A simple countdown: "One, two / You know what to do." Nimble fingers glissando down the keys and launch into New Orleans-flavored funk. This pyrotechnic pianist sings, too, with just the right mix of mellow and sharp in his voice, reinventing King Floyd's 1971 soul classic "Groove Me." While the original bumped along at a mid-tempo pace, Jon Cleary sets the song on fire.
Cleary, who hails from England, began his career playing guitar, but eventually turned himself into a raging Cajun singer/pianist. In this live recording, he pumps "Groove Me" up, graciously clears out to let his guitarist and drummer strut their stuff and then closes the deal by playing with what seems like at least three hands. The only thing puzzling is his repeated demand to be grooved by someone else; clearly, Cleary can do the job all by himself.
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