Play 90 second soundbite of 'Port Street Blues' @ 'CD quality'
'Mo Hippa Live' is a live ten track jaunt into the piano driven world of the highly respected Jon Cleary. Ten tracks of live music recorded in Australia, ten little gems to admire and get off on. Cleary comes with a massive pedigree and musical CV like no other. Here he puts all of his experience and knowledge to excellent use and brings his Mississippi piano blues to your home for just a few of your pounds (or whatever currency applies!). As I listen I can't help thinking of Dr.John and his swampy blues; 'Mo Hippa' has the same ramblin' feel but tends more towards straight Mississippi Delta jazzed-up blues whereas the great Dr.John prefers his unique blend of psychedelic voodoo rhythm and blues and Creole roots blues. Similar then but by no means the same!
Anyway, 'Mo Hippa' is a fantastically rich embodiment of that rolling stew of funky New Orleans vibes that seem to just slip from the keyboard of anyone even half able to play the piano. Cleary, however, is an absolute master of the instrument and the musical form. Here he rattles off a few classic covers and a big handful of his own, very impressive material - nothing here will disappoint, nothing fails to reach boiling point, nothing misses out on the full Cleary treatment. This really is a fine piece of work and, considering it's a live recording, it's remarkabley precise and sensationally tight. 'Mo Hippa' is a stunning example of piano roll blues with jazzy undercurrents and let's face it it makes a very pleasant change from the multitude of guitar driven blues works out there - this is almost blessed respite! Cleary is a master of his instrument and he's surrounded himself with three like-minded and similarly accomplished blues-boys in Derwin 'Big D' Perkins (guitar, vocals), Cornell C Williams (bass guitar, vocals) and Eddie Christmas (drums) - what a band and what a sound!!
'Mo Hippa Live' by John Cleary & The Absolute Monster Gentlemen is a piece of twenty-two carat blues to while away the hours. The sleazy feel of the Mississippi Delta and New Orleans is the prominent feature but with many other blues nuances scattered around, 'Mo Hippa' is pure heaven for anyone with the slightest leaning towards the blues idiom. 'Mo Hippa Live' is a fantastically classy album from a wonderfully classy outfit. It's blues of the night, blues from the heart, blues for the soul; a wonderful example of piano driven blues. One to chill to, one to drift away on, one to make love to - sexy, rampant blues. Sit back and fade away under its spell - it's amazing!
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