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Jon Cleary made a lot of friends when he appeared in Nottingham earlier this year.
A member of Bonnie Raitt’s backing band, he was at home enough in Robin Hood county to make a post-gig sprint to catch last orders at the Trip To Jerusalem. Now we have to applaud that.
And boy did he deserve that pint having also performed a stellar set with his own band The Absolute Monster Gentlemen.
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| The man in action |
That’s also the name of his current album that features many of the songs from that set.
It’s a mix of funk, blues and New Orleans jazz.
That’s where Cleary now bases himself although he was actually born in Kent.
If truth be told, the studio version doesn’t quite capture the magic of his in concert performance.
Be it a lack of his piano posturing or guitar man Big D Perkins laid back approach, there’s something missing.
But for a late night groove they don’t come much better than More Hipper.
Just Kissed My Baby sounds as if it belongs to a vintage Stevie Wonder album before heading into a funk jam.
When You Get Back has Average White Band written all over it while Take My Love has some boogie woogie piano to make Jools Holland take note.
For discerning music lovers this is one to appreciate.
Jon Cleary and the Absolute Monster Gentlemen is released on Basin Street Records.
3.5/5
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