Bman's Blues Report

JON CLEARY JOINS DR. JOHN’S TOUR Cleary’s new album, Occapella! hailed as JazzFest’s #2 best-seller NEW ORLEANS, LA — On the heels of playing his own national tour dates, Jon Cleary will join Dr. John’s (a.k.a. Mac Rebennack) Locked Down tour across the U.S. and Europe as a featured player in Mac’s band, The Lower 911. Jon Cleary’s sixth solo CD, Occapella!, now in its fourth week of release, became one of the best selling records during Jazz Fest 2012, second only to Anders Osborne’s latest, according to the Louisiana Music Factory, carrier of the widest selection of New Orleans music in the world. Occapella! , featuring Cleary’s interpretations of songs penned by his musical touchstone, Allen Toussaint, was described by Blurt magazine as “12 songs of pure pleasure.” Blogcritics called it , “an infectious romp through the mind and music of [the] New Orleans legend . . . every track a tour de force of performing virtuosity . ” And USA Today , in its “Playlist” column...

JON CLEARY READIES NEW ALBUM OCCAPELLA Delving into the songbook of Allen Toussaint, New Orleans musician plans CD release celebration at JazzFest NEW ORLEANS, La. – The seeds for Jon Cleary ’s sixth solo CD were sown when the acclaimed songwriter, pianist and singer was asked the hypothetical question, “Would you ever do a record of somebody else’s tunes?” The English-born Cleary, who has made New Orleans his home for more than three decades, provides his emphatic answer with the utterly captivating Occapella (released April 17 on the artist’s own FHQ Records). An exploration deep into the bountiful songbook of Cleary’s musical touchstone, Allen Toussaint, the new album is as inspired as it is sure-footed. On this labor of love, Cleary inventively reimagines the classics “Southern Nights” and “What Do You Want the Girl To Do,” while he presents less familiar pieces like “Poor Boy Got To Move,” ...