NEW: Individual Album Release
HEAR ICONIC NEW ORLEANS SOUND,
CAPTURED ON VINYL LIKE NEVER BEFORE
Jon Cleary's
So Swell
Get exclusive access to this limited single release from The New Orleans Collection
"Cleary shows his total assimilation of the New Orleans tradition, rolling out the pianistic barrel on the Stephen Foster Rosetta Stone of 'Swanee River Boogie,' following with his own R&B shuffle 'Two Wrongs,' then charging on into Stevie Wonder’s 'I Call It Pretty Music,' everything played the way he learned it listening to James Booker at the Maple Leaf." – John Swenson, OffBeat Magazine
"Music isn't a choice for me. It's a bodily function." – Jon Cleary
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 its 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.
Legendary New Orleans saxophonist James Rivers with Jon Cleary. Photo by Daymon Gardner
Side A
Swanee River Boogie
Two Wrongs
I Call It Pretty music
Just Because
So Swell When You’re Well
Second Line on Monday
Side B
We're No Exception
I Get The Blues When it Rains
Lottie Mo
Pony Boy
Tuburculucas and the Sinus Blues
Since I Don't Have You
Jon Cleary: Vocals, Piano, B3 Organ, Percussion
James Singleton: Upright Bass
Johnny Vidacovich: Drums
James Rivers: Saxophone
Produced by Ben Chace
Photography by Daymon Gardner
Graphic Design by Sudio Mococo
Recorded by Misha Kachkachishvili at Esplanade Studios New Orleans March 10-12 2020
Mixed by Marc Urselli at East Side Sound, New York City
Mastered by Alex DeTurk, The Bunker New York City
180 Gram clear vinyl
Pressed at QRP in Salinas Kansas
Old style Tip-on Full Color Gatefold Jacket
Made at famed Stoughton Printing in Los Angeles
(limited availability)
