Customer Reviews

Alligator Lips & Dirty Rice (Dig)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

"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.

With a heart full of soul and a left hand that would make Professor Longhair proud, Jon Cleary brings the essense of New Orleans piano to life in this outing.
Cleary has obviously done his homework as he opens with "Go ahead baby" and from here he never lets up.A transplanted Englishman, he has more than adopted the blues, he's living them.
Every now and then an artist comes along that really understands the genre he or she chooses to work in. We saw that with the late, great Stevie Ray Vaughan. What Stevie did for Texas blues and the guitar, Jon Cleary does for New Orleans piano.I have not heard this much feeling and groove since James Booker.
Other standout cuts include the soulful"In the Mood", the classic Professor Longhair cover,"Big Chief" and the gospel tinged," Pick up the pieces". The only reason I would give this release 4 stars instead of 5 is that he can only get better.Other
than that, it's a must for any aspiring blues pianist. Kinda like the way Bluesbreakers is for guitarists. Or even if you're just a lover of great blues,jazz and soul, this may just be what the doctor ordered.
Finally, in case you're wondering, his live show is just as good,
as he picks from cuts off of Alligator Lips and Dirty Rice to his latest release, Moonburn with a few suprises thrown in.It should be a crime to be this talented!

I can't really understand why some musicians can be ethernally out of the music scenery.I think that it's a great injustice. Jon Cleary is really unknown at Brazil,and his music is full of african influences.The people of Brazil must know the great work of this excellent musician,one of the best piano players i've ever heard.Superb in all the moments of this album! One day i've saw Cleary's performance at T.V. and becomed so impressionated with his way to play and sing! This is one of the best albums i have in my collection of almost 500 cds of blues music,and of course i really recommend for those that knows that rare good music,is like rare gems and jewels, for less people!Superb;a Jewel;a Gem!

had a hard time finding this cd but well worth the trouble, I have not heard his new cd so can't compare the two.

If you love great New Orleans R&B you will love Jon Cleary. I purchased his JC and The Absolute Monster Gentlemen album and loved it. I had to have more so this one was next. This one has more of a New Orleans feel to it but is just as great. Great funkyness and second line grooves. Buy this and everything you can from Jon Cleary.

OK. Sorry for the intentionally mangled phrasing on the review title. Jon Cleary smokes the ivories, and this is a fabulous CD. If I were inclined to argue, I might take a *slight* issue with another reviewer's position that this version of "Big Chief" is better than Professor Longhair's. Some would call such a claim heresy. I'm only going to say, Wow. This version is fantastic and probably arranged better than anything on the Professor's (much older) albums. (OK. Maybe it IS better.) And the Cleary original "C'Mon Second Line" blows the roof off. Yes, it's rather a slim volume for the dollar. But it kicks funky butt, and is a worthy addition to anybody's New Orleans collection.

I recently bought Alligator Lips & Dirty Rice by Jon Cleary and 100000000 Bon Jovi Fans Cant be Wrong by obviously, Bon Jovi. As these were a present for a friend, i bought & paid for the option of gift wrapping. Lo & behold they turned up butt naked, so to speak. I was never going to be able to time it so they turned up at my friends place exactly on her birthday, so the gift wrapping was important for her to be able to save the gifts for then. Needless to say this wasn't good enough & i'm extremely disappointed.Alligator Lips & Dirty Rice100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can't Be Wrong