Search - Jon Cleary :: Alligator Lips & Dirty Rice (Dig)

Wait 3-6 weeks for this one -- It's worth it!

Josetta Caudill | Indianapolis, IN United States | 04/08/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is one of the best (albeit short) albums on the planet. It'll leave you wanting more -- so get Moonburn, too. Jon does a version of "Big Chief" that's better than any Professor Longhair version I've ever heard (and I've probably heard most of them). It's hard to pick a favorite, but "Go Ahead Baby", written by Cleary, is flawless. I don't think there's a girl anywhere who wouldn't love a guy who says "Anything you want, you just let me know baby". It's raunchy in such a charming way, with one of the best lyrics -- "I'm just waiting for a girl like you. She likes to do what you think of, don't like to think what you do". "Burnt Mouth Boogie" -- You've never heard fingers fly so fast over a keyboard and sound so effortless. All I can say is thank God for CDs, because if this album were on vinyl, I'd be on my third or fourth one by now. You WON'T be selling this one to the second-hand CD shop."

Jon Cleary is such a funky guy!!!

Eli Marcus | Tel Aviv, Israel | 01/31/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

""British born 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."

- from the Bonnie Raitt website



Jon Cleary's name appears in the credits of close to 100 Blues albums from the past 25 years, not least of which is backing up Bonnie Raitt on keyboards and vocals. But the music that Cleary plays on his own recordings is not strictly Blues, it is an infectious and funky combination of real New Orleans groove music with infusions of R & B, Soul, Blues, Jazz and Cleary's own original songwriting.



This first recording of his as a leader has been out of print for a while, so it's wonderful that this gem is available once more.

Cleary is backed by some of New Orleans' finest on this 1989 recording

including George Porter Jr.(the Meters) on bass and backing vocals, Willie Singleton on trumpet, Mike Ward on percussion, Bunchie Johnson on drums and backing vocals, and Doc Paulin on trombone.

Jon Cleary plays some mean boogie woogie piano on this recording, recalling the style of Professor Longhair. Some of Cleary's melodies also remind one of Dr. John and Stevie Wonder's music. But Cleary is no imitator or impersonator, he has made all these influences and styles his own, these are just the tools he uses to play his very joyful music for us.



I highly recommend this album to anyone who wants to get a start in Cleary's world, and also to those who prefer the more traditional blues and soul styles of New Orleans music. His later recordings with his band "the Absolute Monster Gentlemen" go into funkier and more fusion oriented rock/jazz/soul

territory. I love all of his recordings, they are very infectious, but this album is probably the best place to start.











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