bass and Eddie Christmas on the drums celebrate Lundi Gras, February 4th at The Howlin' Wolf joined by the wicked funk of Bonerama for a Midnight show after the parades.  Click here for all tour dates. Happy Mardi Gras y'all!

Jon Cleary and The Absolute Monster Gentlemen will open for Bonnie Raitt November 13th at King Center in Melbourne, FL, and November 14th at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, FL. You can buy tickets here by clicking on the venue names. Jon will also be playing these shows as a member of Bonnie's band.

Friday October 26th, Jon Cleary will be playing in Lafayette, LA at Downtown Alive. This is a free event, and will take place on the Parc Sans Souci corner of Polk and Vermilion. Concessions open at 5:30 pm, and the music will begin around 6:00 pm. For more information, click HERE.

Sunday, October 28th, Jon Cleary will play at the 2007 Voodoo Music Experience in New Orleans. With a lineup that includes Dr. John, Ben Harper, Hot 8 Brass Band, Spoon, and Wilco, this is the festival to be at. Jon Cleary will be on at 4:15 in the Preservation Hall tent. You can get tickets HERE, or see the full event schedule HERE.

Due to unprecidented demand, Jon Cleary and the Absolute Monster Gentlemen have moved some Sydney, Australia shows to accommodate eager fans after tickets. The Basement is now officially on sale for OCT 11TH and all fans who bought tickets to the Will and Toby's shows scheduled on OCT 12TH + 13TH will be refunded in full and have first chance to grab tickets to The Basement. Check out the updated calendar HERE.

Catch JC & The Absolute Monster Gentlemen at the Water Rats Theatre in London on Sunday, September 9th, 2007 at 8:45pm. Don't miss your opportunity to see the band's only UK performance! For detailed show information, please visit the Water Rats Theatre site.

Jon Cleary & The Absolute Monster Gentlemen will embark on a tour of Australia, featuring several shows in Sydney and Melbourne between October 10th - 22nd. JC and The Gents will also be appearing at the Caloundra Music Festival near Queensland's beautiful Sunshine Coast, on October 20th and 21st playing alongside Australian favorites Jimmy Barnes and Darryl Braithwaite. Visit Jon Cleary's tour dates for complete listings.

Jon Cleary joins Galactic as special guest in New York's Central Park Central Park SummerStage in New York City, the flagship performing arts festival of City Parks Foundation, celebrates New Orleans with a FREE performance by Galactic featuring special guests Donald Harrison, Jon Cleary, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux & The Golden Eagle Mardi Gras Indians, and Soul Rebel Brass Band on Saturday, August 11, 2007 at 3pm. For more info visit www.summerstage.org.

On Saturday, May 5, at Tipitina's, Jon Cleary will open for new British soul singer, Corinne Bailey Rae headlining her only US show on break from a tour with John Legend. Joining JC will be Absolute Monster Gentlemen, Cornell C. Williams and Derwin "Big D." Perkins. Get tickets while they last.

Laurie doesn’t just look the part — he also weighs in on music the show features. “[Hugh] is my secret weapon,” House executive producer and musical supervisor Katie Jacobs tells us, adding that she often asks Laurie to help select songs the show might potentially use. He’s even brought lesser-known artists to her attention: because of Laurie, Jacobs used the Jon Cleary track “Got to Be More Careful” in an episode during the first season.

READ THE ARTICLE ON ROLLINGSTONE.COM

On the road to New Orleans Jazz Festival 2007, Bonnie Raitt will play dates in the Southeast and Jon Cleary will open on April 21, 22, 24, 25, and 26, with a special band featuring Cornell C. Williams on bass and Ricky Fataar on drums. Fataar is the veteran drummer of Bonnie Raitt and he has a rich rock and roll pedigree working with The Rutles, Beach Boys, Boz Scaggs, and more. Check out his production credits here. For venue and ticket information for these tour dates please click here.

JC will be back on keys with the Bonnie Raitt band for a tour of Australia in April 2007. Check Bonnie's site for details as the dates are confirmed.

