John McDonald and Mark Maxwell – Feeling BLUES
Self-Released – 2024
www.johnmcdonaldbluesamericana.com
11 tracks: 52 minutes
Feeling BLUES is the latest musical collaboration between John McDonald and Mark Maxwell, both of whom are based in Athens, Georgia. McDonald has been making music for close to 50 years—first from his native Massachusetts, to Bloomington, Indiana, to California, and, finally, to the college town of Athens, where he was head of the Genetics Department at the University of Georgia. Maxwell is the founder and owner of the Maxwell Sound Recording Studio, also based in Athens. Maxwell was born in Georgia and is an accomplished musician in his own right.
The duo worked together on the self-released album Touched by The Blues in 2022, which was reviewed by Blues Blast Magazine on October 30th of that year. For Feeling BLUES, McDonald handles all lead vocals and acoustic guitar, while Maxwell plays both electric and classical guitars, bass guitar, and “everything else” according to the liner notes. The new album was recorded at Maxwell Sound Recording Studio.
Joining McDonald and Maxwell are a small contingent of gifted artists, including: Glyn Denham on harmonica, Jason Fuller on piano, Mindy Towe playing sax and clarinet, and Mason Towe on the drums, along with backing vocals from Gabrielle Campbell, Janis Maxwell, and Jada Moss.
Feeling BLUES shines brightest when those gifted artists do their thing and the album features covers of classic tunes of blues, soul, and R&B. The album also contains one original tune, “I’m Sitting Here Thinking of You,” written by McDonald.
The album gets off to a strong start with Buddy Guy’s “I Go by Feel,” with excellent guitar work by Maxwell and a tight musical arrangement. The classic “Poison Ivy” by Mel London gets the rousing brassy treatment with a great nod to Willie Mabon, who first recorded the song in 1954. The classics keep rolling with “I’m Ready” by Willie Dixon. Fuller’s keys sparkle and the backing vocals are wonderful on the Muddy Waters classic.
While “Evil Twin” slows the tempo down a bit, the blues continue to receive the full treatment. Written by Tom Hambridge and Richard Fleming, and recorded by Buddy Guy, “Evil Twin” has everything a Chicago-style blues tune should have: an opening guitar solo, a slow methodical backbeat driven by Mason Towe’s drums, and Fuller’s juke-style piano. “Jelly Roll Baker” features Glyn Denham’s harmonica and another toe-tapping blues beat. “Three O’Clock Blues” finishes up this blues set with a standard slow twelve-bar style well-known to all blues fans.
The album’s lone original track, “I’m Sitting Here Thinking of You” features Mindy Towe’s up tempo sax play, Maxwell’s lead guitar, and great vocals.
Feeling BLUES finishes with George Gershwin’s iconic “Summertime,” which is an interesting choice, but works well with the album due to incredible guitar work (both acoustic and classical style), mesmerizing harmonica by Denham, along with those terrific backing vocals, once again.
Feeling BLUES is another solid project from John McDonald and Mark Maxwell along with that tremendous group of talented musicians and singers.
