Sean McDonald — “Have Mercy” — Little Village Foundation
Sean McDonald, just 23, is one of those young new artists, who, when you close your eyes, sounds like he’s been aging in a cask of blues for decades.
“Have Mercy” is McDonald’s first album, a modest collection of nine covers and originals that plays to his strengths as a singer, songwriter and guitarist.
But there’s nothing modest about his talents. A native of Augusta, Ga., McDonald sang in the church as a youngster and learned to play multiple instruments.
McDonald co-produced this sparkling session with Christoffer “Kid” Andersen at Andersen’s Greaseland U.S.A. Studio, with the outstanding studio musicians from the Little Village label who back McDonald with their usual excellence: Jim Pugh on keyboards, June Core on drums, bassist D’Quantae “Q” Johnson, saxmen Eric Spaulding and Jack Sanford, and trombonist Mike Rinta. The Morgan Brothers (formerly the Sons of the Soul Revivors) and Marcel Smith add eloquent backing vocals to the gospel tracks. Sometimes it just takes a Little Village to help make great music.
A rocking cover of Rudy Moore’s “My Soul” opens the album, with McDonald’s upbeat? ? vocal turn a spirited album preview. A pair of originals follows: The tastily R&B-flavored “Fakin’ It” features killer sax with a fierce guitar break; “Killing Me” finds McDonald reaching deep into a sexy slow blues, complete with sensuous sax.
“Rocking in the Same Old Boat” is a gorgeous slow blues recorded by Bobby “Blue” Bland in 1968, and McDonald’s smooth rendition dares to stand on its own. (The composer is credited as Deadric Malone, but that was the penname for influential Duke/Peacock records owner Don Deadric Robey, who often took the credit for songs written by his artists. The interwebs reveal that Vernon Elbert Morrison may have been a composer.)
“Shuffleboard Swing” is a rollicking instrumental that swings the blues behind McDonald’s blistering single-note guitar work. “Angel Baby” is McDonald’s fast and furious Little Richard-inspired rocker, complete with vocal scream and raunchy sax. McDonald testifies mightily with the gospel of “Don’t Let the Devil Ride,” an Oris Mays creation, with a fervent chorus from the Morgan Brothers and Marcel Smith.
The rousing “That’s All I Need” captures the rocking flavor of Ike Turner’s 1959 version complete with call-and-response backup singers. The closer is the elegant Henry Glover blues ballad, “Let’s Call It A Day,” with McDonald smooth as silk on the vocal, and tough as nails on his wicked guitar.
With “Have Mercy,” a youthful Sean McDonald emerges as a full-grown talent. His smart songwriting, rich vocals and stunning guitar all speak eloquently of his musical future, not to mention the future of the blues and our own listening pleasure.
Have mercy, indeed!
Here’s “Rocking in the Same Old Boat” from the album:
Tracklist:
- My Soul 3:20 (Rudy Moore)
- Fakin’ It 3:56 (S. McDonald)
- Killing Me 5:06 (S. McDonald)
- Rocking in the Same Old Boat 4:51 (Deadric Malone)
- Shuffleboard Swing 4:05 (S. McDonald)
- Angel Baby 3:00 (S. McDonald)
- Don’t Let the Devil Ride 5:14 (Oris Mays)
- That’s All I Need 3:10 (Ike Turner)
- Let’s Call It A Day 3:58 (Henry Glover)
Sean “Mack” McDonald – Vocals, guitar
The Morgan Brothers – Vocals
Marcel Smith – Vocals
Jim Pugh – Piano, organ
D’Quantae “Q” Johnson – Bass
June Core – Drums
Eric Spaulding – Tenor Sax
Jack Sanford – Bari Sax
Mike Rinta – Trombone (4)
Kid Andersen – Guitar (4)
Lisa Leuschner Andersen – Vocal (2)
Blues Roadhouse 