Danuman Posted July 9, 2017 Share Posted July 9, 2017 Just wanted to share: I've long wanted to go see Jon Cleary and his band and yesterday I lucked out. I managed to grab a ticket and went to see them in Rotterdam at the North Sea Jazz festival. Sadly, I couldn't get into the (rather smallish) tent to see Richard Bona, but I'm so happy to have seen the Gentlemen. If you don't know Cornell Williams, do check him out. Brilliantly fun player, and the rest of the band equally live up to their band's name. They'll be playing some UK gigs soon: http://www.joncleary.com/tour/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Browning Posted July 9, 2017 Share Posted July 9, 2017 Great band indeed. Used to play Mo Hippa regularly. Fearsome grooves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorks5stringer Posted July 9, 2017 Share Posted July 9, 2017 I'm going to see them on Friday in Bristol. Glad to hear the AMG are with him as it was not clear on the listing if he was with a Band. I saw them years ago in Ripley, Yorks., apparently the guitarist had to be winched onto the stage as he was so big he could not climb the steps! I've seen JC in Central Park solo, with the AMG and as keys with Bonnie Raitt too. Looking on his website he'll do a gig at your house, think it is $5000. If however you want an executive producer credit on his album that will cost you $25,000! Fabulously funky band, makes Jools Holland look like a beginner! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danuman Posted July 10, 2017 Author Share Posted July 10, 2017 Fearsome indeed! The listing for North Sea Jazz was also under Jon Cleary, but Manchester has them billed as a quartet, so I suppose they're all tagging along. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Browning Posted July 10, 2017 Share Posted July 10, 2017 [quote name='Danuman' timestamp='1499695456' post='3332976'] Fearsome indeed! The listing for North Sea Jazz was also under Jon Cleary, but Manchester has them billed as a quartet, so I suppose they're all tagging along. [/quote] Could be just him and the guitarist! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danuman Posted July 10, 2017 Author Share Posted July 10, 2017 Haha, he's a big fella alright. In fairness, though, that would be almost as good... Beautiful sweetness in that dude's playing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorks5stringer Posted July 15, 2017 Share Posted July 15, 2017 Well I eventually got to the gig last night, nightmare travelling from South Somerset to Bristol as the main A37 was closed just outside the outskirts and long diversion.....! Unfortunately, as the aforementioned guitarist Derwin 'Big D' Perkins was not with them, there was another keyboard player who blocked my view of Cornell Williams on Bass. Not sure if this has been the band line-up for a while, but got the feeling they were 'jamming out' some numbers in the absence of guitar? That said they were sh*t hot, the drummer was immense, as were all the Band to be fair. They all look to genuinely enjoy what they are doing, with lots of quips and banter in between the songs. Great harmonies and just so so funky. Just missed a bit of guitar cutting through..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicbassman Posted July 15, 2017 Share Posted July 15, 2017 Wow, a new name to me - just listened to some tracks on Youtube - pure solid gold funk! Thanks for spreading the word. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted July 16, 2017 Share Posted July 16, 2017 I've got all the CD's, seen them twice and shook Cornell's hand at their 100 Club gig. What talented guys! Sadly looks like I've missed them this time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danuman Posted July 16, 2017 Author Share Posted July 16, 2017 Well this afternoon they were back about one and a half hours down the road, so I just couldn't pass up the chance of seeing them again. Unfortunately, their New'Awlins cadences proved a bit too sophisticated for this audience. (The term flogging a dead horse comes to mind.) It was, however, a free festival, so I suppose that had something to do with the mismatch. On top of that the sound engineers were utter tools. During the gig, various vocal mics and instruments cut out - all of them at least once, sometimes for minutes - only to return way too loud. They really had to earn this one. Still, they pressed on gracefully and they even got the crowd to move a bit near the end. Great band, wrong festival. Oh, and I too got to shake Cornell Williams' hand! Such an awesome player. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SisterAbdullahX Posted July 16, 2017 Share Posted July 16, 2017 New discovery for me but absolutely loving them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorks5stringer Posted July 17, 2017 Share Posted July 17, 2017 [quote name='Danuman' timestamp='1500233852' post='3336392'] Well this afternoon they were back about one and a half hours down the road, so I just couldn't pass up the chance of seeing them again. Unfortunately, their New'Awlins cadences proved a bit too sophisticated for this audience. (The term flogging a dead horse comes to mind.) It was, however, a free festival, so I suppose that had something to do with the mismatch. On top of that the sound engineers were utter tools. During the gig, various vocal mics and instruments cut out - all of them at least once, sometimes for minutes - only to return way too loud. They really had to earn this one. Still, they pressed on gracefully and they even got the crowd to move a bit near the end. Great band, wrong festival. Oh, and I too got to shake Cornell Williams' hand! Such an awesome player. [/quote] Was it the '2 keyboards' lineup or had the Guitar resurfaced? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danuman Posted July 17, 2017 Author Share Posted July 17, 2017 (edited) We overheard Cornell Williams explaining to someone that Big D had other engagements, so it was the same lineup with Nigel Hall on organ. (By the way, that guy can sing! Shame he didn't get more time to do it.) Edited July 17, 2017 by Danuman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorks5stringer Posted July 17, 2017 Share Posted July 17, 2017 Yes, there were some lovely backing vox from all the band, spot on harmonies too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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