British pianist and singer Jon Cleary has what you might call a musical calling. Through family he was introduced to New Orleans music in his youth and was sold and not much later left. By now he has been living in the city for several decades and has gained quite a few contacts and experience. He has also played with
Dr. John and
John Scofield, among others. So Swell is nothing more and nothing
… less than a musical encounter between Cleary and some of his colleagues in the field. Assisted by bassist James Singleton, drummer Johnny Vidavovich and saxophonist James Rivers, Cleary entertains himself thoroughly. With a constant funky groove in which the quartet's experience is abundantly clear, Cleary shows why he is now one of them. Although real standouts are lacking on the album, So Swell is a great example of the appealing sound of New Orleans. (JV)more
