John Cleary

Jon Cleary is a triple threat with a salty-sweet voice, masterful piano skills, and a knack for coupling infectious grooves with melodic hooks and sharp lyrics. He balances a career performing with his band The Absolute Monster Gentlemen and Bonnie Raitt, recording with both groups, and composing songs for various artists. His live shows are an explosive funk party mixing old school soul with the rhythms of New Orleans. Cleary has produced 4 recordings over the past 10 years including Pin Your Spin (2004 Basin Street Records), Jon Cleary & the Absolute Monster Gentlemen (2002 Basin Street Records), Moonburn (1999 Virgin/Point Blank), and Alligator Lips & Dirty Rice (1994 Ace Records).

Cleary's is propel by his Absolute Monster Gentlemen bringing his musical vision to life in concert. They work together very powerfully, Cleary says emphatically. Theres a very high standard of technical musicianship, but the key thing is that they also play with a lot of soul and spirit. These guys dig in and play with a lot of passion, and I think its that intangible element that seems to successfully move audiences everywhere we play. One night, on my way home from a gig, I stumbled across the Friendly Travelersa gospel bandplaying for tips in a coffee bar. I dug them, and went back to their gigs many times, sitting in sometimes, and ultimately we became friends. In 1994, Cleary was invited perform for the first time at the famed New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Instead of hiring all-star session musicians, he decided to try hiring guitarist Derwin Big D Perkins and bassist Cornell C. Williams, of the Friendly Travelers. I called them, and they said, What took you so long? Of course we want to do it! Adding drummer Jeffrey Jellybean Alexander, whom the Friendly Travelers knew from working on Bourbon Street, the band was born. On this tour, The Monster Gents will be joined by drummers Terence Higgins of The Dirty Dozen Brass Band (July 19- August 5) and Jamal Batiste, of Los Hombres Calientes (August 9-14).

Born in Kent, England, Cleary has educated himself in the musical culture and life of New Orleans for the past 20 years steeped in the sounds of the Caribbean from Cuba to Haiti and beyond. His deft piano style and unmistakable vocals are heard on recordings by Bonnie Raitt, Taj Mahal, B.B. King, Ryan Adams, and Eric Burdon. Clearys original compositions have been recorded by Taj Mahal on Phantom Blues, and Bonnie Raitts most recent albums Souls Alike and Silver Lining. Cleary does double duty performing as full-time keyboardist for Grammy Winner Bonnie Raitt when not touring with his the Absolute Monster Gentlemen.