by Michael LelloWeekender Editor
Forever the sideman — with Huey Lewis, The Rembrandts and Bob Weir and RatDog, which plays at Penn’s Peak July 14 and 15 — Mark Karan has always shown glimpses that there’s more to his musical personality than a support role. With “Walk Through The Fire,” the veteran player’s debut solo album, Karan has delivered on that promise, issuing a collection of fun and poignant groove-driven rock. It is a stunning debut and one of the better roots-rock albums you’ll hear this year.
Karan, who recently emerged from a successful battle with throat cancer, is assisted by all-star friends like drummer John Molo (Phil Lesh and Friends, Bruce Hornsby, John Fogerty), keyboardist Bill Payne (Little Feat) and backing vocalists The Persuasions and The Rowan Brothers. Half of the songs are by outsiders, but Karan’s joyful spirit is the anchor and the common thread throughout.
The opener, “Annie Don’t Lie,” is old-fashioned cowbell-and-accordion zydeco fun, with Molo setting a deep pocket, The Persuasions adding some “awoos” and Karan holding court in his deep, soulful voice. Ballads like “Leave A Light On” and “Walk Through the Fire,” with its allusions to Karan’s health struggle, are well-placed.
The meat of the album lies in sixth, seventh and eighth tracks: “Rock Your Papa,” “Memphis Radio” and “Time Will Tell.” “Rock Your Papa” is arguably the album’s most developed and effective tune, with Payne’s whirling Wurlitzer, Karan’s rhythm guitar work, Molo’s syncopated bopping and The Persuasions r&b singing melting together into a gleeful package. Near the midway point, Karan steps out with a linear blues-rock solo that echoes the vocals. “Memphis Radio,” originally by Susan Sheller, is essentially an homage to Van Morrison, a mid-tempo track that captures some of the mysticism of the Irish bard. Karan’s delicate guitar work darts between John “JT” Thomas’ warm organ, and the backing vocals of Gloria Jones and Jackie La Branch, both Jerry Garcia Band veterans, are the perfect icing on the cake.
“Time Will Tell” is a smoky and dusky modern blues, comparable to Traffic’s “The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys” in its minor-key verses and driving choruses.
The tune that will turn the most heads for longtime fans is “Easy Wind,” a Grateful Dead classic Karan plays with RatDog. Here, though, he takes the lead vocals, and it makes one wonder why Weir doesn’t let him sing it, too. He breathes new life into the nearly 40-year-old tune with his note-perfect rendition.
“Gotta find a woman be good to me / Won’t hide my liquor try to serve me tea,” Karan sings, and it’s a subtle yet important assertion from a man who was very nearly robbed of his voice.
Rating: W W W W
