Jon Cleary - So Swell

2023 release

"This is the party music many of us most closely associate with New Orleans and you are invited to crank the shit out of it because the louder you play this one the better it sounds." -Analog Planet

"A true celebration of the party spirit of New Orleans music. Cleary shows his total assimilation of the New Orleans tradition..." -Offbeat Funk, jazz, R&B - these genres are so deeply rooted in New Orleans that it's no wonder the young British pianist Jon Cleary was compelled to move to the city to play. In the early 80's, he was painting the bar at the famous Maple Leaf Bar, where he listened to James Booker play live every week while soaking in the sounds of New Orleans piano greats such as Huey "Piano" Smith, Mac Rebennack, Fats Domino, and Professor Longhair. Now, four decades later, New Orleans has fully embraced Cleary as one of it's own. Coming full circle for this recording, Cleary is backed by James Booker's rhythm section - from his last studio album Classified - James Singleton on upright bass and Johnny Vidacovich on drums. They are joined on several tracks by James Rivers, a legendary New Orleans saxophone player who played on many New Orleans funk and R&B classics from Big Chief to Carnival Time.