Search - Mark Karan :: Walk Through The Fire

Mark Karan's first solo!!!

James Moulton | Abington,Pa | 07/07/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I became interested in reviewing Mark Karan for one reason only, because He played in Ratdog, Bob Weir's Band, and He had played with the Other Ones a few years ago, a group consisting of The Dead without Jerry. He and Steve Kimock were the guitarists. This is a very eclectic recording, but one thing is consistent , Mark provides lots of good guitar chops and jams many a song out at the end. Mark is a super talented guitarist, with many tones being shared in the mix. His guitar sound reminds me a bit of Dickey Betts and others.

"Walk Thru The Fire" is a song wrote while going thru cancer treatments, which is a slow paced, but victorious song. He plays some beautiful slide on this song. He has some help with some all star musicians like the Persuasions, Billy Payne (Little Feat), The Rowan Brothers, and a release of rock legend Delaney Bramlett, that was released after his death.(Love In Vain)

"Leave A Light On" (Mark Karan) is my favorite, it has a real nice slow, groove to it and I love the guitar jam at the end of the song. The whole album has a neat Americana, bluesy type sound to it. He does a great job at jamming out on the Dead's "Easy Wind" which is the only Dead song here. His vocals have some Pigpen Grit here, John Molo, sounds great on drums.

Walk Through The Fire was recorded over a four year period in six studios by eight engineers with twenty five musicians. Mark produced the record himself. It was mixed by Davy Vain, and mastered by the great Gavin Lurssen at Lurssen Mastering(student of the great Doug Sax). "Memphis Radio" is another bouncy song I like alot, real melodic, great hooks, nice guitar.

Mark's present band "Jemimah Puddleduck" shows up all over the place. This group showcases Mark on lead and all guitar, John Molo on drums, JT Thomas (Bruce Hornsby) on keyboards, and Bob Gross (Albert King, Delaney Bramlett) on bass. This is a solid recording, go on and pick up a copy.

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MARK KARAN SHREDS.

Beth Horne | SF Bay Area | 12/05/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Do not miss a chance to see this guy live. Good God, can he shred. His band is tight and loud and great. His stage demeanor is fun, smiley and exciting. He's real and let's you see it, see what's in there. Going to see Mark Karan is new on my list of favorites I never will miss when they come around to play. That list includes PJ Harvey, Sonic Youth, The Butthole Surfers, Green Day, Ween, Beck, The Breeders and The Pixies...see, not a hippie amongst 'em. That's because while he did play Jerry's parts for The Dead when Jerry died (which should give you a clue as to his shred-ness) and played with Bob Weir in Ratdog for over a decade - Mark IS HIS OWN MAN and Walk Through The Fire is his expression - Find Yourself, do not be defined by Anyone Else.



Get the record and ride a landscape rollercoaster through the badlands over the peaks, into the valleys and through rough waters. See a sunset that will make you cry. Mark let's you take his ride and it's a privilege."

Mark Karan - Walk Through the Fire

Sean Kay | 09/14/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Walk Through the Fire" by Mark Karan - with a large group of top-line recording artists - is a must-buy statement of modern American music at its finest.



Karan's recording builds from a core foundation of Bob Gross, JT Thomas, and John Molo (all three at the very top of the talent line of bass, keyboards, and drummers) - aka Jemimah Puddleduck - to blend together an incredible selection of musicians to produce a unique sound that is truly music to the ears. Taken as a whole, any fan of Little Feat, Elvis Costello, The Radiators, and the Grateful Dead will want this disc to be a staple of their core music collection. Heck, any fan of *music* should want this disc.



Mark Karan has long been a "musician's musician" - and so the buzz about this disc - both the artistry and the songs themselves is very well deserved. To this listerner's ear, a number of tunes stand out. The first track, "Annie Don't Lie" is a rollicking mix of funky rock with a cajun groove. The song "Leave Your Light On" is majestic and allows Karan's guitar mastery to really shine. "Rock Your Papa" takes the listener back to the rootsy groove, but this time bringing together keyboard masters Bill Payne of Little Feat and Michael Finnigan for a barnstorming romp. Musicians will take very careful note of the guitar work - both lead, and crucially that layered underneath, on "Memphis Radio" - but everyone can enjoy yet another "whistle while you walk" homage to the roots that inspire this music. Mark Karan is clearly a master student of the roots of the music he is building on and also passing on that knowledge - and in so doing, the work on this disc will stand the test of time as an essential representation of American roots recording.



"Walk Through the Fire" is, perhaps, the most important roots/rock recording of 2009. It is truly unique in that it brings together exceptionally well chosen and delivered songs, performed by some of the top musicians in the recording world. But it is most interesting because it is a truly original piece of music. Bringing together the looseness of the San Francisco scene that Karan has been a staple of for decades with a crossroads that runs through Memphis, en route to New Orleans. This is a truly "American" piece of music, defining a new generation of carrying tradition forward - and it is a joy to listen to.

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