VISIT BONNIE'S WEB SITE FOR MORE INFORMATION

Jon Cleary will perform a variety of night shows around the Crescent City during Jazz Fest 2007 starting with a 2-night residency at Preservation Hall as part of the Midnight Preserves Concert Series. Friday, April 27 JC has assembled a special all-star aggregation featuring funky bassist George Porter, Jr. (The Meters), veteran drummer Shannon Powell (Harry Connick, Jr., Kermit Ruffins, Diana Krall), howling R&B legend Walter "Wolfman" Washington on guitar, and the sweet saxophone of Amadee Castenell (Allen Toussaint). Saturday, April 28, JC and The Monster Gents will take the stage at Preservation Hall. Tickets to The Hall are limited and we suggest you purchase tickets in advance here. JC will play a host of other night shows including Instruments A Comin', WWOZ Piano Night, The House Of Blues Parish, The Mapleleaf, and The Louisiana Music Factory. Check out the Shows page.

Catch Jon performing at this year's New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival with The Gents on Saturday April 28th and again on Sunday April 29th playing keys with the legendary Bonnie Raitt.

It may have been cold outside, but Jon Cleary and the Absolute Monster Gentlemen kept it hot and heavy with tight beats and ivory slamming funk recently at the Iron Horse in Northampton.
READ MORE

In March JC and The Gents invaded the Midwest with performances at the The Gibson Lounge in Memphis, The Sheldon Concert Hall in St. Louis, and Fitzgerald's in Berwyn, IL near Chicago.

March 25, JC & AMG returned to the St. John Blues Festival held in the US Virgin Islands presented by music impresario Steve Simon. We look forward to re-visiting the sunny Caribbean and sharing a good time with the people of St. John.

In March 2006 the Bonnie Raitt band played 2 sold out shows at the House of Blues donating the proceeds to a few New Orleans charities for Katrina Relief. During this stop on the tour in JC's hometown they did a student seminar at the famed New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts (NOCCA), an arts school whose alumni include Wynton and Branford Marsalis, Harry Connick, Jr., Terence Blanchard, and Nicholas Payton. Check out the photos from the seminar and visit NOCCA's web site.

Check out Jon playing with Bonnie Raitt's band on AOL Sessions. The performance kicks off with Stevie Wonder sitting in on his own "I Wish". Also sitting in with Bonnie and the band are Maia Sharp, and Jackson Browne.

Click here to watch the performance on AOL Sessions

We were lucky enough to capture some video of Jon and The Absolute Monter Gentlemen during this Summer's hi-energy West Coast Tour. Check out "Groove Me" filmed live at the Mystic
Theatre in Petaluma, CA. WATCH THE VIDEO

Check out the links up top for new good stuff including a Band Personnel page, a complete listing of each and every recording Jon has ever made, and a photo gallery (that will be ever-growing)! Check back often as we continue to add to the web site.

Tracks like "Crooked Crown," "God Was in the Water," "Hear Me Lord," and "Trinkets" are deeply moving. Of her guest performances, "I Don't Want Anything to Change" with Norah Jones is stellar, as is "Unnecessary Mercenary" with funky-as-hell keyboardist Jon Cleary and "Two Lights in the Nighttime" with Ben Harper (all three appear on both discs). There's plenty here to like.
MORE INFO

A two-hour film by Robert Mugge about the effects of Hurricane Katrina on the New Orleans music community starring Dr. John, Irma Thomas, Cyril Neville, Marcia Ball, Eddie Bo, Theresa Andersson, Kermit Ruffins, The Iguanas, ReBirth Brass Band, Cowboy Mouth, Jon Cleary, Papa Grows Funk, Papa Mali, World Leader Pretend, beatinpath, Stephen Assaf, and many others. Now showing on Starz. Click here to view the trailer.

National Public Radio, July 7, 2006 · Check out audio from Jon's recent performance on NPR's Talk of the Nation with nine-time Grammy winner Bonnie Raitt. Raitt performs songs from Souls Alike and chats with callers, live from NPR's Washington studios. She talks about her music, her career, and the interplay between her work as an artist and her social activism. Click here to listen.

Posted July 3, 2006 · Raitt sang a duet with her longtime band leader, Cleary, on his song ‘‘Unnecessarily Mercenary,’’ with lyrics that deal with a greedy lover, as Cleary crafted Professor Longhair grooves. That pair again swapped verses on a heated boogie-woogie treatment of Kim Wilson’s ‘‘I Believe I’m in Love with You.’’ Read more >

Jon sang a duet on 'Unnecessarily Mercenary' with Bonnie Raitt on Late Night with Conan O'Brien on June 27th.

Times Picayune Music Writer Keith Spera speaks with JC about Bonnie Raitt, New Orleans, and music.

