Bay Area musician Mark Karan has added his distinctive guitar sound to recordings and shows from quite a diverse collection of musical folk… from classic rockers like Dave Mason and Delaney Bramlett to more modern, mainstream acts like the Rembrandts. Though best known for his contributions to Grateful Dead-related bands The Other Ones and Bob Weir’s RatDog, Karan frequently takes the time along with his good friend and Other Ones-groove guru John Molo, to step out with their peculiarly named band… Jemimah Puddleduck.
Along with drummer John Molo, Karan’s bandmate in The Other Ones, John “JT” Thomas (Bruce Hornsby) on keys and Bob Gross (Albert King, Delaney Bramlett) on bass, Jemimah Puddleduck is a loose-limbed aggregation that isn’t afraid to stretch out and jam, giving them a great vehicle for developing their own musical visions. “JP” features players who, like Karan, have made their names as hired hands for big-name acts. This talented unit will dive into Karan’s rootsy, blues-flavored originals, but don’t be surprised if you hear the band launching into funky covers of tunes by Bob Dylan (‘It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry’), Traffic (‘Feelin’ Alright’), the Meters (‘Cissy Strut’) and the Dead.
Karan and Molo joined forces in 1998 when touring with The Other Ones (featuring Phil Lesh, Bob Weir, Mickey Hart and Bruce Hornsby) and Mickey Hart's Planet Drum. Molo (later touring with Phil Lesh & Friends) and keyboardist JT Thomas had played together with Bruce Hornsby for many years, Karan and bassist/vocalist Bob Gross had played together with Delaney Bramlett. Other great talents in their collective resumes include Tracy Chapman, Albert King, The Rembrandts, Dave Mason, Sophie B. Hawkins, and Huey Lewis.
JP is making fans across the country, and you can hear why on the self-titled debut live CD on Quacktone Records (2000). In addition to Mark's songs, the band covers an eclectic range from Johnny Guitar Watson's "You Can Stay - But the Noise Must Go", to the reggae vibe of Peter Tosh’s “Don’t Look Back” to the soulful "She" by Gram Parsons. The CD is for sale on www.markkaran.com, through Grateful Dead Merchandising (http://gdstore.com), and through Homegrown Music Network (www.homegrownmusic.net)
Other recent recordings featuring Mark on guitar include RatDog's "Live At Roseland” (2001) and "Evening Moods" (2000), and The Other Ones' "Only The Strange Remain" (1999) – all on Grateful Dead Records
Jemimah Puddleduck
