Jon Cleary and the Absolute Monster Gentlemen

Jon Cleary may have been born in London in 1962, but his soul belongs to New Orleans. Starting as a painter at the Maple Leaf Bar, he quickly transitioned to piano, playing with icons like Earl King, Johnny Adams, and Dr. John. His debut album, Alligator Lips & Dirty Rice (1989), kicked off a prolific career, later collaborating with Keith Richards, Taj Mahal, Bonnie Raitt, and countless other greats. He formed his acclaimed band, The Absolute Monster Gentlemen, and continued to tour worldwide.

“Cleary can be an absolute monster on his own, but Cleary’s full combo R&B is as broad, deep and roiling as the Mississippi river, the combined swinging product of local keyboard tradition, Cleary’s vocal-songwriting flair for moody Seventies soul and the spunky-meters roll of his Gentlemen” – Rolling Stone