Press release 2 24.2.2017 Jon Cleary at JazzAscona ’17 The great New Orleans pianist and singer will also be honored with the Ascona Jazz Award 2017 The program of the 33rd edition of JazzAscona grows richer (June 22 through July 1, 2017). The organizers are happy to announce the presence, among others, of pianist, singer and Grammy Award Winner Jon Cleary, one of the stars of the two final evenings on Friday June 30 and Saturday July 1. Cleary will also be honored with the festival’s annual Lifetime Achievement Award, the Ascona Jazz Award 2017 The 2016 Grammy Award Winner for Best Regional Roots Music with his album Go Go Juice, Jon Cleary is considered a symbol of the New Orleans contemporary R&B-funk scene and one of the most brilliant interpreters of the city’s great piano tradition. Originally from Kent, England, Cleary has been a New Orleans resident for many years where he has been working as a successful producer, songwriter, and arranger. He has played with prominent artists such as Bonnie Raitt, Taj Mahal, B.B. King, Ryan Adams, and Eric Burdon. Cleary’s compositions have also been performed by John Scofield, artist with whom he has collaborated in the past. He will be in Ascona with his regular trio that includes bassist Cornell Williams and drummer AJ Hall. In the past days the JazzAscona 2017 lineup has seen the addition of the great Australian jazz vocalist Emma Pask, of the acclaimed New Orleans Masakowski Trio (guitarist Steve Masakovski with his daughter Sasha, singer, and his son Martin, drummer) and, last but not least, of the 25-year- 0ld French soul-funk-blues prodigy, guitarist and vocalist Nina Attal, who will perform over the festival’s last weekend (June 30 and July 1). More news will follow in the upcoming days and weeks! Official website: www.jazzascona.ch Interview: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/feb/23/jon-cleary- interview-grammys-root-music l.mar. 24.2.2017 .