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John McLean: Better Angels
ByThere is a freshness to McLean's approach that is at once unpredictable and comforting. His lines evoke familiar warmth, yet are set apart from anything contrived or generic. His flexible sound is reminiscent of guitar giants as diverse as Pat Metheny (title track and "Three Arcs Complete This Circle ), Cornell Dupree ("Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me ) and Charlie Christian ("Airmail Special ).
Auguscik, a longtime McLean associate, brings her engagingly earthy vocalizing to the pop oriented "Ready for the War and the Lennon/McCartney classic "Blackbird. Her angular scatting on McLean's "Place Talk is a wonderful showcase for her instrumental influenced sensibilities. Other improvisational highlights from the session include Brock's soaring violin on the title track and Gailloreto's Bob Berg style of tough tenor saxophone on "Blackbird.
Better Angels is a risk-taking, conceptual achievement. McLean is a guitarist of formidable ability deserving of broad acclaim.
Track Listing
Better Angels; Ready for the War; Place Talk; Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me; Three Arcs Complete This Circle; Blackbird; Airmail Special; I
Personnel
John McLean
guitarJohn McLean: guitars; Jim Gailloreto: saxophones; Grazyna Auguscik: vocals; Zach Brock: violin; Karl Montzka: organ; Larry Kohut: bass; Eric Montzka: drums.
Album information
Title: Better Angels | Year Released: 2007 | Record Label: Origin Records
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