Modern New Orleans musical mainstay Jon Cleary is one of the most accomplished pianists in funk and R&B. After performing with artists such as B.B. King and Bonnie Raitt earlier in his career, Cleary has built a strong following in recent years, both with his solo band The Absolute Monster Gentlemen and in projects with legendary artists such as Taj Mahal and John Scofield. However, anyone who frequents the Big Easy can attest that some of Cleary’s finest moments come during his hometown solo piano sets, which he performs frequently when he’s not on the road.
Recently, Jon stopped by New Orleans venue Chickie Wah Wah and recorded his first-ever live album, which will be released later this month during Jazz Fest. The album, appropriately titled Live At Chickie Wah Wah, is a showcase of Cleary’s singular talents as a solo artist and his ability to fully captivate a room with only his voice, a piano, and his pure passion for music.
While the album doesn’t come out for a few more weeks, Cleary has made one song, “Po’ Boy Blues,” available on his website as a free download so his fans can get a taste of the live LP today. Don’t miss out on this chance to get this free track, and look out for more content from Live At Chickie Wah Wah as we get closer to its release!
If you like Jon Cleary, don’t miss him with Nigel Hall, Tony Hall, Derwin “Big D” Perkins, and Raymond Weber when they come together as “MVP” at NOLA Crawfish Festival. They’ll play alongside artists such as George Porter Jr., Eric Krasno, Ivan Neville, John Medeski, John “Papa” Gros, Terence Higgins, and more! You can learn more about this year’s NOLA Crawfish Festival or buy tickets at the event’s website.
