John McLean and Charles Barkatz - Shadow Man

John McLean and Charles Barkatz - Shadow Man - Leaky Shoes Records

Author and composer John McLean has developed into an eclectic, multi-talented artist who has followed his theater, cinema, and musical passions. The Manhattan, NY native, brought up on a ranch near Dallas, Texas, and studied writing and theater in Boston. As a jazzman, John has been a leader of several groups in Paris, where he became associated with his duo partner, partner Charles Barkatz. He also appeared at the Cornelia Street Cafe in Greenwich Village, NY. 

Barkatz, a Paris native, first started playing classical guitar. After he became influenced by Muddy Waters, B.B. King, John Lee Hooker, and especially Jimi Hendrix, he started playing in a blues vein. Later after seeing West Montgomery and Kenny Burrell in Paris, concentrate on learning jazz technique. He records and regularly plays in the U.S at the Blue Rooster and the Five O'clock Club in Sarasota with guitarist/singer Al Fuller and Tampa with the singer Peter D'Straw. He and McLean collaborated on his 2019 CD, "So Nice to Come Home To."

The two handle the vocals on this Kaz Kazanoff produced CD. Kaz and the Texas Horns are part of the musicians backing McLean's vocals and Barkatz's vocals and guitars. Other players include Derek O'Brien on guitar, Nick Connolly on keyboards, Chris Maresh on bass, and John Chipman on drums and percussion. Alex Cole on reeds and Elaine Barber on harp both contribute to two tracks each.

The music on "Shadow Man" reminds me of a jazzy John Mayall recording. McLean's vocals mainly remind me of Mayall, while Barkatz adds some tasty blues guitar. Add riffing horns and unusual horn solos such as Al Gomez's amplified muted trumpet on the opening "Leaking Shoe Blues." The songs don't knock me out. I find that sometimes the lyrics sound as if words strung together to rhyme, such as on "Brooklyn Blues Cafe." This song is about a Paris, France bar and provides Barkatz an opportunity to display a different guitar attack. Kaz Kazanoff also takes a booting tenor sax solo on this tune. 

There is the evocative blues ballad, "Lucia," where Alex Coke's soprano sax solo stands out. Another slow atmospheric blues is "Silver Lake," sung in French and with a haunting guitar solo. The title song is a bouncy shuffle with a refrain of "Dance Dance Dance for the Shadow Man" and more scintillating guitar. Kazanoof's horn arrangement for "She Cry Blues" lends that performance a Boz Scaggs flavor. "Black Train" is yet another solid moody performance with Kazanoff contributing mournful harmonica.

"Shadow Man" is a well-played and produced album. With Charles Barkatz's first-rate guitar, solid ensemble backing, Kaz Kazanoff's production, and McLean's singing, this is an appealing, bluesy album.

I received my review copy from a publicist. Here is a video of "Leaking Shoe Blues."