Customer Reviews

Jon Cleary and the Absolute Monster Gentlemen

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've been listening to New Orleans Funk for 3 decades & traveling to Jazzfest since 1990, and have heard a LOT of N.O. funk. Cleary performs and writes for Bonnie Raitt, and has a wonderful ear for arranging. This CD is very diverse in its musical jendre but still draws you to listen over and over - I've had it in my car's player for weeks at a time. It is the BEST - and just a little askew of what we commonly hear as N.O. Funk. Cleary's a fabulous songwriter and a creative arranger of 'old standards' such as "Just Kissed My Baby." This is definitely one of my top 10 CD's I own.

Not the George Clinton and P-funk kind of funk music but in a funky groove all of its own. Cleary (originally a Brit now adopted by New Orleans) gives this album a distinct New Orleanian flavor and passion with a cruising kind a funk---meaning that you can listen to it in your car to jam, at cocktail hour, at a club or even jazzfest. The best part of this CD is that I didn't feel the need to say---he was better live. It's just that good!

The cuts on this CD are smooth and tight, with heavy bass, great vocals and lyrics, and amazing, SERIOUS grooves. Mr. Cleary and his crew encapsulate the New Orleans vibe with their high energy, excellent musicianship, and soulful expression of funk. I've enjoyed this CD for months, and all the tracks always sound fresh and lifting. An overall high-quality collection, this has become one of my favorites.

I bought this CD a few months back, and it is, without a doubt, one of the funkiest things I have ever heard. I listen to it at least once a day, and the cover of the Meters tune "Just Kissed My Baby" is worth the price of the CD alone. Cleary is a master, and the Monster Gentlemen live up to their name, and then some. I love the CD so much, it brought me out of retirement as a keyboard player. Every single person who has heard me playing this CD has asked me about it. I work in a bar, and put it in the CD player one night, and every head in the place was bobbing, and I even got requests for repeat plays. You cannot go wrong with this CD!!!!

This is a great funky groove start to finish by a guy and his band that is
only getting better. Its great to see him with Bonnie Raitt
on tour and as her keyboard player. He just brings out the best
in so much of Bonnie's newer stuff. He is by far the most funky
keyboard player I've heard in a long, long time. I love this new collection!!
See this guy LIVE whenever you can!

I first saw Jon and his band during the current Bonnie Raitt tour. They were the warm-up band. These guys blew me away. It's hard to believe Jon is English because his song have the Big Easy, N'Awlins sound down pat. They're funky and jazzy at the same time with a bit of the blues mixed in. Jon and his band should be going places in a big hurry with their musicianship and great songs. Get this CD but more importantly see this band live (and support all live music).

My son gave me this album after catching Jon live in New Orleans. He knew I'd like it. He knows me well. It is some of the most infectious funky tunes you'll hear. Sophisticated grooves going on through out as well. John is an English but he sounds like he grew up on the bayou. Get this one and it will grab you from the first track to the last.

No need to repeat all of the observations from other reviewers regarding the musical prowess of the musicians...what a great disc. The ONLY thing that might have enhanced the arrangements would be Tower of Power horns on a couple of these tunes (but I'm not complaining...it's wonderful just like it is).
I WOULD like to add that the recording itself is great. It's so nice to hear non-digital, non-sampled instruments, using microphones and preamps to capture non-sequenced, "breathing", alive performances and translating it onto what sounds like an analog recording (but is not according to the DDD on the back cover). There is an occasional bit of processing (FX-wise), but it is never dominant, and only enhances...doesn't detract (which will make for a recording that will have a more timeless appeal than one that is overprocessed). The mix on almost every song is just right...detail in the drums, fullness in the bass, vocals in the right perspective. This is one of those recordings that would be great to "demo" your audio system with. I will buy additional copies to share with discerning ears, attached to good friends.

Harry Shearer played a song from this album on his radio show, "Le Show" recently and hearing just that was enough for me to pick up this cd. In the liner notes, Jon Cleary states "To have the fonkiest band in a city that's renowned for having the fonkiest bands in the world is a rare privilege." Bragging? Not if you can back it up, and this band does just that, laying out some of the freshest, tightest, groove-driven FONK that I've heard come out of the Crescent City in quite some time.

If you can sit still through this rhythm pounding sound, you are from a planet where there is no music. Take a slice of Neville Brothers, some Tower of Power, throw in a dash of early Little Feat, stir heartily with New Orleans R & B, funkify the whole thing, and, man, you got a get-down sound that'll make you feel better than JB. When I listen, I can't stop grinnin'.