Press & Accolades for Jon Cleary & The Absolute Monster Gentlemen

“The sexiest, most excruciatingly funky blues groove imaginable. What a band!” – Joseph Blake, Times-Colonist (Victoria, BC)

“This self-titled disc is extraordinary in scope.” – Stamford Advocate
#1 Louisiana CD of 2002 – Gambit Weekly
Top 10 CDs of 2002 – OffBEAT Magazine
Album of the Year – OffBEAT Best of the Beat
Album of the Year – Gambit‘ Big Easy Entertainment Award

Description

Jon Cleary, the New Orleans-based multi-instrumentalist and singer, cooks up a batch of funky music on his first Basin Street release. Backed by a small core band and a smattering of guests (including Bonnie Raitt on slide guitar), Cleary delivers hard-hitting urban blues and soul that can bring to mind Tower of Power, Bill Withers, and even a little Steely Dan. His organ and Wurlitzer flourishes are quite tasty, as is the dead-on rhythm guitar of Derwin “Big D” Perkins and the bass-and-drum lock-up of Cornell Williams and Jeffrey “Jellybean” Alexander.5

Liner Notes

CD Track Listing

1. Sometimes I Wonder (4:08)
2. Cheating On You (3:08)
3. More Hipper (5:27)
4. Just Kissed My Baby (8:04)
5. When You Get Back (4:14)
6. Take My Love (4:11)
7. A Little Satisfaction (2:53)
8. Been and Gone (2:41)
9. So Damn Good (3:19)
10. Fanning The Flames (5:18)
11. Too Damn Hot (5:11)

Vinyl Track Listing

Side A

1. Sometimes I Wonder (4:08)
2. Cheating On You (3:08)
3. More Hipper (5:27)
4. Just Kissed My Baby (8:04)

Side B

1. When You Get Back (4:14)
2. Take My Love (4:11)
3. A Little Satisfaction (2:53)
4. Been and Gone (2:41)
5. So Damn Good (3:19)

All songs written and arranged by Jon Cleary except “Just Kissed My Baby” written by Joseph Modeliste, Leo Nocentelli, Art Neville, and George Porter, Jr., published by BMG Bumblebee (BMI) and Bugaloo Music (BMI). “Take My Love” written by John Mertis, Jr., published by Fort Knox Music Inc. (BMI) and Trio Music Company (BMI). Jon Cleary music published by FHQ Entertainment, Inc. (BMI).

Personnel

Jon Cleary – Piano and Lead Vocals, Acoustic Fretless Bass, Dobro and Mandolin on “Been and Gone” and additional Guitars on “Fanning the Flames” and “Too Damn Hot”. Jon also plays Wurlitzer, B-3 and funky wah-wah Clavinet.

The Absolute Monster Gentlemen:

• Jeffrey ‘Jellybean’ Alexander — Drums and Vocals
• Derwin ‘Big D’ Perkins — Guitar and Vocals
• Cornell C. Williams — Bass and Vocals

Featured Guests:

• Lenny Castro — Percussion
• Tuba Fats — Tuba on “Fanning the Flames”
• Robert Harrison — Trombone on “Fanning the Flames”
• Duke Heitger — Trumpet on “Fanning the Flames” and “Been and Gone”
• Craig Klein — Trombone on “Been and Gone”
• Bonnie Raitt — Slide Guitar and Vocals on “Just Kissed My Baby” and Background Vocals on “Been and Gone”
• Bonnie Raitt appears courtesy of Capitol Records.

Credits

• Produced by John Porter
• Executive Producer: Mark Samuels
• Engineer and digital editing, overdubs and mix by John Porter
• Production assistants: Henry and Daisy
• Additional production and digital editing by Jon Cleary
• Tracking engineer: Marty Horenburg
• 2nd Engineer: Darren Mora
• Mastered by Stephen Marcussen
• Remastered for vinyl by John Porter
• Digitally edited by Stewart Whitmore for Marcussen Mastering, Hollywood, CA
• Recorded at Sir Ronald Puddings Emporium of Groove, Los Angeles and Lucy Lou’s Palace of Fonk, French Quarter, New Orleans
• Album art and design by Harry Villiers
• Vinyl album layout by Braden Piper
• Production Coordination by Braden Piper
• Management: Reed Watson at Thousand Dances Artist Management
• US Booking: Michael Morris at MINT INTL
• Booking: Katherine McVicker at MusicWorks International
• Follow Jon Cleary on Facebook: facebook.com/jonclearymusicofficial
• Join Jon Cleary at Patreon: patreon.com/joncleary

Artist’s Note

When all the elements are in accord and the Monster Gents are digging a trench a mile wide in the early hours of a Sunday morning at the Maple Leaf Bar, when the mercury in thermometers is shattering glass and you can slice the humidity out in the streets with a wave of your hand, when the spirit’s in your soul and the groove takes control, and when you close your eyes and feel like you’ve been lifted six feet off the floor, that’s the moment when there’s not a man alive that can possibly feel greater satisfaction. Cornell, Big D and Jellybean, as well as being among my best friends, Absolute Monster musicians in their respective fields, soulful scholars and Gentlemen, are bloody good fun to be around and a pleasure to share the stage with. To have the fonkiest band in a city that’s renowned for having the fonkiest bands in the world is a rare privilege. Thanks Fellas!

Thank You

I’d like to give a special thanks to John Porter for all his hard work and love beyond the call of duty and for all his help in the past, couldn’t have made this record without you mate. Bonnie, thanks for throwing the extra Cayenne into the boil, you’re a sweetheart. Additional thanks to Mark Samuels and Basin Street Records. Thanks to Trish the Dish for taking care of business at FHQ, Flo and Fats, Reed Watson and Michael Paz, Michael Morris. Bryce, Dante, and Ben at Warm Audio. Katherine McVicker, Mike Dorsey at CAV Audio, Meg Griffin at SiriusXM. Thanks to Andrew Kelly for his kind assistance at Funk Headquarters Studio. Thanks to my band members, Cornell Williams and AJ Hall, for being Absolutely Monstrous Gentlemen.

Dedication

This album is dedicated (along with a fresh pint of Guinness) to Sweet Dolly Daydream, Tilly, Toish, Perdie and Trish, Dangerous Don, Stu and Dom.