Description

Jon Cleary, English by birth, started his journey picking up the guitar at the age of five, surrounded by musicians in his family. His first performance in public was at the age of eleven and by fourteen was gigging on the UK pub circuit. He arrived in New Orleans at seventeen and got his first piano job subbing for the now legendary pianist James Booker at the Maple Leaf Bar. He further honed his skills when drafted as a sideman for the likes of Johnny Adams, Earl King and Snooks Eaglin and found himself playing long, late night gigs in the clubs of New Orleans and the road shacks of country towns in Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi. Since then he has pursued his own career, delighting audiences around the world as a band leader and solo performer, earning a solid reputation as being, amongst other things, a 'musicians musician'. He is acknowledged as a leading practitioner of what he calls 'his hobby', New Orleans style piano. Jon is a powerful and distinctive vocalist while also having earned respect as a songwriter and arranger. He has been a sideman for the likes of Taj Mahal, Dr John, John Scofield and had a long association with Bonnie Raitt who described him as 'the ninth wonder of the world'. Through it all he has continued to work behind the scenes as a multi-instrumentalist and an all-around session musician whilst developing a firm reputation as an artist in his own rite.