Jon Cleary and The Absolute Monster Gentlemen perform 'When You Get Back' during 'Second Line on Sunset' at the House of Blues in L.A. Oct. 27, 2005 to benefit the MusiCares Hurricane Relief Fund.

A concert was staged in New Orleans during the spring of 2004. Performers from all walks of music came together to perform in a show that followed the course of New Orleans music. It is history you can dance to - from the traditional rhythm of Mardi Gras Indians, to early New Orleans  jazz,  rollicking piano renditions and  classic rhythm & blues - to contemporary funk.

In the days of rock stars who play shows like they’re counting the minutes until they can get back to the groupies in the tour bus, it’s nice to see performers on stage who look like they are genuinely having a good time.

Bonnie Raitt rocks the House of Blues, with a little help from her New Orleans friends.

Opener "Unnecessary Mercenary," written and co-sung by British-born keyboard player Jon Cleary, featured his gruff vocal and a romping solo that left little doubt as to where he's from.

Jon Cleary once again has the keyboard chair on the road with the world class Bonnie Raitt touring band in support of her new album SOULS ALIKE, released on SEPTEMBER 13, 2005. Jon has two of his original tracks on the new record - "Love on One Condition" and "Unnecessarily Mercenary". Check out the venues, dates, and cities here: www.bonnieraitt.com.

ALL MUSIC GIVES SOULS ALIKE 4 STARS. Souls Alike is the first album in Bonnie Raitt's 18-disc catalog to bear her own name as producer with some assistance from Tchad Blake. It is also the first album in her career absent a 12-bar blues.

Jon Cleary’s uncle, Johnny Johnson, is a traveler, so the Cleary family could expect the unexpected when Uncle Johnny called to announce his latest whereabouts.

Jon's first CD Alligator Lips & Dirty Rice is now available for download exclusively through Jon's web site. This CD is out of print and soon to be a collector's item. Click here to download the CD. Alligator Lips & Dirty Rice is also available on CD exclusively through Jon's online store. This CD is out of print and soon to be a collector's item.

"'These tunes were cut with some of my favorite New Orleans Musicians...... we played everything live in the studio, just one take stuff, the general idea being that if we put enough of that certain special magic ingredient down the microphone at our end, then you would pick it up coming out of the speakers over at your end." - Jon Cleary, New Orleans, 1989

Check out the new Jon Cleary "More Hipper" T-Shirts in Jon's store! Both are Standard American 100% combed cotton t-shirts - brown with Cleary 'More Hipper' logo on front or light brown Orange 'More Hipper' logo on front. Click on each shirt for a larger image.

Welcoming the new age of digital music Moonburn, the eponomous Jon Cleary & the AMG, and Pin Your Spin are now available on iTunes for your pleasure. Jon's first album Alligator Lips and Dirty Rice is available for download right here on JC's site.

New Orleans-based keyboardist Jon Cleary releases his tough new album, Pin Your Spin (Basin Street Records), on April 20, 2004. Backed by his Absolute Monster Gentlemen band, Cleary will perform a number of headlining gigs to support his new release.

Pin Your Spin is Cleary’s fourth solo album, and his second on Basin Street Records. Produced by veteran John Porter, Pin your Spin soulfully displays Cleary’s outstanding musicianship and song-craft expertise. Cleary effortlessly dishes out a variety of musical dialects: tight-and-right funk, sophisticated balladry, and Big Easy-via-Cuba piano, reminding listeners why he is hailed as one of the very best of his field.

New Orleans' Jon Cleary is a triple threat—with a salty-sweet voice, masterful piano skills, and a knack for stacking infectious grooves with melodic hooks and sharp lyrics. All of his talents are manifest on Pin Your Spin, his tough new Basin Street Records release, produced by John Porter.

Jon is featured in, and appears on the cover of, the April 13th issue of Gambit Weekly. "Whether in the studio or on the stage, Jon Cleary strives to keep the balance between polish and grit. The voice pipes into the studio from the control room: "That sounds a bit weird this time." It's a Wednesday afternoon in November, and Jon Cleary is working with his back-up band, the Absolute Monster Gentlemen, on an instrumental inside Piety Street Recording studio in Bywater. The song, co-written by Cleary and guitarist Derwin "Big D" Perkins, is called "Ain't Nuttin' Nice," from one of the burly guitarist's cachet of favorite phrases."