December 2007

John Mclean
Better Angels
Origin Records

By Forrest Dylan Bryant

Eclecticism is the name of the game on this flowing contemporary set, as guitarist McLean tackles swing standards, gloomy pop songs and three speedy, pulse-quickening original tunes. Alternating a precise, silvery acoustic sound with a biting electric tone, McLean matches nicely with Grazyna Auguscik’s sweetly ethereal, delicately accented vocals. Saxophonist Jim Gailloreto adds buoyancy to several tunes, while organist Karl Montzka lurks in the background like a secret weapon, finally busting loose along with violinist Zach Brock in a rollicking take of “Airmail Special.”